Carmelo Anthony Blast Off: Looking at Houston Rockets' Place in Melo Talks

This morning I've read a couple of pretty extreme viewpoints of the Rockets' chances of landing Carmelo. 

• "The Houston Rockets are very much at the table again, and according to sources have moved into the driver's seat because of all of the assets they can offer Denver." (Steve Kyler on Hoopsworld)
• "They’d probably take a shot with nowhere to go with the weak roster they have, though Anthony has told friends he’d never under any circumstances re-sign with Houston. He wasn’t as definitive about the Mavericks." (Sam Smith of Bulls.com)

First I'd like to address both of those reports.  Houston has long been reported as an alternative destination for Melo.  There were multiple reports published this summer that Melo was not opposed to signing with the Rockets long-term.  Yao was almost inevitable going to get hurt, so if he allowed it to leak he would sign an extension with Rockets I don't think Yao's health would be the determining factor.  (I also take issue with an internet beat writer for the Bulls calling my team weak, but that's an issue for another venue). 

The other side of this is that Houston is now in the driver's seat of the Carmelo negotiations.  I could see the team taking the role as major player or major facilitator.  Luis Scola and Kevin Martin are both rumored to be hot commodities right now.  As I've written before, Scola should be at the top of the tradable assets list.  Morey has been stocking up on ending contracts and young, upper tier, role-player talent for this very moment, so I could definitely see the Rockets being the lead team.

Where Houston should go from here is still up for debate.  The team is currently on a three-game winning streak and playing great with Martin as its "star."  Martin's durability issues aside, is Melo a significant upgrade over him?  Melo is currently averaging 23.5 points per game (while playing 34.9 minutes per game) to Martin's 23.2 points per game (while playing 31.4 minutes per game).  Kevin Martin has a questionable reputation on the defensive side of the court, but Carmelo isn't known as a defensive stopper either. 

What Melo does have that Martin can't match is experience in playoff basketball and high-end performance at the end of close games.  There have been several games this season that Houston will blow a lead in the final couple minutes because they don't have a clutch go to scorer. 

If I'm Houston, I don't think grabbing Melo at the expense of Martin without getting better in other areas is a good use of assets because you'll end up with essentially the same team.  What Houston should be focusing on is nabbing Melo plus one.  If you could flip Battier, Jefferies or Yao's expiring contracts with the inclusion of a long-term asset like a Martin, Scola or Brooks, for Melo plus a big (Nene, Favors, Hibbert, M. Gasol and Cousins would all be on my short list) then you set up a trade that puts us into immediate title contention. 

Remember T-Mac?  Remember Eddie Griffin?  These are cautionary tales of trading away your core assets in search of that one transcendent talent.  Daryl Morey is always one to look at advanced statistics in order to determine worth so I know he's taken everything into account.  I hope his stated desire to add a superstar does not cloud his judgement into making a bad long-term deal when Houston really holds all the cards (the Knicks can't put together a deal as good as Houston could and Chicago won't put together a comparable deal). 

Don't sell the farm to get a prized cow.