The Houston Rockets are reportedly “determined” to sign Carmelo Anthony once he becomes free in Oklahoma City, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday.
The Rockets, who lost Trevor Ariza in free agency already, watched Luc Mbah A Moute sign with the Los Angeles Clippers Monday, marking two forwards from last year’s team having departed.
Following up on that report, Wojnarowski dropped the knowledge about Houston going hard after Anthony.
Rockets lose two forwards now — including Ariza — from NBA’s best regular season team. Houston is detemined to sign Carmelo Anthony once he becomes free in OKC, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/SfHAWntNlH
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 9, 2018
The Thunder are planning on breaking ties with Anthony this summer, so it seems like it’s only a matter of time before Houston can make this move. Landing Anthony would give the Rockets a decent backcourt trio, as he’d join James Harden and Chris Paul.
Obviously the Rockets want to also retain big man Clint Capela, and it’s been reported the team will match any offer another team throws at the restricted free agent.
It remains to be seen how much adding Anthony would really do for the Rockets, however. He’s coming off a 2017-18 season in which he posted a career-low 16.2 points per game on a career-low 40.4 percent from the field.