Thunder, Anthony officially part ways
At some point Carmelo Anthony will break his silence on the end of his Thunder tenure, and it’s unclear what he’ll say.
It’s uncertain whether Anthony has hard feelings about his role in Oklahoma City, and he hasn’t made any public comment about his parting of ways with the Thunder.
But on Wednesday, when the Thunder made official the trade it agreed to last week — sending Anthony and a protected first-round pick to Atlanta as part of a threeteam deal that brings Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder and Philadelphia swingman Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to Oklahoma City — the team made a point to say the split was amicable on its end.
In a release announcing the trade, general manager Sam Presti thanked Anthony for his “professionalism and contributions” in a season with the Thunder.
“Although his tenure was only one year, the fact that Melo is a part of our history is important to us,” Presti said in the release. “We appreciate Carmelo and his agent Leon Rose for their collaboration and communication as we worked to resolve the situation in a fashion that was suitable to everyone. We wish Melo and his family nothing but the best in the future.”
Anthony’s future won’t be in Atlanta. The Hawks will waive him in short order, paying him the $27.9 million he’s owed for the 2018-19 season.
That will make Anthony a free agent. Once that process is complete, Anthony intends to sign with the Houston Rockets, The New York Times reported on Monday.
It’ll be the culmination of Houston’s years-long courtship of Anthony.
As a free agent in 2014, Anthony met with the Rockets before resigning with the New York Knicks. Last year, Anthony — who had a no-trade clause in his contract with New York — approved Houston as a trade destination, but the Knicks and Rockets were unable to complete a deal.
So Anthony came to the Thunder instead, traded for center Enes Kanter and forward Doug McDermott. He wasn’t always a fit with Russell Westbrook and Paul George, finishing the season with career lows in points per game (16.2) and field-goal percentage (40.4).
Anthony shot 35.7 percent from 3-point range with the Thunder, setting career highs in 3-pointers made (169) and attempted (474).
Though Anthony no longer is the player he once was was, the 10-time All-Star might prove a better fit in Houston’s 3-point happy offense, playing with pinpoint passers James Harden and Chris Paul.
“Melo’s a proven vet,” Harden told the Houston Chronicle last week. “He just wants to win at this point, so it would be great for him to be on our team.”
The Thunder and Anthony on Wednesday parted ways and paved the way for the additions of Schroder and Luwawu-Cabarrot. Presti lauded the pair in a release for their “stylistic fit” as Oklahoma City looks to shift to a fasterpaced, more versatile roster.
“Both of these players represent the continued transition of our style of play,” Presti said. “Dennis provides us with another proven playmaker and someone that will only enhance the overall speed of our team. Timothe adds another young, long, versatile wing that can play multiple positions and complement our returning core.”