Carmelo’s new home is Houston
Free agent Anthony joins Rockets after agreeing to one-year deal
HOUSTON — Rockets general manager Daryl Morey on Monday announced that free agent forward Carmelo Anthony has agreed to terms with the club.
Morey did not reveal details, but multiple reports said Anthony agreed to a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum of $2.4 million.
The 6-foot-8, 240-pound Anthony was the third overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 2003 NBA Draft. In 1,054 career games, he is averaging 24.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.02 steals.
Anthony is one of 11 players in NBA history with career averages of at least 24.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 3.0 apg. Kevin Durant and LeBron James are the only other active players accomplishing that feat.
The 15-year veteran is a 10-time All-Star while being named in the All-NBA Second Team twice and Third Team four times. He is also a threetime Olympic gold medalist and is USA Basketball’s alltime leading Olympic scorer and rebounder.
Anthony ranks 19th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 25,417 points. Only 10 players have scored over 27,000 points in their career.
In 2012-13, Anthony led the NBA in scoring, marking one of three seasons in which he averaged at least 28.0 ppg.
Anthony met with Morey and Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni during last month’s NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The Oklahoma City Thunder granted permission to do so, once the sides decided that Anthony’s departure from OKC was imminent. He also met with the Miami Heat, and considered signing there.
Anthony was waived by the Atlanta Hawks on July 30 after being traded from the Thunder on July 19.
His lone season in Oklahoma City was largely a bust. He averaged 16.2 points and struggled at times in his new role alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George.
He posted career lows in scoring average and field goal percentage, and OKC was ousted in the first round of the playoffs by Utah.
The 34-year-old Anthony has been the headliner his entire career, but was more of a catch-and-shoot scorer last season instead of the isolation specialist he had always been.
His playing time dwindled in the playoffs. In Game 6 of the first-round series against the Jazz that ended Oklahoma City’s season, he played fewer minutes than reserve Jerami Grant.
After the season, he said he prefers to play with the ball in his hands more and said coming off the bench is “out of the question”.
Anthony opted earlier this summer to accept the $28 million he was due next season, then ended weeks of speculation by ultimately signing with a Houston team led by MVP James Harden and star point guard Chris Paul — both of whom will earn $35 million this season.