Supreme court
Melo’s best title shot would come in Houston
If Carmelo Anthony chooses Mike D'Antoni over LeBron James, that would be the biggest upset since Paul George picked Oklahoma City over Los Angeles. What's next for Carmelo, vacationing in Montana with Phil Jackson? The Houston Rockets have more incentive than ever to reunite Carmelo with D'Antoni (the NBA is great, isn't it?) now that the team with the best regular season record lost two forwards to free agency, Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah A Moute. ESPN reported that the Rockets are "determined" to sign Anthony once he works out his release from the Oklahoma City Thunder and becomes a free agent.
This is so Carmelo, isn't it? One team can't wait to get rid of him while another is desperate to add him. Carmelo should milk this for all it's worth. Hold meetings with potential suitors and announce the decision on TV. Jim Gray will host it.
This is Carmelo's chance to hijack the Summer of LeBron by making LeBron sweat it out. Take advantage of it.
Just be aware that Carmelo is going to disappoint one of his friends, Chris Paul or LeBron. He might as well do it in grand style. And when Carmelo and his camp sort through the possibilities, the choice, of course, will be an obvious one.
Melo should go to Houston and be the third wheel on a championship contending team. It's the smart basketball play.
Like LeBron, Carmelo owns a home in Los Angeles and the Lakers are, well, the Lakers. But unless the Lakers can make a deal to land Kawhi Leonard, they are at best the third team in the West behind the Warriors and the Rockets. The Melo Rockets.
LeBron didn't make a smart basketball move joining the Lakers. This is about his post-playing career and building his empire.
The Lakers are LeBron, a bunch of unproven players plus Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson and JaVale McGee. That's not even better than Cleveland with LeBron. Plus, he'll be 34 in December.
The Rockets have the reigning MVP in James Harden and a tough but brittle point guard in Chris Paul, who will keep Carmelo engaged and focused like Jason Kidd did in New York six years ago.
If Paul didn't injure his hamstring in the Western Conference Finals, the Rockets may have defeated the Warriors. As it was, they had a double-digit lead in Game 7 only to miss 27 straight 3-pointers. That's where Carmelo comes in.
Melo may not get the defensive stop and dive for a loose ball but he's going to make an open shot every now and then. Sure, he may take 27 but he's not missing all 27, that's for damn sure.
Carmelo has accomplished plenty in his Hall of Fame career. He's amassed a fortune while winning an NCAA title and three Olympic gold medals. He's been a perennial All Star.
What's missing is an NBA title. He should willingly pursue a championship as opposed to riding shotgun with the fledgling movie mogul, LeBron.
This is about chasing rings and redemption, which is exactly D'Antoni's agenda. That's why it will work. Carmelo didn't like being viewed as the player who ran D'Antoni out of New York.
He can dramatically change that narrative by winning with his old Knicks coach in Houston. It's not LeBron. And it's not L.A. But it's better.