Carmelo Anthony to reportedly be traded and eventually released

Rockets to deal Anthony, cash to Bulls

1/21/2019, 10:39 PM
Houston Rockets forward Carmelo Anthony watches a teammate shoot free throws during the second quarter against the LA Clippers at Staples Center. / Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports
Houston Rockets forward Carmelo Anthony watches a teammate shoot free throws during the second quarter against the LA Clippers at Staples Center. / Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports

Current Rockets and former Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony will be traded to the Chicago Bulls and then released, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Anthony, who hasn't played since Nov. 8, will not play for the Bulls. The Bulls plan to release him should they not trade him by the league's Feb. 7 trade deadline, according to Wojnarowski. If he is released and clears waivers, he would become a free agent.

The Lakers, according to Wojnarowski, would be interested in signing Anthony but do not want to sacrifice a roster spot to a guaranteed player.

Houston signed Anthony to a one-year, $2.4 million league minimum deal after he was waived following a three-team deal involving the Oklahoma City Thunder and Atlanta Hawks.

Anthony's tenure with the Rockets lasted just 10 games, averaging 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds and accepting a bench role. But his time with the Rockets was also mired in struggle. The Rockets went 4-6 with Anthony, and in his last game, he scored just two points on 1-of-11 shooting in a 98-80 loss to the Thunder.

Afterward, Anthony and the Rockets parted ways, with Rockets GM Daryl Morey saying the two sides were "working toward a resolution."

The Rockets will trade Anthony and cash to Chicago, according to Wojnarowski. Because of the holiday, the deal is expected to become official on Tuesday, according to Wojnarowski.

The Bulls will be the fifth team Anthony has been part of over the last 16 months, even if he will never play a game with them.

The Knicks traded him to the Thunder in September 2017 in the Enes Kanter trade. After playing the 2017-18 season with Oklahoma City, he was dealt to the Hawks in July 2018. He and the Hawks agreed to a buyout five days later without him ever playing a game with Atlanta.

Anthony has averaged 24 points and 6.5 rebounds since being the No. 3 pick in the 2003 NBA draft. 

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