Report: Carmelo Anthony's tenure with Rockets is over

·Staff writer

15 November 2018 at 5:11 pm

Carmelo Anthony reportedly won’t play another game for the Houston Rockets. (Getty)

The Houston Rockets and Carmelo Anthony are parting ways, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

Anthony will remain on the roster for now, but won’t rejoin the team, according to the report. A formal announcement is expected before Thursday’s game against the Golden State Warriors.

For now, Anthony will remain on the Rockets roster, but will not rejoin the team, sources said. Anthony’s wisest course of action could be exercising patience and allowing changes in league rosters – through trades, injuries, team needs — to create more playing options for him. https://t.co/L5aC5Ueah0
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 15, 2018

“We tried to hit a home run, and it didn’t work out,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters shortly after the news broke.

Rockets off to rough start this season

Anthony joined the Rockets in the offseason and played 10 games with the team, starting two. He averaged 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 29.4 minutes per game, while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from 3-point distance.

The Rockets have struggled to a 6-7 start after posting the best record in the league last season. The team lost key role players Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute in the offseason, with Anthony being one of their primary additions. Some, including Anthony’s friends Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, believe the Rockets are scapegoating Anthony for the team’s poor start.

Team denied on Sunday that Anthony was done

The Rockets reportedly told Anthony last week that his time with the team was up, while general manager Daryl Morey told reporters on Sunday that Anthony was sick and he expected him to return to action when he was healthy.

Anthony has not played since. Rookie Gary Clark has picked up much of his playing time.

What’s next for Anthony?

Anthony’s game has degraded significantly from his peak as a 10-time All-Star and one of the best scorers in the league. Whether he still has a role in the NBA after unsuccessful stints with the Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder is unclear.

The Rockets are cooperating with Anthony’s agents as they seek a landing spot for him, according to ESPN.

Anthony, 34, famously scoffed at the idea of playing a reduced role in Oklahoma City last season, but fulfilled his obligations as a bench player in Houston with no qualms, according to the report.