Carmelo Anthony waived by Hawks, expected to sign with Rockets
It is reportedly a matter of when, not if, Carmelo Anthony will join the Houston Rockets.
Reports are coming from Turner Sports’ David Aldridge. He says Anthony “has been telling people for more than a week that he’ll ultimately wind up with the Rockets.”
It should surprise no one that @carmeloanthony has been telling people for more than a week that he’ll ultimately wind up with the Rockets, per league source.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) July 19, 2018
On Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to trade Anthony and a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team deal that netted them point guard Dennis Schroder, per ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Additionally, the Thunder acquired former Hawks big man Mike Muscala, who was re-routed to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for French swingman Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. Philadelphia also shipped Justin Anderson to Atlanta.
Read: DeMar DeRozan Unhappy with Spurs Trade
Anthony, meanwhile, will be free to sign with the team of his choice once he completes a buyout with the Hawks and clears waivers. According to Wojnarowski, the Hawks intend to pay Anthony his entire $27.9 million salary for next season as part of the buyout.
Anthony will get his entire $27.9M in the buyout and waiver with Hawks. It could take a few days to work thru logistics on trade. 'Melo met with Rockets and Heat in Las Vegas. Again, Rockets are the frontrunner. https://t.co/2rbDZ7vUu1
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 19, 2018
Once Anthony signs with the Rockets, who have long been viewed as the front-runners for his services, he will join a team that’s been looking to fill a hole at small forward following the offseason departures of Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute.
