What has seemed inevitable for some time is an actuality. Well, almost.
Carmelo Anthony has verbally agreed to sign with the Houston Rockets, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because the deal is not finalized.
The decision comes after Anthony cleared waivers following his release from the Atlanta Hawks, who had traded for Anthony in a three-team deal with Oklahoma City and Philadelphia that saw the Hawks acquire a protected first-round pick while shipping Dennis Schroder to the Thunder.
That trade was made in large part because it is slated to save the Thunder nearly $73 million in payroll and luxury taxes, according to ESPN front-office insider and former Brooklyn Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks.
Anthony spent just one season with the Thunder following a trade from the New York Knicks, but playing alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George he experienced the worst season of his career, averaging just 16.2 points.
The 34-year-old Anthony will join Chris Paul, one of his good friends in the league, and James Harden on a Rockets team that made the Western Conference final and had the best record in the NBA in 2017-18.
Contributing: Jeff Zillgitt
