Forward Carmelo Anthony admitted that he already knew that he wouldn't be a good fit for the Oklahoma City Thunder after receiving an awkward arrival.
Anthony, who joined the Thunder as part of a trade with New York, failed to connect in Oklahoma City with Paul George and former Kia Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook. Anthony, who is the league's 19th all-time scorer in history, only averaged 16.2 points per game last season.
"At the end of the day, it wasn't a good fit. Everything was just so rushed, going to the team for media day and the day before training camp. Them guys already had something in place, and then I come along in the 25th hour like, oh s**t, Melo just come on and join us," Anthony explained.
Anthony Struggled In Oklahoma
The 2012-13 NBA scoring champion tallied career-lows in points per game and field goal percentage last season. Anthony also shot a dismal 21 percent from the three-point country. Anthony and the rest of Thunder would then lose to the Utah Jazz in the first round last season.
In addition, the 10-time NBA All-Star also failed to find his footing with the Thunder during Game 6 of the playoffs, as his playing time was only limited to 26 minutes. Anthony finished the series with 11.8 points while converting just .375 of his baskets from the field.
Anthony To The Rockets
Earlier this offseason, the 10-time All-Star was traded to the Atlanta Hawks as part of the deal involving the Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers. Anthony is likely to be bought out by the Hawks and become a free agent.
The 34-year-old Anthony is expected to join the Houston Rockets wherein he will join reigning league MVP James Harden and nine-time All-Star Chris Paul. He will also be reunited with his former head coach, Mike D'Antoni, whom he had a beef with at New York. Anthony and D'Antoni were unable to mesh together in New York, which resulted in the latter to resign as the Knicks coach.
Houston is set to pay Anthony a veteran's minimum payment of $2.4 million. The move would give the Rockets a chance of signing rookies De'Anthony Melton and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Rockets hope to recover in style after losing to the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the last season's Western Conference Finals. During the offseason, Houston suffered major blows after losing Trevor Ariza to the Phoenix Suns and Luc Mbah a Moute to the Los Angeles Clippers.
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