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Adrian WojnarowskiESPN
The Houston Rockets and Carmelo Anthony are discussing his role with the team and how the franchise and the 10-time All-Star forward still might be able to proceed together for the rest of the season, league sources told ESPN.
Talks are ongoing, the sources said.
Anthony missed the Rockets’ 96-89 loss at San Antonio on Saturday night because of an illness.
After the game, coach Mike D’Antoni referred all questions about Anthony to general manager Daryl Morey.
“Yeah, that’s … I’m sure you can address that with Daryl. I’m trying to win a game,” D’Antoni said, adding: “You need to talk to Daryl. On that one, I have no answer for you right now.”
Asked what role he sees for Anthony moving forward, D’Antoni said: “What he was doing. Melo’s been great. What he’s been doing is backing up the 4.”
Anthony signed a one-year, $2.4 million veterans minimum contract with Houston after agreeing to a buyout with the Atlanta Hawks before the season.
The Rockets would be responsible for paying the 34-year-old Anthony that contract should the team decide to waive him.
Houston is searching for answers during what has been a sluggish start to the season on offense and defense. Anthony and the Rockets were both enthusiastic about his reunion with D’Antoni in the preseason, but both Anthony and the team — which has had injuries and lost key personnel in free agency — are off to a slow start.
The Rockets had the NBA’s No. 1 offense a season ago but had dropped to 26th overall in the team’s 4-6 start.
Anthony missed 10 of 11 shots in Houston’s 98-80 loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday night. He is averaging 13.4 points on 40 percent shooting this season.
A year ago, Anthony had his poorest offensive season in the NBA for the Thunder, who traded him to Atlanta in the summer.