Seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady thinks Carmelo Anthony’s next landing spot should be his couch.
“You know what? I honestly think Melo should retire, I really do,’’ McGrady, who retired in 2012, said of the former Knick and soon-to-be officially former Houston Rocket.
Speaking on Tuesday’s edition of ESPN’s “The Jump” with Rachel Nichols, McGrady added, “I don’t want him to go through another situation like this, and people are just pouring negativity on this man’s legacy. I really think, because it hasn’t worked out the last two teams, just go ahead and — you have a Hall of Fame career — just go ahead and let it go.’’
McGrady’s comments came as the Rockets, according to reports, are looking to jettison Anthony, 34, who has played just 10 games for Houston following a rocky one-year stint with the Thunder.
ESPN reported that, while Anthony’s representatives are still in talks with the Rockets about the 10-time All-Star possibly returning to his bench role there, a more likely scenario is Houston waiving Anthony.
Reportedly, Anthony’s reps were scouring the NBA for potential landing spots. As of Tuesday night, he was still listed on the Rockets’ roster on the team web site.
But Anthony was expected to remain away from the Rockets for a third straight game on Tuesday night, when they visited the Nuggets.
Officially, Anthony’s absence is being called an illness.
After a washout season with Oklahoma City last year, when Anthony was unhappy in a lesser role behind Russell Westbrook and Paul George, Anthony engineered his free agency by waiving a no-trade clause and agreeing to a deal to the Hawks. Atlanta bought out his five-year, $124 million contract, originally signed with the Knicks in 2014, setting up the move to Houston.
Though there was hope Anthony could complement James Harden and Chris Paul and push the Rockets to a title, it quickly became obvious the fit was anything but perfect. Houston went into Tuesday night with a 5-7 record — 4-6 with Anthony.
Besides his discomfort with coming off the bench, the Anthony-Rockets relationship also was complicated by Anthony’s tense relationship with coach Mike D’Antoni, with whom he clashed when they were together on the Knicks.
In 10 games with the Rockets, Anthony averaged 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and a 40.5 shooting percentage. In his last game with Houston, Anthony scored two points in on 1-of-11 shooting in a loss to the Thunder.
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