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HOUSTON – Carmelo Anthony is done in Houston.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey released a statement Thursday saying the team is "parting ways" with Anthony and "working toward a resolution."
Anthony played just 10 games for Houston after signing a $ 2.4 million deal during the offseason.
Morey added: "Carmelo had a tremendous approach during his time with the Rockets and Mike De Antoni gave him. The fit we envisioned when Carmelo has not materialized, so we thought it would be better to move on. "
Oklahoma City: The Thunder in the Hawks in July before the Hawks released the Rockets.
Houston thought he could get the piece he needed to finally get past Golden State and win its first championship since back-to-back titles in 1994-95. Instead of the Rockets, Gary Clark made it appear that Anthony would have to take a reduced role.
In the end the Rockets It would be better to move on than to force Anthony to do that.
"We just had to see how things worked out," D'Antoni said. "And the way we played was not conducive to his game and he was trying to make the necessary sacrifices and it was not fair to him was not good for us. It was not a fit. "
The 34-year-old Anthony is a 10-time All-Star who has had a tough time over the last two seasons. He is a career-low 16.2 points in 78 starts in a tumultuous season for the Thunder last season before coming to Houston – and accepting a reserve role for the first time in his 16-year career.
Eight of Anthony's 10 appearances for the Rockets came off the bench after he had started all.
D'Antoni said he feels that he is not a matter of Anthony not having the right attitude in Houston.
"In the summer we did not work out," D'Antoni said. "He tried everything he could. He was great while he was here. It just did not work out for whatever reason. I just thank him for his professionalism. It was good. He tried everything he could to make it work and it just did not work out. "
The third overall pick in the 2003 draft has averaged 24 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3 assists in a career that also included stints with the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks.
Anthony sat out Houston's last three games with what the team called an illness. His last appearance for Houston came in a blowout to Oklahoma City on Nov. 8 when he had two points and five rebounds.
Antoni expects the rest of the Rockets to handle this professionally, but knows that the move will be tough on them.
"I'm sure they hate it," D'Antoni said. "There's some good friends in there and there will be friendships. But above all this is a business. "
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