The Boston Celtics haven't expressed serious interest in Houston Rockets forward Carmelo Anthony, according to a report from the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn.
Still, the Celtics are reportedly monitoring the situation. Boston has had interest in Anthony in the past, and now his role as a member of the second unit would make more sense with the Celtics.
The Rockets are yet to officially waive Anthony, but they are expected to move on from him after a slow start on both ends.
The Celtics don't have roster space for Anthony, but they might move on from Jabari Bird, who is dealing with legal issues in a domestic violence case. The NBA may rule that Bird's situation voids his contract, and even if it doesn't, the Celtics might very well waive him anyway.
That would open up room for the 10-time All-Star, who would technically qualify for Irving's request for a 14- or 15-year vet (although it should be noted that Irving's request felt more like an off-the-cuff comment than real agitation for help).
It's not entirely clear the extent to which Anthony would help the Celtics at this stage in his career. In Houston, Anthony shot just 40.5 percent from the field, and roughly 32.8 percent from behind the arc. His best skill for years was isolating against opponents and beating them off the bounce.
But in spurts, his offense could help a bench unit that has struggled despite having plenty of firepower. The smart money would take the field rather than the Celtics as a landing spot, but a team like Boston that hopes to achieve contender status might make the most sense for Anthony at this stage in his career.