Rockets forward Carmelo Anthony is no longer an active member of the team, and he will not be again. So, why hasn’t Houston released him to be picked up by another franchise?
The answer is a fairly simple one: Money.
Unless the Rockets have some sort of assurance that another team will claim Anthony off waivers once released, they risk a $2.6-million luxury tax hit. There is no reason to take a chance on incurring that penalty until there is some clear interest in Anthony’s services around the league.
Should said interest arise, the Rockets could even capitalize by waiting until Anthony’s trade restrictions are lifted on Dec. 15, and then dealing him for reasonable return, as Marc Stein of the New York Times explains.
Is there a team out there willing to give the 10-time former All-Star another shot? That, sadly, is the most pertinent Melo question these days.
But the Rockets’ decision to hang onto him for now does make sense — financial sense.
If they just waive him outright with no signal there’s another team in the former All-Star’s future, Anthony’s veteran minimum salary will result in a $2.6 million luxury-tax hit for Houston.
If the Rockets waive him with the knowledge that Anthony is about to be claimed off waivers — or if they can deal him elsewhere once Melo becomes trade-eligible Dec. 15 — they’ll dodge those luxury-tax consequences at season’s end.
For now, no team has emerged as a serious candidate to pick up Anthony’s deal, although he has plenty left in the tank. Poor fits in his last two stops and the consequently apparent buyer’s remorse exhibited by those organizations may have scared off potential suitors.