Carmelo Anthony retired as one of the greatest players to ever grace the game. However, there was one black mark on his legacy: he never managed to win an NBA championship. In the latter half of his career, Melo tried to join a few different teams to make that happen.
During his stint with the New York Knicks, while he was still in his prime, in 2014, Carmelo became a free agent. According to Patrick Beverley, he almost joined the Houston Rockets with then-ascending superstar James Harden. However, PatBev also explained why the move fell through.
Advertisement
MORE: Dallas Mavericks owners ‘troubled’ due to rising negativity after terrible start
“He went to the Houston Rockets, because we was thinking about getting him,” Beverley said. “It was James Harden, Dwigh,t and we got a chance to get Melo. I’m like, ‘Damn!’ So Melo gets there, ‘Yeah, I’ll come here, but I ain’t playing with No. 7 though.’ That’s Jeremy Lin.”
Houston Rockets forward Carmelo Anthony and Houston Rockets guard James Harden box out Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio in the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-Imagn Images
Melo would eventually join the Rockets in 2018, but by that point, he was no longer the player that he used to be. The Big 3 of Carmelo, the Beard, and Dwight Howard could have ended up making some noise in the Western Conference, making this a big ‘what if?’
Advertisement
If it is indeed because of Lin that the deal fell through is something fans will never know for sure. Yet the rumor conitnues to persist and maybe it’s time to accept that there is some fire behind all the smoke.
—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead—
WEEKEND ROUNDUP:New NFL MVP frontrunner, gambling hits baseball, and more
Advertisement
NFL:NFL head coaches on hot seat heading into Week 11
COLLEGE FOOTBALL:Week 12 AP Top 25 Poll released as College Football Playoff race heats up
MLB:Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz, Emmanuel Clase charged in sports betting conspiracy
SPORTS MEDIA:ESPN College GameDay location announced for Week 12
VIRAL:Donald Trump calls play on Fox broadcast during Commanders, Lions game