UPDATE (January 22, 2018):
The Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls have completed their trade involving Carmelo Anthony, according to Yahoo’s Shams Charania:
Sources: Rockets and Bulls have completed trade: Carmelo Anthony, draft rights to Jon Diebler and $1.56 million to Chicago for draft rights to Tadija Dragicevoc.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 22, 2019
Original story follows:
The Carmelo Anthony-era in Houston lasted just a few games, went through some ups and (mostly) downs, and is now over. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Rockets have traded Anthony to the Chicago Bulls for cash considerations. The move allows Houston to officially add big man Kenneth Faried, who was bought out by the Brooklyn Nets.
The Houston Rockets have agreed to trade Carmelo Anthony and cash to the Chicago Bulls, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 21, 2019
Wojnarowski also notes that the Bulls are unlikely to keep Anthony, or even have him play. He will either be waived and allowed to sign with another team, or be traded. However, he can not be combined with other players in a trade. This makes a trade possible, though unlikely.
Carmelo Anthony will not play a game for the Bulls, but it is possible that franchise holds off on waiving him until the trade deadline, league sources tell ESPN. Bulls could include him in a one-for-one trade, but can't aggregate his contract in another deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 21, 2019
As for who would possibly be interested in Anthony, there are no concrete possibilities that have showed up. LeBron James reportedly showed interest in getting Anthony to Los Angeles several months ago, but the Lakers would need to waive a player to make it happen. Wojnarowski says Los Angeles has maintained some interest in Carmelo Anthony, but do not want to waive someone to acquire him. Thus, it appears the 10-time All-Star will only be in a Lakers jersey if a spot opens up.
After having the worst season of his career in Oklahoma City a year ago, Anthony was just as abysmal in Houston. This season, 13.4 points per game on 40.5 percent shooting – just one-hundredth of a point better than last season. It appears more than likely that he will not stay with equally abysmal Chicago, and instead be given a chance to sign with a contender.
