ESPN: Carmelo Anthony: After Rockets exit, told Chris Paul to 'just be careful'

Yeah, I guess it's a sh!tty look for the league when one super team with all stars at every position dominates for years and the only team who actually has a chance at stopping them has to resort to every single advantage it can get just to try to even the overwhelming talent disadvantage they are playing against. I mean that's exactly why Houston has to take so many 3s because that is the only way they could come close to competing with the Warriors....the lack of true competitiveness in the league the last few years(most teams didn't even try to compete with GS) leads to people tuning out and blaming the quality of the game. The Rockets aren't unique in any of the things you outlined but the narrative is to jump all over Houston when they do it because they are being used as scapegoats for many of the problems the players association created for itself when it elected not to have cap smoothing that fateful summer of Kevin Durant. Houston happened to be one of the teams trying to overcome that uneven playing field and now here we are buried under a sea of hot take narratives desperately trying to regain perspective. If the Bucks had filed a protest after a game with San Antonio the media narrative would be completely different than if Houston did it - the narrative matters, but it's also very distorted and doesn't reflect reality.

 

When Melo warned Chris Paul, was he telling Paul that his skills were diminishing? Bc they were diminishing. Thus, he's gone.

 

You know who doesn't have to "be careful" ?

Players that provide value beyond or commensurate with what they are getting paid.

So if you're not in that category, be VERY careful.

It's a business and these guys are getting paid millions to play basketball and be good at it.
I'm tired of hearing about the hurt egos and **** because a team decided to move on.
Cannot have it both ways. You cannot embrace free agency and embrace players being able to leave a franchise or pout their way into a trade and not understand that teams are going to do what they have to do as well.

Everyone is looking out for their own best interest and that's the way it should be.
All this handwringing and painting one side as the villain over the other is horseshit.

 

Rockets gave CP3 a full 4 year max (likely handshake deal from the trade the year before) despite him ending the season with an injury and going into his age 33 year. They have definitely done right for him in all regards.

Melo can have a beef with the Rockets and I do think that was handled a bit badly, but CP3 cant complain since the Rockets traded their bench for him, let him load manage here while having Harden carry the regular season, paid him max, yet he still couldn't deliver when it mattered in both years

 

When Melo had leverage in NY, didn't he give Knicks a list of preferred destinations. He had a no trade clause back then, had power to waive. Was strong arming the Knicks.

If you are a franchise player, can ask for it. Otherwise it's business.

 

I love how players expect an explanation when they get traded but when they demand trades or leave their former teams high and dry all the sudden it’s ok and they shouldn’t have to explain anything to their former teams. Seems like LBJ, Melo, CP, and KD, just to name a few, forgot how they left their respective teams. LBJ with the decision. Melo w/Denver. CP w/NO. KD ghosting OKC. Should I keep going? Where were y’all then?

 

So OKC who traded him after a year gets no blame?
Atlanta who cut him quick gets no blame?
But the Rockets get blamed as the only team willing to sign him? LOL

Then the media makes up a rumor that the Rockets blamed Melo for their slow start thus cutting him and...
No mention that CP3 doesn't step in to stop it?
And that no other team had signed him since?

As well, CP3 was given a 4 year max that the media scrutinized to death but then after he's traded the Rocket somehow did him dirty? LOL

 

Man, I would give my left testy if the Rockets could win another championship THIS YEAR!

 

all these bad news about the rockets coming out of the woodwork, da fuq

 

Who's skills? Both are playing better with other teams now

 

Why do you think Carmelo is playing better? I think he's playing worse.

 

but still the same losing result.

 

Because there’s more to the game than scoring.

 

he's a MELOOF, dont mind him.

 

He told CP3 not to suck, but he ended up sucking so...that's that.

 

Both Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul were overweight comparing this year to last year.

Chris Paul looks leaner and gained some speed.

Carmelo Anthony lost weight, thats it.

 

"Yeah we messed up counting the votes for the presidency ultimately making you lose, but ugh... you had a big league and plenty of time to overcome it"

 

At this point, we need to just embrace being the NBA's heel. Morey costing the NBA millions confirmed it.

 

I highly doubt the players think this of Houston, this is just the media pandering to casual fans. The reason CP has been professional when asked about his thoughts on the trade is because he knows he was taken care of by the Rockets and maxed out when they didn't really need to. He was in his 30s and declining and we still gave him a max. We traded for him and essentially had all of the leverage as he was not re-signed until the following summer.There really isn't a whole lot of convincing you can do with free agents, they have visited every NBA city and know what each one has to offer.

Players care about max pay/years on contract, lifestyle/location of city, and their ability to compete/team culture when it comes to being competitive. That is pretty much it, taxes, iPads, or other random things people think they care about just aren't that big of a deal to max players. Josh Hart has been crying all season about how the Lakers didn't call him about the trade, this has been talked about more than Melo/Rockets and I don't see anyone saying no to LA for this reason.