Chicago Bulls complete deal for Houston Rockets' Carmelo Anthony
Wednesday 23 January 2019 07:27, UK
The Chicago Bulls have officially acquired veteran forward Carmelo Anthony from the Houston Rockets.
Anthony will not play a game for the Bulls but they will eventually trade or waive him before the February 7 deadline, according to ESPN.
This will allow him to become a free agent if he clears waivers.
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Chicago sent the draft rights of Serb forward Tadija Dragicevic, the draft rights to guard Jon Diebler and cash considerations to the Rockets for Anthony.
Houston and Anthony agreed to go their separate ways in November - three months after he had signed a one-year deal with the team in August.
The 34-year-old played only 10 times for the Rockets this season, coming off the bench eight times, and averaged 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Rockets' shooting guard James Harden thinks Anthony can still help a team and hopes he finds another home this season.
"I just want to see him hoop, see him happy, and I mean, he deserves it, honestly," Harden said.
"Like, he's put so much time and effort into this game that he should be able to hoop and still have fun playing the game of basketball."
Houston head coach Mike D'Antoni noted it was not an attitude problem that led to Anthony's eventual departure, stating "he tried everything he could but it didn't work out".
Anthony began his career with the Denver Nuggets after he was their third overall pick in the 2003 draft.
He has averaged 24.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 16 seasons. He has also played for the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder.
