Carmelo Anthony criticism is unfair, insists Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey
Monday 12 November 2018 08:07, UK
Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey insists Carmelo Anthony remains on the team amid reports the 15-time All-Star forward's brief time at the franchise is coming to an end.
Anthony, 34, missed the Rockets' first home win of the season on Sunday as they beat the Indiana Pacers 115-103 - his second straight absence through illness - having signed a one-year, $2.4m veteran's minimum contract in the off-season.
He has appeared in 10 games this season with two starts, averaging 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 29.4 minutes.
Speaking after the game, Morey said the team was "evaluating everything" after their 5-7 start and that it was "extremely unfair" that Anthony has been singled out.
"There's a lot of unfair rumours and everything going around about him," he said. "He's been great with us, as coach [Mike D'Antoni] said yesterday. His approach has been great. He has accepted every role coach has given him - starting, off the bench, whatever it's been.
"We're struggling as a team. It's my job, it's coach's job to figure this thing out. A lot of this is on me right now. We're not playing well and we just gotta figure it out. We're evaluating everything."
"I would expect him to be playing when he's healthy," Morey said when asked whether Anthony would return to the lineup.
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Anthony's team-mate and friend, Chris Paul, was less decisive on Anthony's future, saying: "Melo's been great here, I don't know what's being said or whatnot, but Melo's been great, working hard every day. So we'll see what happens."
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