Is Carmelo Anthony overrated? Yes and no. He’s a great player but he’s not what people think he is and after this many seasons in the NBA one would think coaches, GM’s, and team owners would have caught on. He’s a free agent and the teams are already lining up to pay Melo a humungous salary. Houston seems to be first in line and has already started making deals to free up cap space to make room for Anthony. They even went so far as to make an image of him wearing a number 7 Rockets Jersey while Jeremy Lin is still technically a Rocket, a terribly disrespectful move on their part. Howard and Harden are already holding up their end of the bargain offensively so I’m not sure how Melo’s one on one style of offense would fit in there. Dallas has also met with Anthony. Nowitzki is obviously re-signing but will likely take a cut in pay to attract talented free agents. Dallas needs defense and Melo won’t be a huge factor in that uphill battle. With Nowitzki still one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA it’s hard to see why Melo would be such an amazing asset to the team. We have to remember, however, that with Mark Cuban at the helm it’s about winning and about ticket sales. Anthony would likely put some butts in the buckets so Dallas is a definite possibility. The Lakers are also in the mix but seem like a longshot. Kobe will be back and with Kobe who needs Anthony? Plus, word is Kobe didn’t even show up to the meeting. Here’s the problem as I see it. No team will ever be a perfect fit for Carmelo Anthony. Even a team with a superstar point guard who could feed him the ball all day for easy shots wouldn’t particularly suit him. He’s a great one on one offensive player and that seems to be where his major talents end. He’s not a great defender. His rebounding skills are mediocre and god knows his passing abilities need some work. I can’t fault him there though; it’s hard to be good at something you’ve never done. He also hasn’t played 82 games since his rookie year. But the thing Carmelo Anthony lacks most is the ability to make those around him better. His game doesn’t require teammates. Look, I understand that every die-hard Melo fan is going to hate me for this article but I’m not saying he’s not a good player because he absolutely is. One on one, there aren’t many who are better but he’s being confused for things he is not. He is not on the same level as Lebron or Wade. He is not a major superstar. He is not a franchise player. You cannot build a team around him. The tools aren’t there. Carmelo needs to go somewhere where he can be a high scoring role player, where his 27 a game helps rack up some W’s and lead whatever team that may be deep into the playoffs.
Article By: Jon DaBove
