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Rumor: Chris Paul wants Houston to sign Carmelo Anthony

Chris Paul Carmelo Anthony

The Houston Rockets must improve if they want to keep pace with the Golden State Warriors next season. According to Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports, Chris Paul is advocating for the Rockets to bring on Carmelo Anthony.

The Rockets are looking to replace Trevor Ariza next season after the 33-year-old signed with the Phoenix Suns. Ariza averaged 11.7 points per game last season on 36.8 percent shooting from three-point range.

Melo averaged 16.2 points per game on 35.7 percent shooting from three-point range with the Oklahoma City Thunder last season. Anthony is on his way out of Oklahoma City and he has a number of potential suitors.

Melo would be a nice replacement for Ariza, at least on the offensive end. Carmelo Anthony is not the superstar that he used to be, but he can still score the basketball and shoot from the outside. When he emulates how he played on Team USA at the Olympics, he’s at his best. That’s when he’s finding space as a spot-up shooter.

Although Anthony can replace—or possibly outperform—Ariza on offense, his biggest weakness is his defense. Heading into his age-34 season, Melo has completely lost his ability to defend on the perimeter and his lateral mobility is almost non-existent.

He struggles to guard anyone that’s smaller and quicker than he is. Perhaps, he can fit the Rockets system as a small-ball four, but he’s going to struggle anytime he needs to guard athletic wings.

Chris Paul is close friends with Melo and surely would love to team up with his friend. But this isn’t the forming of a superteam by any stretch of the imagination.

The post Rumor: Chris Paul wants Houston to sign Carmelo Anthony appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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