NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony's Rockets career over, next team unknown

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The Carmelo Anthony experiment with the Houston Rockets is over.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday the two sides will part ways, but he's not technically being removed from the roster at this time. Here's why:

Anthony was signed by the Rockets as a free agent to help fill the void created when forwards Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute left Houston as free agents over the summer. Melo averaged 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in a limited role for the Rockets, but he didn't quite fit as well as the team would've hoped.

"After much internal discussion, the Rockets will be parting ways with Carmelo Anthony and we are working toward a resolution," Rockets GM Daryl Morey said in a statement. "Carmelo had a tremendous approach during his time with the Rockets and accepted every role head coach Mike D'Antoni gave him. The fit we envisioned when Carmelo chose to sign with the Rockets has not materialized, therefore we thought it was best to move on as any other outcome would have been unfair to him."

The 34-year-old forward's next destination is anyone's guess. Several teams could use an extra scoring punch off the bench, and he does have 72 career playoff games of experience. His unwillingness to be a bench player could be an issue for any interested teams, though, because his scoring and defense no longer are starting-caliber.

The Rockets are off to a disappointing 6-7 start to the season and play the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors in a national TV game Thursday night.

Click here for a list of four teams who should consider singing Anthony

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