Tracy McGrady thinks Carmelo Anthony should simply retire
After word surfaced that his time with the Houston Rockets is rapidly coming to a close, Carmelo Anthony’s representatives have reportedly started reaching out to NBA front offices to gauge potential landing spots for the 16-year veteran.
Yet after a pair of failed attempts at finding a new long-term home since he split with the New York Knicks, one former NBA star has a suggestion for Anthony going forward: Call it a career.
ESPN analyst Tracy McGrady, who played in the league from 1997-2012, said on ESPN’s “The Jump” on Tuesday that he thinks Anthony should just retire instead of trying to find a new team.
Tracy McGrady says Carmelo Anthony should retire – for his own sake. (Interesting to note that TMac retired at 34, the same age Melo is now & has said that after spending his career as his teams' primary scorer, just hanging around in a player-coach/deep-bench role had no appeal) pic.twitter.com/kew12S9Ift
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) November 13, 2018
“I honestly think Melo should retire. I really do,” McGrady said. “I don’t want him to go through another situation like this and people are just pouring negativity on this man’s legacy. I really think, because it hasn’t worked out the last two teams, you have a Have of Fame career, just go ahead and let it go.”
Now, McGrady has a point. Anthony already has a Hall of Fame-worthy career. The 10-time NBA All-Star has been a force in the league for years, from when he started his career in Denver in 2003 to his seven-year stretch with the Knicks.
Yet after a one-year stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder and his rough start with the Rockets this season — one in which he’s playing a career-low in minutes and coming off the bench for the first time — perhaps it makes sense for Anthony to simply call it.
Not everyone is able to succeed in the NBA in a secondary role off the bench, and it doesn’t look like Anthony will be able to figure that role out with a new team — especially after how he’s performed in Houston so far this year.
If that’s the case, perhaps he should take McGrady’s advice.
At least that way, Anthony won’t be dragged through the mud or made out to be a scapegoat any more. He can leave the league with his head still (mostly) held high.
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