Patrick Beverley reveals Carmelo Anthony could have formed a big three with James Harden and Dwight Howard

Beverley thinks Anthony did not pull the trigger because of Jeremy Lin

A trio of Anthony, Harden, and Howard would have been a nightmare to play against because they were a complete offensive trio. Harden had all the tools to be both a playmaker and a go-to scorer, while Howard was the perfect complementary piece with his paint presence.

Anthony would have been the second isolation scorer who also thrived as a spot-up shooter or in post-up situations in the block. It would have been tough to stop because all three players had different weapons that could break down an opponent’s defense.

Unfortunately, it did not pan out for the Rockets because Anthony did not sign with the team. No official word was said about his decision, but Beverley believes that the Rockets having Jeremy Lin on the roster was the answer. This alludes to the supposed issue between Anthony, Lin, and the Knicks during the “Linsanity” run in February 2012.

“Melo was kinda coming in to negotiate in free agency. He went to a bunch of teams to negotiate, and one of the teams he went to was the Houston Rockets. We were talking about getting him. There was James Harden, Dwight, and we had a chance to get Melo,” Beverley said on Hoopin’ N Hollerin’.

“I come here, I’m not playing with #7 though. That’s Jeremy Lin. The year before, they had all the Linsanity stuff, and they’re trying to trade to keep J-Lin. There was a time when people were talking about maybe trading Melo to keep Jeremy Lin. It was a time when a lot of people in New York were saying that, couldn’t get Melo.”

Anthony still ended up playing for the Rockets

While the deal did not materialize between Anthony and the Rockets in the mid-2010s, he eventually landed with the Rockets in 2018. Anthony signed a veteran’s minimum deal worth $2.4 million for one season. It was a reunion for him and head coach Mike D’Antoni.

Unfortunately, it was a short-lived stint for Anthony because then-Rockets general manager Daryl Morey announced in November that they were parting ways with Anthony. He only got to play 10 games in Houston, as the team struggled to find the optimal role for him.

Many viewed the way the team parted ways with Anthony as disrespectful, as Anthony only returned to the NBA in November 2019 when the Portland Trail Blazers scooped him up from free agency. He was productive with the Blazers for two seasons before ending his career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2021-22 season.