Even when coming off the bench, is Carmelo Anthony an asset?

If Carmelo Anthony will, in fact, come off the bench for the Houston Rockets, does it still pay to give him playing time?

With Carmelo Anthony now officially a member of the Houston Rockets, ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski reported there is a good chance the 10-time All-Star’s contributions will come as a member of the second unit.

While nobody was quite sure this move would ever happen given Melo’s public disdain for such a role, it clearly made sense for both parties given the circumstances, most notably Anthony’s age and his awkward fit next to Chris Paul and James Harden.

So, with Carmelo likely to come off the bench, that means bringing him in was ultimately the right decision, one that will benefit the Rockets in their chase to dethrone the Golden State Warriors … right?

Well, it’s not that simple.

No matter where he starts off the game, Melo still has a style of play not suited for the modern NBA, and it’s one that could hinder a Rockets offense that was second in points per game last season, depending on how many touches Anthony demands.

Speaking of shot totals, just because he may accept a role coming off the pine, it may not mean Carmelo is willing to simultaneously sacrifice scoring opportunities, which can’t possibly do much good for Houston.

Is it ludicrous to suggest Melo, a guy who’s proven either unaware or unwilling to adapt to his surroundings, is still going to want the offense run through him for a large chunk of time, thereby bringing down the Rockets’ offensive efficiency?

One of the main points in favor of a bench role for Anthony has been the notion that it’s not about who starts the game but rather who finishes it.

Well, what if Carmelo’s doing neither? Is that something his abnormally large ego can withstand? Or is it going to spill out into the media and start another war with Mike D’Antoni?

Let’s also not forget about Eric Gordon, who’s been just fine as the sixth man for Houston and has done a fantastic job of being one of the best bench scorers in the league in each of the last two seasons.

Anthony has never been one to pass the basketball, and such a mindset could take away some of Gordon’s touches, limiting his production and subsequently hampering a valuable member to the Rockets’ success since he arrived in the summer of 2016.

Given the losses they suffered this offseason, the Rockets needed to make a move in order to give off the appearance that they got better.

While his name certainly brings with it a brand of its own, Carmelo Anthony as a player doesn’t seem to fit in Houston unless he’s given only the bare minimum of minutes so as to not disrupt the rhythm his new teammates have already established without him.

Bringing Melo off the bench is certainly better than having him wrestle for possessions next to CP3 and Harden in the starting lineup, but it doesn’t magically make all his flaws disappear.

His game hasn’t modernized. He’ll still want touches and will likely want to be on the court late in the fourth quarter.

Having Anthony come off the bench is making the best of a less than ideal situation. It doesn’t hide his defects, it only attempts to minimize them.