Robert Horry Checks in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on the Scoop B Radio Podcast. Press Play Below To Listen!

Carmelo Anthony was bought out of his contract by the Atlanta Hawks this morning.

And we all know what that means: Carmelo Anthony and the Houston Rockets’ love affair is inching closer and closer.

Without stepping foot in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Anthony accepted a $2.4 million reduction in his buyout with the Hawks and will get his full $27.9 million salary for the 2018-19 season, once he clears waivers on Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET.

From there, he’ll sign a one-year $2.4 million veteran’s minimum contract with the Houston Rockets.

Houston would be a great place for redemption. The Rockets went 65-17 last season and made a trip to the NBA’s Western Conference Finals and losing to eventual champion, Golden State Warriors. This offseason, the Rockets signed Clint Capela to an extension, re-signed Chris Paul and lost their key defensive cog in Trevor Ariza, who signed a one-year $15 million deal with the Phoenix Suns.

Carmelo Anthony will be charged with the task of replacing Ariza while also playing for current Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni, his former Knicks coach. D’Antoni and Anthony didn’t always see eye to eye in NYC, but league sources indicate that the two have since worked out their differences and don’t mind giving it another try.

“Carmelo’s forte isn’t defense and he and D’Antoni don’t have the best rapport,” former Houston Rocket and seven-time NBA Champion, Robert Horry told me on today’s episode of the Scoop B Radio Podcast.

Robert Horry & Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson discuss Carmelo Anthony on Scoop B Radio. Press Play Below To Listen!

“This is a team that doesn’t want to play defense.”

Bringing Anthony in seems to usher in a less defensive-minded direction, according to Horry. “It doesn’t really matter; they just want to run and gun,” he says.

Luc Mbah a Moute, another key piece in last season’s Houston Rockets’ defensive core also parted way with the Rockets.

At 34-years-old, many have questioned Anthony’s durability and productivity going into the 2018-19 season. After all, last season, the three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist averaged 16 points and 5 rebounds with the Thunder; career lows.

“I think D’Antoni is smart and he’ll figure it out,” said Horry.

“They’ll get back to the Western Conference Finals.”