Rockets represent Carmelo's last chance to salvage his reputation

Carmelo Anthony could retire today and waltz into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in three years.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist is one of the most talented scorers to ever jab-step on the hardwood. He's methodically schooled fools in the careful craft of post play and collected more career earnings to date than LeBron James. At his peak, he was powerful and graceful in equal measure.

His legacy is complicated by the fact his achievements never quite matched his abilities. With just one conference finals appearance in 15 seasons, Anthony was eventually labeled a selfish scorer that couldn't win.

It doesn't help that Anthony made enemies at every stop. He forced his way out of Denver, overstayed his welcome in New York, and got dumped by Oklahoma City. He famously clashed with three of the most decorated coaches in NBA history. Anthony hated playing small-ball power forward in Mike D'Antoni's pace-and-space Knicks offense, which proved to be ahead of its time, and drove D'Antoni to resign after issuing an ultimatum. Phil Jackson and former Nuggets coach George Karl ripped him for hogging the ball and not playing defense. Few people rush to argue with his critics.

The Houston Rockets tossed Anthony a lifeline after he was unceremoniously bought out. He agreed to the veteran's minimum to join a team that doesn't need him, and it's doubtful that he would have gotten an offer if not for his friendship with Chris Paul. The Rockets won 65 games last season and pushed the Golden State Warriors to the brink of elimination. Anthony could be the piece that puts them over the top, or he could be the fall guy for a franchise that may have broken what didn't need fixing.

Houston wants Anthony, now 34, to humble himself and accept a smaller role. Having lost Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute in free agency, the Rockets are looking to recoup some depth on the wing. He won't be nearly as diligent on the defensive end, but Houston's hoping Anthony can make up the difference by delivering more scoring punch than Ariza and Mbah a Moute, who shot a combined 6-of-32 from the field in two elimination games against the Warriors.

Related: How should the Rockets use Melo?

What the Rockets don't need is a prideful Anthony repeating last year's mistakes. He started Thunder training camp by laughing off a reporter who suggested he might come off the bench, then proved that reporter right by bricking his way through his worst season ever.

Anthony averaged a career-low 16 points while shooting 40.4 percent from the field in 32.1 minutes per game and putting up less resistance than ever on defense. He isolated more frequently than DeMar DeRozan and Jimmy Butler despite being largely unable to drive in his mid-30s. His free-throw attempts were cut in half. He made just 39 percent of his patented mid-range jumpers.

Things deteriorated during the playoffs. Anthony's per-game averages dropped to 12 points on 37.5 percent shooting, and he ended the season pouting on the sidelines while coach Billy Donovan picked Jerami Grant to finish games. Asked again about coming off the bench after the season, Anthony maintained that such a role was "out of the question." He was traded two months later.

The Thunder tried to bring the best out of Anthony by surrounding him with two stars in Paul George and Russell Westbrook, but failed to conjure "Olympic Melo" on an NBA court. Anthony didn't raise his level around better players and stubbornly insisted on the same steady diet of pull-up jumpers. The woeful results cemented his reputation as a self-centered player who doesn't help teams win.

With his best years behind him, Anthony has two choices in Houston: He can accept his limitations and change the narrative around him, or he can confirm the criticism that's dogged him for much of his career by torpedoing another situation with his selfishness.

That decision should be easy. Rockets head coach D'Antoni is ready to bury the hatchet, and there's no shame in deferring to a reigning MVP in James Harden. Anthony will have Paul in his corner feeding him easy shots, defending him to the media, and keeping him in check. It's been a decade since Anthony played on a championship contender. Redemption doesn't even necessarily require a ring.

Considering his track record, however, that might not be such an easy decision for Anthony.