The paths of Carmelo Anthony and Jeremy Lin have crossed again, and it has led to another indignity for the former Knicks point guard once known as Linsanity.
When Anthony arrived at Toyota Center in Houston for his free-agent visit with the Rockets on Wednesday morning, large images of Anthony in a white Rockets jersey with the No. 7 decorated the exterior of the arena.
The bitter irony: Lin currently wears No. 7 for the Rockets.
Lin needs to be traded for no return in order to make cap room for Anthony. The Post has learned the Sixers, who have major cap space, are potentially interested in inheriting Lin’s expiring pact, worth $14.8 million. They would need an additional pawn — a draft pick — to make the deal. Houston only will deal Lin if cap space is required, according to an NBA source.
Interestingly, Sixers president Scott O’Neil was the Garden president during Linsanity and has extensive Asian marketing connections.
Responding to a follower saying he had a right to stick up for himself, Lin tweeted: “im entitled to standup for myself/say i felt disrespected as i did thru tweet but point is love unconditionally/as jesus loved me.”
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told Houston’s FOX affiliate, “I hate the sensitivity and that it creates some hurt feelings, but that’s obviously Carmelo’s number, that’s the number he wants. He told us that.”
The lack of cohesion between Lin and Anthony goes back to their Knicks days. Anthony was injured during much of the early run of Lin’s success. When Anthony returned, the Knicks’ offense didn’t run as smoothly as it had, and Anthony complained about a lack of rhythm because he didn’t have the ball in his hands as much.
When Anthony initially was told of Lin’s revised offer sheet from the Rockets with the poison-pill final year of $15 million, he called it “a ridiculous contract.’’