Carmelo Anthony is not the player he used to be. He's still a productive player and he has the tools to be an offensive weapon for his new team, the Houston Rockets. But most people acknowledge that he is a defensive liability on the court.

To say he was a liability would be a gross understatement.

Berra points out that the Thunder's defensive rating was historically good with Melo on the court. Paul George and Andre Roberson are considered elite defenders and it's no surprise that they defended well despite Anthony's presence.

But in the small sample size George and Roberson had with Melo off the court, their defensive rating was an eye-popping 81. That number is mind-blowing.

Berra goes on to point out that Melo is a liability but alongside elite defenders, he can survive. The problem for the Houston Rockets is whether or not their defense is good enough to sustain the defensive liability that is Carmelo Anthony.

As a team, the Rockets were sixth in the league in defensive rating last season at 103.8. Chris Paul and Clint Capela are excellent defenders and even James Harden's made improvements to that part of his game. But adding Melo could take the Rockets from a good defense to an average defense.

He can't guard anyone on the perimeter anymore and he's only capable of playing the stretch four. His offensive repertoire should fit in nicely in Houston, but can Mike D'Antoni afford to leave him on the court if his defense is as bad as it was in Oklahoma City?