The Houston Rockets are mentioned in rumors as the best fit for Carmelo Anthony and to sign him as a free agent, the team may need to trade Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin to clear enough space and that could be an option for Daryl Morey in Summer 2014 if the team is eliminated in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers, as adding Melo would give Dwight Howard and James Harden a big 3 of their own in Texas.
The Rockets are not afraid of making big moves and trades, as Daryl Morey set up the team to sign Dwight Howard and also pulled off the biggest heist in years in getting James Harden. The team is very talented and while they had the chance to be very good this season, next year is the one to watch, as the Rockets may put themselves in position to get Carmelo Anthony. This season the team was rumored to be interested in trading Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin at the deadline, but they couldn't pull off a deal, but those moves should be easier next season.
Asik and Lin's contracts have a decent amount of money on them and last season that made deals tough, but now both of those deals will be expiring and that could make them more attractive. According to ESPN.com, the salary cap is rising by about $5 million next season and while that doesn't mean the Rockets can pay Melo more than the Knicks, it at least gives them a chance to compete. Anthony likely will have to take less money to stay in NY even though they can give him the most and that could give the Rockets the chance they need.
According to SI.com, the Rockets and the Chicago Bulls are the best options for Anthony and those are the teams that have a chance to sign him over the Knicks. The 29-year-old will be the top player on the market if he opts out and the Rockets have the chance to sign him if they deal Asik and Lin, freeing up that space. The Rockets were one of the best offensive teams in the league last season and while Howard and Harden have played great all year, Anthony could give the team a championship makeup.
The Houston Rockets have played the Portland Trail Blazers tough, but the series now is 3-1 in favor of the Blazers and that could make things tough the rest of the way for the Rockets as they try to come back. The team lost the first two games at home at the Toyota Center and that was tough to deal with and they also allowed LaMarcus Aldridge to get off to an amazing start to the series with back to back 40 point games and that gave Howard some criticism. The team rebounded to win Game 3 at the Moda Center in a must win game, but now they are down 3-1 after losing again in overtime and they could be out in the first round after having NBA title aspirations.
The Rockets now are on the brink and they are down 3-1 to the Blazers as the playoffs series gets closer to finishing up.