In order to for the Houston Texans to sign Carmelo Anthony, the team will have to clear a significant amount of cap space which is always easier said than done. The team is looking to build a championship roster they thought was already in place. Anthony is reportedly hoping for a bidding war from the Rockets, something they intend on giving him. So how do they go about it and what happens if they miss out?

The Rockets first move is shopping Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin. If the team is clearing cap space, those are the first two players that need to go. The Rockets have been trying to trade both players for some time now and have yet to find a team willing to take on their inflated contracts. Both Lin and Asik are capable starters which means their asking prices are too high for the contract they are signed to. Both players will be making $15 million a piece next season which is the definition of overpaid. They are on expiring contracts which will be appealing to teams, but the price of them might be too high to take on.

Any team looking to bring on Anthony needs about $20 million in cap space. Right now, the Rockets have that much committed to players on the roster. They took the first step in clearing some room by making Chandler Parsons a restricted free agent. The Houston Chronicle believes that if Anthony does not plan on signing with Houston, then the Rockets will bring back Parsons and simply match any offer by another team.

So who could the Rockets look at if they do lose the race for the New York Knicks guard? According Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, Luol Deng will be a top target for Houston. Deng will be of interest to any team that misses out on Anthony which means the Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls and Rockets will all look his way once Anthony signs. Deng could benefit from this and get a nice pay day for teams in panic mode once Anthony is off the market. The Rockets would like to get his versatility on the roster to pair with James Harden.

Another option could be Trevor Ariza. The veteran saw his stock rise after a successful season with the Washington Wizards. While the team hopes to re-sign him come July 1 to keep the pairing with John Wall intact, Arizam ight favor testing the market for a pay day. He will not be the first free agent off the board, but again, teams that miss out on Anthony will give him a look.