The Rockets were on of the most consistent offensive teams in the league last season and they are currently playing the Portland Trail Blazers in the playoffs as the fourth seed in the western conference playoffs. Howard has had a great first season in Houston playing with James Harden and according to Pro Basketball Talk, the Rockets and the Chicago Bulls are the top two options for Anthony if he opts out of his contract with the Knicks, which is he is expected to do.
Chris Broussard at ESPN.com first reported the possibility of a sign and trade with Harden, but now that Melo is considering the Knicks, Lakers and Bulls, that is likely off.
The NBA free agency class in the summer of 2014 has some big names like Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James hitting the market and the Houston Rockets could be in the mix for the Knicks star, as they could trade Jeremy Lin to clear cap space and with the salary limit going up, the team could prepare a large offer for Anthony to consider a Big 3 with James Harden and Dwight Howard. The team may also look at a sign and trade deal with Harden, but now it looks like the Lakers and Knicks are the top two teams ahead of the Bulls to sign Anthony.
The Knicks have the best chance to sign Anthony technically, as they can offer him an extra year and the most money and that will be something that he has to consider if he opts out over the summer. Anthony had another very solid season with the Knicks and he was frustrated when talking to reporters after the season about missing the playoffs just one year after winning the Atlantic division with over 50 wins. Anthony's future has been speculated on all season and despite Phil Jackson coming in to take over the Knicks basketball operations, Anthony is expected to opt out to be a free agent this summer.
According to ESPN.com, sources have said that the league is raising the salary cap around $5 million this offseason and while that has not been made official yet, it could be enough to give teams like the Bulls and Rockets a chance to sway Anthony. Jackson and the Knicks can offer Anthony five years and over $130 million and that's more than everyone else can give, but after the way New York played last season he could be ready to leave. The ESPN.com article writes that the Rockets can clear more space by trading one of or both of Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, as both of those players have contracts that will be expiring.
Even if Anthony wants to stay in New York, he has every right to opt out of his contract to become a free agent, as he has never had the chance to be one of those in his professional career. Anthony was drafted by the Denver Nuggets out of college from Syracuse and he later signed an extension with the team that kept him in Denver. Anthony then signed another extension when he was traded to the Knicks and while he had some sway in that decision, he still was not a free agent. This could be the last time that Anthony is afforded the chance to be a free agent at the top of his talents and it is also likely to be the final "big money" contract of his career, as he is now 25-years-old.
