Houston Rockets Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Could Join Howard and Harden

There are some Houston Rockets rumors suggesting that team president Daryl Morey is serious about obtaining Carmelo Anthony from the New York Knicks. According to sources of the New York Post, the Houston Rockets have been inquiring about Carmelo Anthony since before the trade deadline.

Carmelo Anthony rumors have been buzzing all season as the Knicks’ All-Star forward has been floundering on a hopeless New York squad. After a successful 2012-2013 that ended with a disappointing loss to the Indiana Pacers, the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony looked primed to enter the elite air of the NBA East. But injuries and off court issues have stirred up discontent among fans and players, leading to the most recent Houston Rockets rumors.

There are several obstacles for the Houston Rockets to make any attempt to sign Carmelo Anthony this Summer. The biggest one is money. New York has the upper hand when it comes to money, thanks to the newest collective bargaining agreement. They can offer Carmelo Anthony just over $129 million compared to the $96 million that any other team would be able to offer. The Houston Rockets could potentially offer as much as $89 million, but it would cost them dearly on their roster.

A straight up free agency signing of Carmelo Anthony to the Houston Rockets is highly unlikely. But president Daryl Morey is not afraid to get creative and play with numbers to bring in big time talent. Over the last two seasons, Morey has managed to bring in two of the biggest names in the NBA in Dwight Howard and James Harden. The Houston Rockets rumors surrounding Carmelo Anthony most likely involve a sign and trade deal with the New York Knicks.

What does Houston have that New York could possibly want? Rumors are that Omer Asik, the back up center for the Rockets, is a valuable piece the Knicks are interested in. Asik could start right away in New York, but they need to make a run at a big name if they lose Anthony. Also, the Houston Rockets would have to unload more cap space if they want any shot at Anthony. Besides trading Asik, this would mean unloading at least Jeremy Lin (Linsanity back in New York?) and including a third player or involving a third team. That’s a lot of moving parts to get Carmelo Anthony in a Rockets jersey.

If anyone can do it, it would be the master of numbers, Daryl Morey. There is one more obstacle to the whole thing. Phil Jackson would most likely be involved in the process and he is known for being slow and methodical. Morey is much more of a bait and switch kind of guy and will have a tough time pulling one over on the Zen master. It will be interesting to see if the Houston Rockets rumors concerning Carmelo Anthony actually materialize into anything.

[Image via thisismelo.com]