The Chicago Bulls met with free agent Carmelo Anthony on Tuesday, but it seems as though Dwight Howard is chomping at the bit for the Houston Rockets' turn to meet with the seven-time NBA All-Star on Wednesday.
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The Rockets are slated to meet with Anthony, who also has meetings with the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks planned, on Wednesday, and ESPN reports that sources close to Howard have noted that he badly wants Anthony in Houston.
"He really wants to sell him on Houston," a source with knowledge of Howard's thinking told ESPN. "He wants Carmelo there badly."
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Howard is reportedly slated to attend the Rockets' meeting with Anthony alongside James Harden as a way to sell Houston as a solid landing spot for the perennial All-Star. The New York Knicks will likely get the final meeting with Anthony to try and sway him to stay after he tours all of the franchises that he is mutually interested in.
Howard has been open about wanting to play alongside Anthony and there were even reports that the 6-foot-11 center was looking to track down Anthony's cell phone number to make a pitch over the phone
The Rockets and Bulls are at a bit of a disadvantage as neither team can sign Anthony to a maximum contract under the cap, but could either make moves to shed salary or acquire Anthony through a sign-and-trade, though it's unclear if Knicks president Phil Jackson would be willing to do that.
The Knicks are hopeful to keep Anthony in New York, but he has put winning a championship as his top priority and could flee the franchise if he finds a better fit with a championship pedigree in another location.
New York has an advantage from a salary standpoint, as it can offer Anthony a five-year $129 million pact while the other suitors can offer Anthony at most a four-year deal worth $96 million, but it seems as though Anthony's desire to win a ring could supersede making the maximum amount of money.
The Knicks -- declared a championship caliber team by owner James Dolan prior to the season -- finished 2013-14 with a 37-45 record and missed the playoffs entirely while Houston finished 54-28 before losing in the first round to the Portland Trailblazers this postseason.
Howard and Houston are hoping to convince Anthony that the Rockets are a team on the upswing and could win with him on board, and they'll get their chance to try and coax him into joining them on Wednesday
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