The New York Knicks could be open to trading free-agent forward Carmelo Anthony to the Houston Rockets for All-Star guard James Harden, according to TheBigLead.com.

With the Knicks fearful of losing the league's No. 2 overall scorer for nothing should he decide to walk in free agency, the website speculated Phil Jackson and the Knicks might be open to making such a deal.

Carmelo Anthony free agent news

Earlier this week, Anthony informed the Knicks he plans to formally opt out of the final year of his deal on July 1, at which point he is expected to meet with the Bulls, Lakers, Rockets, Mavericks and perhaps Heat in determining where he will play next season. The Knicks are also on record in asserting they would like Anthony back.

But if that option is no longer in the cards, several media outlets are reported the Houston deal may not be as far-fetched as some may think, as the Rockets have long been intent on going all in to land Anthony.

Bulls eyeing Carmelo Anthony

Several other media outlets further speculate the Rockets could then use their remaining cap space to sign James, giving them a new 'Big 3′ of Dwight Howard, Anthony and James, who previously won back-to-back titles with the Heat largely based on a Big 3 core of himself, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

The Bulls are also rumored to be among the leaders to potentially land Anthony, either as a free agent signing or as a sign-and-trade deal that could center around the expiring contract of veteran forward Carlos Boozer and some combination of the team's two first round picks in this week's draft.