The Houston Rockets pursued a trade for Carmelo Anthony last offseason and sources say they were optimistic at one point that a three-way deal would be agreed upon with the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers.

The talks with the Knicks, however, fizzled, after the exit of Phil Jackson after the draft and before the start of free agency.

The Rockets' potential trade for Anthony had no impact on their interest in signing P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute in free agency.

James Harden began to recruit Tucker days after their season ended as they hung out together in Atlanta.

"Yo, you're coming to Houston," Harden told him then, according to Tucker. "We need what you do."

Anthony was eventually traded to the Thunder in a package for Enes Kanter.