It is reportedly a matter of when, not if, Carmelo Anthony will join the Houston Rockets. 

According to Turner Sports' David Aldridge, Anthony "has been telling people for more than a week that he’ll ultimately wind up with the Rockets."

On Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to trade Anthony and a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team deal that netted them point guard Dennis Schroder, per ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski. 

Additionally, the Thunder acquired former Hawks big man Mike Muscala, who was re-routed to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for French swingman Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. Philadelphia also shipped Justin Anderson to Atlanta. 

Anthony, meanwhile, will be free to sign with the team of his choice once he completes a buyout with the Hawks and clears waivers. According to Wojnarowski, the Hawks intend to pay Anthony his entire $27.9 million salary for next season as part of the buyout. 

Once Anthony signs with the Rockets, who have long been viewed as the front-runners for his services, he will join a team that's been looking to fill a hole at small forward following the offseason departures of Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute. 

Anthony won't be able to replace their versatile and rugged defensive stylings, but he will provide additional perimeter pop as a catch-and-shoot and spot-up weapon alongside James Harden and Chris Paul.