It’s not a matter of if the Oklahoma City Thunder and forward Carmelo Anthony part ways, it’s a matter of when, and the time may be coming quickly.

OKC would save about $100 million if they are able to move on from Melobefore next season, either via trade or stretch provision buyout, which makes the move a near certainty this offseason. What is uncertain is what jersey Anthony will be wearing when the new season begins in the fall. But the list of where Melo might want to go is a short one.

During his appearance on The Jump earlier in the week, Paul Pierce gave his thoughts on the situation, breaking down the best fit for Carmelo and other potential landing spots for the veteran forward. And Paul thinks it’s likely that Melo will head to Houston if he’s granted freedom to choose his team.

“I think he best fits on the Rockets because for one he has the opportunity to start there at the four,” Pierce said. “Being that [the Rockets] lost Trevor Ariza and [Luc] Mbah a Moute, there’s a need for another forward, and especially a guy that can knock down shots.”

Paul also mentions the Miami Heat, and a union with close friend Dwyane Wade, who himself is a free agent, as a possible choice for Anthony. But if he wants to play, and compete for a title, the Rockets are Melo’s best bet.

After absorbing the losses of Ariza and Mbah-Moute, the Rockets certainly have a void to fill at their forward spots if they hope to continue challenging the Golden State Warriors over the next few seasons. With that in mind, Anthony could be seen as a key part of Houston’s plans the rest of this summer to build toward the NBA Finals. The Rockets came up just short of that goal last season, taking a 3-2 lead over the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, before losing two potential closeout games, and dropping the series in seven last season.

In Houston, Anthony would likely go into the season as a starter, alongside another close friend, Chris Paul, and reigning league MVP James Harden. Anthony could be a key piece in the rest of their summer plans to continue building toward the Finals. A trio of Anthony, Paul and reigning-MVP James Harden could pose a serious threat to the back-to-back champs in the Bay Area.

However, Paul and Harden are two players with heavy ball-handling rates, which is an issue Anthony ran into alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George in OKC last season. And because of the Rockets’ championship aspirations, Melo might find himself on an even shorter leash than he did in OKC.

Coach Mike D’Antoni, who has a checkered history with Anthony from their time together with the Knicks, likely would not hesitate to move Anthony to the bench, which could stir up some emotions for the prideful star. However Paul believes Melo would swallow his pride to play for a true contender.

“Carmelo is a veteran. He understands where he is in his career,” Pierce said. “He’s good friends with Chris Paul, and plus for Houston, it’s a low risk-high reward because for one, he’s going to get a minimum deal. If it pans out, great. If it doesn’t, they could release him. He could go somewhere else, but I think ‘Melo is going to be a true professional.”