The Atlanta Hawks have finalized a buyout with forward Carmelo Anthony, which would clear his way toward becoming a free agent, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Anthony will give back $2.4 million of his $27.9 million salary, allowing him to complete his previous salary by signing a deal for the veteran's minimum for the team of his preference.

The Hawks will place him on waivers within the hour, according to sources.

Anthony is expected to clear waivers and then sign with the Houston Rockets, who have been the frontrunners for his services for the majority of the summer. Melo will reportedly sign a one-year deal, $2.4 million deal for the veteran's minimum, putting his earnings for the season above the $30 million mark.

His former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, traded Anthony as part of a three-team trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, which helped them land estranged point guard Dennis Schroder in the deal.

The Rockets have chased after Anthony since last summer, when they initially intended to trade for him as a member of the New York Knicks. Houston's insistence to include the bloated contract of forward Ryan Anderson in any deal for Anthony became their demise, as the Thunder snatched him away last minute, days before the start of the preseason.

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OKC has since regretted the decision, walking it back only a year after making a move for him after a poor fit as the tertiary scorer in a high-octane Thunder lineup.

Anthony is hoping playing alongside longtime friend Chris Paul will change that, as he is bound to play a similar role behind the two-headed snake of Paul and reigning MVP James Harden.