The New York Knicks will likely re-sign Carmelo Anthony this summer, but the looming increase in NBA's salary cap will give the team stiffer competition in the offseason.

ESPN recently reported that the league informed teams that the salary cap could increase from $58.6 million to $63.2 million next season, giving teams like the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets a better chance of signing Anthony.

The Bulls and the Rockets will reportedly make a strong push to sign Anthony, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer for the first time in his 11-year NBA career.

The Knicks are tipped to keep Anthony, who averaged 27.4 points and 8.1 rebounds this season, after giving legendary coach Phil Jackson full control of the team's front office.

The Knicks are also the only team which can offer a five-year deal to Anthony, but the Bulls and the Rockets are reportedly confident that they can lure Anthony by using their title chances as their main selling point.

The Bulls and the Rockets would have to make moves in order to create cap room for Anthony, but the increase in the cap will make it easier for both teams.

Previous reports indicated that Bulls will amnesty Carlos Boozer this offseason, and trade one more player in order to have cap room to offer a maximum deal to Anthony.

The Rockets also need to make moves this summer to acquire Anthony, but they are confident that they can find takers for Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin, who will be playing in the final year of their respective "poison pill" contracts next season.

The Rockets are reportedly looking at a possible sign-and-trade scenario, which will be easier to execute with the increased salary, ESPN New York reported.

"In order to complete a sign-and-trade, teams that receive Anthony in a sign-and-trade need to be under the salary 'apron' following the trade. If the new projections hold, it means the apron will increase to $81 million. So the extra $5 million of space makes the sign-and-trade easier to execute," ESPN New York reported.

The Rockets are convinced that Anthony, who previously said that he wants to win a title as soon as possible, would strongly consider teaming up with Dwight Howard and James Harden in Houston.