Houston Rockets Put Up Image of Carmelo Anthony in Rockets Jersey Before Visit

The Houston Rockets are scheduled to meet with free agent Carmelo Anthony on Wednesday, and they made sure that the Toyota Center is prepared for his visit.

Putting up the sign is a good way for the Rockets to make a strong first impression with the free agent. However, it doesn't give them an edge on the competition. The Chicago Bulls put up similar signs at the United Center before their meeting with Anthony on Tuesday. 

However, Houston did take one sign to the next level:

With Dwight Howard and James Harden already on the roster, adding Anthony would immediately make the team a championship contender.

The Rockets' signs have to make Jeremy Lin feel a bit uncomfortable. In the signs at the Toyota Center, Anthony is wearing a No. 7 jersey. What number does Lin wear?

Update: Wednesday, July 2 at 2:25 p.m. ET

Jeremy Lin has responded to the Carmelo Anthony billboards:

Rocky Widner/Getty Images

[Jeremy Lin]

--End of Update--

Update: Wednesday, July 2 at 5:27 p.m. ET

Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Rockets had let Lin know of their plans before they did it:

However, there are conflicting reports as to whether or not the team did in fact inform Lin of their plan:

--End of Update--

Of course, if Houston signs Anthony, Lin would likely have to be traded. Wojnarowski pointed that fact out in Lin's defense:

If Anthony does sign with Houston, there likely won't be much of an issue of getting him No. 7. However, the signs have created an awkward situation for the time being.

[Twitter, Real GM]