Lakers Reportedly “Very Interested” In Signing Carmelo Anthony

Having just completed a one-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, veteran forward Carmelo Anthony is now an unrestricted free agent.

So, where will the 12-time All Star land before this coming NBA season?

According to ESPN’s Jordan Schultz, the Los Angeles Lakers are “very interested” in the prospect of signing Anthony.

This move would make sense for a couple of reasons.

First, the Lakers’ biggest need heading into the 2021 season is a pure-shooting wing to space the floor for paint-dominant scorers LeBron James and Anthony Davis. And with most of their trade assets going to the Washington Wizards in exchange for another drive-first player, Russell Westbrook, the Lakers need to find another way to add a shooting presence to their roster.

Despite averaging a career-low 13.4 points per game this past season with the Blazers, Anthony has found a way to significantly improve his three-point shooting efficiency — notching a career-high 40.9% from behind the arc in 2020.

Second, Carmelo Anthony has a close personal friendship with LeBron dating back to their pre-NBA days. After playing against each other in high school (Melo at Oak Hill, LeBron at St. Vincent St. Mary’s), the longtime friends were both selected in the 2003 draft. While LeBron has teamed up with another one of his 2003 draft mates, Dwyane Wade, The King has never had the chance to suit up with Anthony in the NBA.

Through his second season in Portland, Anthony earned $2.5 million. The 37 year old could sign a similar veteran-minimum deal with the Lakers this year in search of his first NBA title.

[Jordan Schultz]

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