Every offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers are linked with big names around the NBA. Regardless of how unlikely they are to sign those players, the purple and gold are always involved in high-profile rumors.
This year hasn’t been the exception and every day wet hear the Californians are interested in this or that player. In recent hours, the 2020 NBA champions were linked to a reliable veteran that could help them the next season.
As Lindsey Wisniewski of Yahoo Sports details, Carmelo Anthony could team up with LeBron James this offseason to fulfill their dreams of joining forces in the league. The King and Melo have long dreamed about this and this summer they could finally get their wish granted.
After spending the last two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Carmelo Anthony will be a free agent this offseason.
While he had a retirement date circled on his calendar before joining the Blazers, the 10x NBA All-Star and future Hall of Famer hasn’t called it quits just yet. Melo could enter his 19th season in the league with a new team.
Melo would land in Los Angeles as a replacement for Kyle Kuzma, who is rumored to be living his last days with the Lakers. However, Melo’s desire to retire in Portland could ruin the Californians’ plans.
Melo joining the Lakers wouldn’t be a surprise. Since high school, he and James have been best friends and two of the greatest players in the NBA. With Melo now 37 and LeBron 36, the two could team up in LA so Melo can finally go out with a ring of his own.
There’s only one snag to this scenario, though. Melo has publicly stated he wants to retire in Portland.
If the Lakers lure Melo away from Portland and sign Chris Paul from Phoenix, as Magic Johnson recently proposed, LeBron James would be in a favorable position to compete for the 2022 NBA championship. Still, time will tell if they actually can land any of these players seeing how happy they are with their respective teams.
