The 2021-22 season was not a pretty one for the Los Angeles Lakers. They entered the season with an old roster full of veterans that were expected to compete for an NBA Championship. However, injuries decimated their roster as the veterans looked outpaced by the younger teams around them. The Lakers slumped to a dismal 33-49 record as a result.
A lot of the former Lakers from last season haven’t been offered contracts for the season. Outside Malik Monk, who objectively increased his value, 2021-22 Lakers like Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Avery Bradley, Kent Bazemore, D.J. Augustin, Wayne Ellington, Rajon Rondo, Trevor Ariza, Darren Collison, and Isaiah Thomas are still on the market.
The list is headline by Melo and Dwight, who had some bright spots for the Lakers last season. They were relatively healthy for most of the season and provided some value. Dwight is still a dependable backup center, and Melo can be a microwave off the bench. The pair have been linked to the Brooklyn Nets, but according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Nets aren’t pursuing the former Lakers duo.
“Despite separate reports about the Nets considering Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony as free agent additions, Brooklyn doesn’t have interest in adding either veteran currently, HoopsHype has learned.” (h/t HoopsHype)
The Nets reportedly had pressure from KD to sign Melo for the upcoming season. With KD’s recent return to the team, could the Nets satiate this one request and add Anthony to the squad if no other team is showing interest?
The Nets could use Howard to be a veteran big-man behind Nicolas Claxton. Despite that, the hesitance to acquire Dwight still makes sense due to the amount of non-shooters on the Nets roster. With a green light to push for contention this season, the Nets will be careful about how they fill out the remainder of the roster in a pivotal year for the franchise.
