Carmelo Anthony nearly became a Laker until the plug was pulled at the last minute.
In a revealing conversation with Dwyane Wade on iHeart’s WY Network, the 10x All-Star shared behind-the-scenes details about a blockbuster deal that would’ve sent him to Los Angeles in 2011. According to Anthony, the framework was complete: he and Nenê would be shipped to the Lakers in exchange for Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. But just when it seemed inevitable, L.A. backed out.
“The deal was done with the Lakers. It was me and Nenê for Lamar Odom and Bynum,” said Anthony. “That deal was done. I never thought about New York. But then, when they turned that deal down, now it’s like ‘Oh, y’all don’t want me in the West. You’re gonna send me to the East.’ Get me to New York.”
Reports at the time indicated that Anthony (who had spent eight years with the Nuggets) only had eyes for the Knicks, but we know now that wasn’t true. Initial trade talks actually never included the Knicks, and they only got involved once negotiations with the Nets broke down.
“The deal never was with New York, the deal was with the New Jersey Nets,” Melo continued. “So when it was All-Star weekend, the deal was with the Nets. George Karl had a deal with Utah behind the scenes for Derrick Favors cause he wanted Derrick Favors, and he thought he was a Nenê-type power forward. So I ended up in New York, but that deal wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Joining the Lakers would have changed everything for Carmelo Anthony, and it may stand as one of the biggest “what-ifs” in NBA history. Alongside Kobe Bryant (who was still in his prime at this point), Anthony’s shooting and scoring abilities would have been devastating for opponents, and it likely would have elevated the Lakers to a higher plane of contention in the West.
Coming off back-to-back championships, the Lakers were already one of the best teams in the league, and adding a talented hooper like Anthony would have extended their title window for several years to come. At the very least, Anthony would have at least one championship in Los Angeles, enhancing both his legacy and Kobe’s legacy, who would have matched Jordan’s title count.
What happened instead was that the Lakers gradually faded from relevance as Bryant aged and new competitors dethroned their place at the top. Meanwhile, Anthony wound up with the Knicks, where he failed to make even one notable playoff run.
Over time, Carmelo lost his job security in New York, and once he was traded to the Thunder in 2017, it marked the beginning of the end of his NBA career. He retired in 2022 without a single Finals appearance in 19 years.
While Carmelo Anthony went on to have a Hall of Fame-worthy career, his near-move to the Lakers remains one of the NBA’s greatest missed opportunities. Teaming up with Kobe Bryant could have rewritten his legacy and shifted the balance of power in the Western Conference, especially for a Lakers squad that was still in championship form.
Instead, Melo’s path took him to New York, where flashes of greatness were overshadowed by years of underachievement. Looking back, the 2011 Lakers trade that never was might’ve been his best shot at glory, and a decision the franchise, and Melo himself, won’t soon forget.
