The Los Angeles Lakers are winners of three straight and five of their last six so they might be done tinkering with their roster for now. But according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, there’s one big name that could change the Lakers’ thought process on the matter.
According to O’Connor, if the Houston Rockets waive Carmelo Anthony (as is being reported), the Lakers are among three teams interested in the veteran forward’s services.
Following transcribed by Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll:
“I heard three teams I think it can be for Melo, and this could change—I mean, he’s still with Houston — New Orleans, Portland and the L.A. Lakers. Those are the three teams I heard.”
This comes only a day after ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported that the Lakers will not be looking at Anthony in the open market. Both are respected journalists and news-breakers so it’s not clear which story Lakers fans should run with. Melo’s biggest connection to the team is through his friendship with LeBron James who publicly supported him among reports of Anthony’s demise in Houston.
Melo will probably be looking for a contender that can give him a big role but there’s not a ton of options available. The Lakers have a need for spacing but Anthony has shot only 32.8 percent from three this season and is a ball-stopper that would only add to the Lakers’ problems. That’s before getting to issues with his defense.
Anthony is a future Hall-of-Famer. He’s not really at fault for the Rockets’ start. But he’s also nowhere near to his peak and would bring more negatives than positives to a Lakers team that is still finding its sea legs.
