The Los Angeles Lakers were fairly active at the trade deadline, acquiring two shooters for the stretch run of the season. With the aggregate sum of their two trades bringing in two players (Reggie Bullock and Mike Muscala) for three (Svi Mykahiliuk, Michael Beasley and Ivica Zubac), the team now has an open roster spot to get one more addition to the roster.
The Lakers have long been rumored to be interested in Carmelo Anthony should they have opened up a roster spot. Now that they have, those rumors are still there but it appears as though the team will do their due diligence to research the market before making that decision:
Carmelo Anthony is a possible addition for the Lakers, but not an inevitability a team source tells ESPN. LAL will monitor the buyout market and will also consider a piece that could fortify their depth at PG or C, two positions they’ve been hit with injuries this season
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 7, 2019
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne also reported that Anthony being out of game shape will factor into the Lakers’ decision. The future Hall of Famer has not played in a game since November 8th, appearing in only 10 games for the Rockets all year.
Melo has not been good for some time now. Could he regain some of his old form playing next to his best friend in LeBron James? Maybe, but it seems unlikely that he will change from who he is as a player.
The buyout market is expected to be strong this year (although Wesley Matthews is reportedly already expected to join the Pacers). The likes of Wayne Ellington and Trevor Ariza could be on the move and would be infinitely more useful players for the Lakers.
