NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Could Target Los Angeles Lakers Next Year

May 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) stands on the free throw line against the Indiana Pacers in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports /

The Los Angeles Lakers lost out on Dwight Howard and have a wealth of cap space. The New York Knicks may end up losing Carmelo Anthony next offseason as a result.

The Knicks have done little to add talent around Melo in New York as the team is strapped for cash. Stephen A. Smith of ESPN had speculated Melo could bolt for the Lakers, but now that notion has been reinforced by Marc Stein of The New York Post:

"It’s a good match, especially if things don’t work out next season for the Knicks. La La spends a chunk of time in Hollywood and Las Vegas anyway, and they have pads in both places.The Los Angeles Times speculated yesterday the Lakers, after losing out on Dwight Howard and projecting major cap space in 2014, could target Anthony if he winds up on the free-agent market. The report cited Anthony’s friendship with Kobe Bryant, who once said Anthony was the one player with whom he’d love to be teammates."

Melo has an opt-out clause and may have the ambition to bolt. It doesn’t get much worse than bouncing from New York for Los Angeles, but we could see Melo doing it.

The Lakers are entering a rebuilding phase with plenty of cap. At this point Melo wants a championship and as the years pass it is beginning to look like New York simply cannot offer one.

Keep a close eye on this one. You will be hearing a lot about it over the course of the next year.

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