NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony, Lakers meeting out of respect?
By Bryan Rose
While multiple NBA executives seem to feel as if the Chicago Bulls are the favorites to sign Carmelo Anthony, the Los Angeles Lakers have thrown their hat into the ring as well though there have been suggestions the Lakers interest is more in effort to sign both Anthony and LeBron James.
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As for Carmelo Anthony’s interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, we haven’t heard much either way. However, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders seems to believe that Melo’s meeting with the Buss family may be more out of respect than a desire to play in Hollywood.
Responding to a fan question in his weekly chat about Anthony’s likelihood of signing with the Lakers, Kyler hinted at such.
"I think Melo’s meeting with the Lakers is out of respect, not necessarily interest in signing there."
In addition to the ‘respect’ factor, it’s possible Anthony could be meeting with the Lakers because of his wife, Lala. She’s previously stated that she will have a say in where Carmelo Anthony signs and given her desire to break into the acting business, playing near Hollywood seems like a plus for her career.
Still, the Lakers won’t have an easy time building a roster around the contracts of both Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony and the two don’t exactly seem like the best of fits together. Given all that, it’s easy to see why there may be questionable interest between the parties and why a meeting with one of the premier franchises in all of sports is out of respect.