Carmelo Anthony rumors: Lakers hint they can be ‘his’ team?
By Bryan Rose
The New York Knicks, thanks to owning Carmelo Anthony’s Bird Rights, can offer the small forward the most money and years in an upcoming contract. Knowing that, the Los Angeles Lakers have to sell Carmelo Anthony on something other than money.
More from Los Angeles Lakers
- NBA rumors: Hawks trade candidate, Sixers miss out, Lakers almost lose Reaves
- Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
- Bronny James collapses at practice, taken to ICU with cardiac arrest
- NBA Rumors: Lakers nearing another savvy minimum signing
- Lakers projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
Considering Anthony would be leaving the Big Apple, they can’t really play the ‘big market’ card which has left them with only a few options. One of which is giving Carmelo Anthony ‘control’ of the team, something that Ian Begley suggests they might be offering the former Syracuse talent once Kobe Bryant retires.
"Keep hearing, fwiw, that the Lakers have pushed strongly the idea that L.A. can be “Carmelo’s team” once Kobe’s contract expires in 2 years."
It’s honestly a smart ploy on the part of the Los Angeles Lakers front office, though, there’s no certainty that Kobe Bryant will retire in two seasons. Of course, he could step into the background and let Carmelo Anthony be the star of the Lakers franchise at that point, however it seems a little odd for Kobe Bryant of all people to bow out.
Of course, Carmelo Anthony hasn’t had much success on the court when he’s been the ‘star’ in both Denver and New York, so there are probably a large number of Lakers fans who are gritting their teeth at such an idea.
Who knows what the Lakers would look like in two seasons anyway, so maybe Carmelo being the face of the Lakers franchise might not be the worst thing though his previous attempts at doing so haven’t exactly went well.