The Carmelo Anthony trade rumor mill has taken a stop where we all knew it would: the Los Angeles Lakers. According to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, LeBron James “would like to get Carmelo Anthony to Los Angeles with him on the Lakers.” James hasn’t requested for a move to get Melo, nor will he, per Vardon. But he’s open to the idea, clearly.
LeBron James wants Carmelo Anthony on the Lakers. Come on.
Anthony would not be a fit in L.A.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
This isn’t terribly surprising as James and Melo are close friends, and part of the well-known “Banana Boat” group with Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul. Anthony is currently separated from, but still a member of the Houston Rockets. After 10 games, both sides mutually split as Melo didn’t mesh with the rest of the team on the floor. He’s eligible to be traded on Dec. 15.
To put in the kindest of terms, Anthony stunk in Houston. Here are the numbers to prove it. He was only a part of the problem with that middling franchise, but enough of one for the team to cut ties. And though that sample size was small, his miserable year in Oklahoma City wasn’t.
So should the Lakers try him out?
Hmm.
Nope. They should not.
Los Angeles is enjoying a run where it’s won 11 of its last 14 games, and the roster is clicking. James is surrounded by board-crashing bigs like Tyson Chandler and JaVale McGee, and young shooters like Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart. Maybe the team isn’t championship-bound, but they should crack the playoffs.
This team is exceeding expectations, and doesn’t have room for a no defense-playing, poor shooting and ball-stopping wing if it expects to make a playoff push. Respect the legend of Melo, but he isn’t what he once was.
Thank you, next.
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