Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: LeBron wants Carmelo Anthony in Los Angeles, Lakers remain resistant
The window for the Los Angeles Lakers to make trades expired earlier this month, although the franchise remains active in the buyout market. Among the players being linked with a move to Los Angeles is 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony, although the situation is reportedly causing friction between LeBron James and Lakers executives.
According to Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson of Heavy.com, James wants the Lakers to hand their final roster spot to Anthony, however, Los Angeles management is reportedly looking elsewhere:
'LeBron’s camp is insisting on the front office signing Melo' a league source with knowledge of the Lakers told me via text message this afternoon. 'But the team wants to go in a different direction'
For more than a decade, Carmelo Anthony was one of the NBA's most feared scoring forces thanks to prolific spells with both the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old has struggled to adapt to the changes that have hit the NBA in recent years, and due to his inability to defend, Anthony's latest spell with the Houston Rockets lasted just 10 games.
Before the 18/19 season tipped off, LeBron James successfully campaigned for the Lakers to sign JaVale McGee, although the organization is seemingly more reluctant to grant LeBron's wish of adding Anthony.
The Lakers are known to be prioritizing adding a big man, however, the team has already missed out on prime targets such as Enes Kanter, and the pool of buyout candidates is quickly drying up.
Ultimately, the Lakers remain focused on adding a center who is an improvement over the under-fire McGee, however, if they are frustrated in their efforts, the team may throw a lifeline to Anthony.