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Portland Trail Blazers: 5 free agency destinations for Carmelo Anthony

By Stevie Cozens

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers hug before the start of Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers hug before the start of Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Carmelo Anthony destination #4 – Los Angeles Lakers

The idea of Carmelo Anthony teaming up with LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers will have Hoops romantics salivating. As the Lakers will be over the salary cap for the foreseeable future, they need to sign players on value deals.

This year, the Lakers got excellent value from players on the veterans minimum or close to it. They had four players around the $1.5 – $2.5 million mark, who are all providing strong production throughout the playoffs.

Anthony Davis is likely to opt-out, then sign the richest deal in NBA history – a supermax worth an estimated $240 million.

This means those value contracts are even more critical.

Players like Melo often take less money to play for a contender. Even more so if we are talking about him joining the Lakers, who are currently championship favorites, and playing in the conference finals.

On the court, the Lakers have a great defense. Led by Davis, they have plenty of defensive pieces but need to keep acquiring offensive-minded players that will come cheap.

I’m not sure if Melo fits the bill, but if he wants one last shot at a championship with close friend LeBron, then the Lakers could oblige. Melo could provide strong production during the regular season, even if that means he doesn’t play a lot in the post-season.

The Lakers were one of the league’s worst three-point shooting teams in the 2019/20 season, so sharpshooter Melo could help there too, as he shot 41 percent from three in the NBA Bubble.

I’m sure Melo would love to team up with old friend LeBron on the Lakers.