The Los Angeles Lakers may finally acquire a proven star before the trade deadline, with Carmelo Anthony available in the market.
ESPN's Chris Haynes and Marc Stein reported that the Knicks have made Anthony available, particularly in a scenario that would see Melo joining LeBron James and the Cavs for Kevin Love. While talks did not gain much steam, the Knicks' attempt to unload Anthony opens up several possibilities of seeing the 32-year-old playing for a different team before the season ends.
A handful of teams have already been mentioned as potential destinations for the All-Star forward. One of the teams that may show interest in acquiring Anthony is the Los Angeles Lakers, who have been longing to add a star on their roster.
The Lakers have plenty of young talents who could potentially turn into perennial All-Stars in the league. But despite the promising displays from the likes of Brandon Ingram, D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle, there is still uncertainty whether the aforementioned players would bring the Lakers back into title contention in the foreseeable future.
Bringing Anthony, who has established himself as one of the most talented veterans in the league, would provide Los Angeles an All-Star presence to help the franchise get back to its old glory. While Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has insisted that the team may stand pat the trade deadline, a deal for Anthony at the right price could prompt LA to explore such possibilities.
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders suggested a potential deal for Anthony, which involves a combination of Lou Williams, Nick Young, Jordan Clarkson and Luol Deng. Kyler also noted about the pressure from the Lakers front office to turn things around in LA, especially with the team back at the bottom of the standings in the West.
"There has been a long-running dialogue that if the Lakers don't turn the corner, big changes could be coming to the front office, including the ouster of Jim Buss as vice president of basketball operations. Mitch Kupchak could also possibly be out as general manager. With the proverbial clock ticking in the background, do both make the dare-to-be-great play on Anthony? Would he agree to join a Laker team with such a young core?" Kyler wrote.
However, for the Knicks, trading Anthony means they expect young talents and picks in return to help retool their roster. This would help New York surround Kristaps Porzingis with a better supporting cast and young talents to grow alongside him. It is unclear whether the LA would change its mind about dealing the team's young guns, but the likes of Ingram and Russell would surely be part of any trade negotiations.
There is no denying that a team like the Lakers is the perfect trade partner for the Knicks. LA has plenty of trade assets that would entice New York. But the burning question remains unanswered: are the Lakers willing to part ways with their young talents to acquire an aging star?
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