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Lakers, 76ers, Pelicans Among 5 Teams Interested In Carmelo Anthony

The Carmelo Anthony experiment in Houston is already coming to an end, and despite his teams have a worse record with him on the court as opposed to off it over the past two seasons, there are still playoff contenders interested in the veteran's services.

As of right now, Anthony is still a Houston Rocket. Barring a trade, it's highly anticipated he will be waived and get to choose his next team. His representatives have already been probing front offices to gauge interest. 
Image result for carmelo anthony rockets
Five suitors have emerged, per information from NBA Insiders Kevin O'Conner and Marc J. Spears. The reports conflict slightly, but the combined list includes the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trailblazers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Miami Heat.

O'Conner listed the three Western Conference teams, including the Lakers, as the likeliest landing spots, while Spears' intel tells him the Lakers are done making short-term free agent moves. 

The Lakers are easily the most intriguing, yet polarizing, possibility. Could Melo team up with LeBron in Los Angeles? Could LeBron get something out of Anthony that we haven't seen in years? On one hand, it can't hurt to add Anthony to an assortment of veterans on the roster. On the other hand, another failed stint could stunt the growth of some of the younger players. Overall I think it would be an interesting addition that would make the Lakers ever slightly more competitive. But there are reports that LeBron could have had Carmelo in Cleveland last year, or Los Angeles this year. If he hasn't pulled the trigger yet, why would he now?

On the 76ers there's already concerns about how the ball will be shared with the arrival of Jimmy Butler, so how could heavy-usage Melo fit there? He could lead a bench unit potentially, and again, from a basketball standpoint he would deepen the roster. But are there already too many cooks in Philadelphia's locker room?
On the Trailblazers, Pelicans, or Heat, Anthony could be a sixth man/fringe starter. Miami would see him join up with close friend Dwyane Wade, in his final season. It would be fun to see the two on the court one last time, battling for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Pelicans and Trailblazers could gain a leg up in the loaded Western Conference race. These two destinations would also be much less pressure than the others. 

Anthony has had immense pressure his whole career, from being the Nuggets star, to expectations of saving New York basketball, and then forming a Big Three with Russell Westbrook and Paul George. Maybe in New Orleans or Portland, Anthony could settle into a role and start banging shots again.

Prediction

The Lakers flirt with the idea of bringing in, and we start imagining a court lined up with Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Carmelo Anthony and Joel Embid. And while the ideal situation may be with the Pelicans or Trailblazers, Anthony takes his talents to South Beach

Signs with Miami Heat

NBA Predictions: Playoff Teams, Awards, and Finals Matchup

Header photo: NBA
Photo #2: ESPN.com



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