Carmelo Anthony is officially a Los Angeles Laker.
After entering the open market as an unrestricted free agent, Anthony opted to start a new chapter in L.A. instead of re-signing with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Anthony was nearly out of the league a few seasons ago until the Trail Blazers gave him the opportunity to play alongside Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.
Anthony revitalized his career as an efficient catch-and-shoot perimeter shooter, which was the skill the Lakers desperately needed to add to the roster after trading for Russell Westbrook.
Los Angeles signed Anthony to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum, meaning he will team with LeBron James for the first time on an NBA team.
The two stars have been friends since before being top selections in the 2003 NBA draft, so it’ll be a historic, storybook moment when the two share the floor this season.
Before signing with the Lakers, Anthony revealed what James told him, via Bill Oram of The Athletic:
Anthony says LeBron James told him, "The time is now, we've got to make it happen. We want you."
— Bill Oram (@billoram) August 9, 2021
It’s unclear what Anthony’s specific usage and role will look like because L.A. also brought in Trevor Ariza and Kent Bazemore. Both players offer more defensive versatility than Anthony.
Anthony’s best asset is being a 3-point shooter. He drilled 40.9% of his attempts last season, which marked a career high. However, since he’s mostly a stretch four at 37 years old, he has defensive limitations that may cap how many minutes he’ll play per game.
Still, James and Anthony are bound to share the court at some point, and it will be a moment to savor.
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