Even since free agency started, it was clear the Los Angeles Lakers were intent on correcting the unpardonable sin they were guilty of last summer when they signed several washed-up veterans for depth.
One of those veterans was Carmelo Anthony, who looked like he would have to retire after the Houston Rockets traded him to the Chicago Bulls during the 2018-19 season.
The Bulls promptly released him, and Anthony played nary a game the rest of the season.
But the Portland Trail Blazers picked him up early the next season, and he reinvented himself as a 3-point specialist off the bench.
For the Lakers, Anthony was, at times, a tremendous instant offense man off the bench during the 2021-22 campaign.
It has looked like the team wouldn’t invite him back, but according to one reporter, that may be changing.
Report: Lakers have had “productive talks” on bringing Carmelo Anthony back. A couple of other teams are also in the mix, via @massey_evan. pic.twitter.com/EbA6pebVlX
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 21, 2022
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L.A. could use one more productive big forward off the bench. Bringing Anthony back wouldn’t be a bad idea in itself, but the team shouldn’t depend on him nearly as much as it did this past season when he played 26.0 minutes per game.
At home, he shot 42.7% from 3-point range, but that mark fell to 31.9% on the road.
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