LeBron James reportedly hasn’t asked Los Angeles Lakers management to acquire Carmelo Anthony, but that doesn’t mean the two have no chance of playing together this season.
The Athletic reported Thursday that James still would like to play with Anthony, his longtime friend, who started the season with Houston. The two sides since have parted ways, and the Rockets can trade Anthony beginning Dec. 15. Per the Athletic, James has not asked either team president Magic Johnson nor general manager Rob Pelinka to acquire Anthony and doesn’t plan to.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne confirmed that no request had been made and said James doesn’t intend to ask, but she didn’t discount Anthony to the Lakers could happen if Johnson and Pelinka decide it’s the right move.
The Athletic reported that James thinks Anthony could contribute to the improving Lakers, who are 15-9 and in fifth place in the NBA‘s Western Conference. James apparently also wants Anthony’s career to end on a higher note than it did with the Rockets.
James, Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul all are longtime friends, and James told Bleacher Report in 2016 that he hoped the four could play together before their careers were done. He teamed with Wade in Miami and Cleveland, and with Wade set to retire after the season, his goal of the four amigos together likely won’t come true. He has never been teammates with Paul or Anthony.
“At least one, maybe one or two seasons — me, Melo, D-Wade, CP — we can get a year in. I would actually take a pay cut to do that,” James told Bleacher Report. “It would be pretty cool. I’ve definitely had thoughts about it.”
—Field Level Media
