NBA buyout market: Carmelo Anthony could still join the Los Angeles Lakers

What's the news?

The window for NBA teams to make trades expired last week, but teams looking to make further additions can still take advantage of the buyout market. The buyout market offers veteran players on short-term deals until the end of the season, and there are a number of notable names available including Robin Lopez, Greg Monroe and Carmelo Anthony.

The latter has been linked with the LA Lakers since 2018, and the NY Post is reporting that Melo could still land in Los Angeles, although the 10-time All-Star is not the team's first choice.

Greg Joyce reported, "Carmelo Anthony may be a backup plan for the backup plan. As the Lakers wade through the buyout market, they already have whiffed on Enes Kanter."

"Since the Rockets decided to stop playing him, the Lakers have been viewed as a potential landing spot, with LeBron James one of Anthony’s best friends and advocates. But Anthony may have to wait it out as the Lakers, currently, three games out of the playoffs, hunt down more attractive options first," Joyce added.

In case you didn't know...

Thanks to successful individual spells with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony is widely regarded as one of the best scorers in NBA history. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old has struggled since leaving New York for Oklahoma City in 2017, and his latest stint with the Houston Rockets lasted just 10 games.

The heart of the matter

Anthony is evidently no longer an All-Star caliber player. However, during his recent spell with the Rockets, Anthony still managed to contribute 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, despite being used from the bench.

There is no doubt that Anthony can still help a contending team, and if the Lakers opt against a deal, another team will launch a move for the former Knicks man.

What's next?

Due to the All-Star Event in North Carolina, the struggling Los Angeles Lakers won't play until next week, when they will take on Anthony's former team in the Houston Rockets.