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Lakers Trade Rumors: Stars To Target If Moving NBA Draft Pick

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) meets with Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) before the start of their game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) meets with Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) before the start of their game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 1, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) brings the ball up court defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) brings the ball up court defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

Position: Small Forward
Age: 31 (5/29/1984)
2016-17 Salary: $24,559,380
Slash Line: .434/.339/.829
Season Averages: 35.1 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.5 3PM

The New York Knicks have a 20-year-old rising star in Kristaps Porzingis and a soon-to-be 32-year-old franchise player in Carmelo Anthony. There’s very little middle-ground to be found on the roster, which makes it entirely conceivable that the Knicks would be open to making this trade.

The question is, would the Los Angeles Lakers be interested in this trade?

It’s believable that Carmelo Anthony could be had for a lower price than the other players on this list due to his age. The nine-time All-Star would certainly help the Lakers make an immediate improvement, however, and could help attract talent in free agency.

One could make the case that it wouldn’t be worth trading the No. 3 pick for Anthony, but if the Lakers are as determined as they seem, this is one of the more plausible options.

Anthony has a scoring title and a career average of 24.9 points per game. He’s a dynamic player who can post up, space the floor, attack off the bounce, and get out in transition, and played at a high level defensively during the 2015-16 season, holding opponents to 42.1 percent shooting from the field.

As realistically available star-caliber options go, Anthony is one of the best—if he’d be willing to waive his no-trade clause, of course.

Next: An Ideal Scenario

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