Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons team should sign Carmelo Anthony

1. LeBron James can bring out the best in him

If there’s one player who can put Carmelo in position to be an asset, it’s LeBron.

Not only would James be able to convince his Banana Boat buddy to accept a bench role, he can help him buy into whatever the Lakers’ plan for him may be. That’s been a driving force behind his recent adoption of the “journeyman” status — he believes he’s still a superstar.

In Los Angeles, though, Carmelo would know his role. Between Magic and LeBron, everything expected of him would be crystal clear. At that point, Anthony can focus on doing what he does best — putting the ball in the basket. Although his effectiveness has wavered in recent years, the 10-time NBA All-Star is still capable of putting up big points on a regular basis.

Yes, Carmelo’s defense isn’t great. That’s no secret. However, seeing as the Lakers are actually one of the better defensive teams in the NBA, they’re capable of masking his deficiencies on that end of the court. The important part is the chemistry with LeBron and offensive firepower he would bring to the roster.

Having James in the building makes convincing Anthony to ink a deal that much easier. He obviously would need to accept the veteran minimum to come to Los Angeles, which should be a cakewalk with the King nudging him along.