Good news New York Knicks fans—Carmelo Anthony knows that Kobe Bryant is old.
The Black Mamba has signed a fresh new two-year, $48.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, ensuring that he won’t join the NBA’s free-agent ranks this summer. What it’s also done is allow the Lakers to start thinking big picture. Before, they had no idea how much money they would have to play with. Now they know. And according to Larry Coon, CBA extraordinaire, the Lakers will have enough cap ($22 million or so) to spend on a superstar. Like Anthony.
It’s long been rumored that Tinseltown would make a play for ‘Melo. He can score and is a superstar. Look how shiny. Of course the Lakers will take a look. That’s what they do. They’re star-driven.
Previously, I would have told you they had no chance in hell of signing ‘Melo. The Knicks can offer him five years and close to $130 million; he’s not walking away from that. No way.
But the Knicks are sucking wind, dwelling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Suddenly, I’m not so sure. I’m starting to believe he could leave. And if he does leave, it could be for Los Angeles. The glitz. The glam. The weather. The taco stands. And Kobe. Could he really say no? At this point, I’m sticking with yes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdfc6p4PY6I
Prior to the Knicks embarrassing themselves against the Portland Trail Blazers, ‘Melo lauded Kobe and asserted that the Lakers got off easy with his extension. But he also expressed doubt that a 35-year-old Kobe would be enough to convince fellow superstars to join him in Los Angeles this summer, according to USA Today‘s Sam Amick:
“I mean you’ll have to see. It’s hard to gauge at this point, not until he comes back (from his April Achilles tendon tear) and figures some things out. So I don’t know. They might have some plans up their sleeve.”
Is ‘Melo the ace up Los Angeles’ sleeve? This early, that’s unlikely. That said, it’s not out of the question. The Lakers left themselves enough room to do some damage this summer. Or next. That’s the eight-figure question being thrown around in Los Angeles: What’s next? Will the Lakers chase LeBron James or ‘Melo this summer? Sign some glorified role players to short-term deals and go bonkers in 2015?
Not even a quarter of the way through this season, it’s tough to tell. Kobe hasn’t even played his first game. Most of the Lakers’ future plans could depend on how well he fares. If he’s the same old Kobe, the need for a superstar right now isn’t as pressing. They can let it ride into next season and hope Kobe alone allows them to contend. Then, in 2015, they could strike on Kevin Love. Or Marc Gasol. Or someone else. They could even play it safe and conserve cap space for 2016, when Kevin Durant hits the open market.
Nothing is for certain right now. All we know is that Anthony, hasn’t abandoned his Knicks yet. Love him or hate him, if you’re a Knicks fan, that’s a good thing. Even if you don’t think he’s the right player to build around, he’s the only option the Knicks have at the moment. Watching him leave for Los Angeles this summer would be catastrophic. Painful. Tormenting.
And, at this very second, unlikely.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
