The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly been interested in courting Carmelo Anthony following the revelation that he opted out of his contract with the New York Knicks, but L.A. isn't on the list of places Anthony is planning to visit on July 1 when the free agency period begins.
Lakers Targeting Kobe Bryant And Carmelo Anthony
ESPN reported that Anthony listed the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls as places he plans to visit come Tuesday, but Los Angeles was conspicuously absent on the list.
Rockets center Dwight Howard and Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki have both said they'd love to play with Anthony while the Bulls were reportedly the favorite to wrest him away from the Knicks. Anthony has said that his No. 1 goal is to win an NBA championship and he will opt to sign with the team that gives him the best chance at doing so.
Dwight Howard Wants Carmelo Anthony In Houston
Lakers veteran Kobe Bryant has been adamant about wanting to win a sixth NBA championship after signing a two-year extension with Los Angeles, and is reportedly planning on actively recruiting Anthony.
Anthony opted out of his contract with the Knicks in order to test free agency and he reportedly has as many as seven teams interested in him, but he can make $33 million more by remaining in New York with the Knicks as Phil Jackson hopes to make the necessary roster moves to build around the All-Star.
Los Angeles has had interest in Anthony and Miami Heat forward LeBron James, who opted for free agency as well, but landing either one or both of them will be a tall task as a lot of teams around the league are trying to land them.
The Lakers are also in the midst of hiring a new head coach to replace Mike D'Antoni, who took a $2 million buyout and chose to resign from his post after the team wasn't willing to pick up the 2015-16 option on his contract. General manager Mitch Kupchak has taken a patient approach to finding a new coach, but Byron Scott has reportedly emerged as the favorite.
The Lakers are looking to turn it around next year after finishing with a franchise-worst 27-55 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
It is possible the Lakers will eventually get a meeting with Anthony despite not being on his original tour of teams as Los Angeles looks to bring the seven-time All-Star into the fold to form a dynamic tandem with Bryant.
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