Kobe Bryant has been enjoying his offseason. However, there is one thing that will bring him back to basketball facilities right now, Carmelo Anthony. The Los Angeles Lakers star was vacationing in Europe, but is making a quick flight back to California in order to give his best sales pitch to visiting free agent, Anthony. With limited resources, will Bryant be enough to land the guard?
Bryant had originally stated that he was not interested in getting involved in the free agency frenzy this season. Last year, he spent time trying to convince Dwight Howard to re-sign with the team, a move that failed in the end when the center signed with the Houston Rockets instead. However, he is being called upon again as ESPN's Ramona Shelburne is reporting he will be present when Anthony meets with the Lakers on Thursday.
Bryant and Anthony have been friends for some time now. Many believe that if those two teamup, LeBron James might follow and join his friends. That might be what it takes to get Anthony over to the Lakers considering their lack of assets on the roster. Los Angeles is in competition with the Chicago Bulls who have Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. The Houston Rockets have Howard and James Harden. The Dallas Mavericks have Dirk Nowitzki and former teammate Tyson Chandler. The Lakers have Bryant who is expected to play two more seasons and Steve Nash who might not play at all.
If the Lakers are able to pull in Anthony, it might make them the frontrunners to sign Pau Gasol as well. Right now, the center is getting a lot of attention from the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, but if Anthony joins the Lakers, Gasol might like that option better. The Lakers and Gasol have already met with one another. If the center is going to sign with the team, he will have to take a pay cut no matter what. He may want to sign with a contending team, but all of those options require pay cuts.
If the Lakers get Anthony, Bryant and Gasol, James is not an option from a financial standpoint. In order to get all three of those players together, the Lakers have to trade Steve Nash and get others to accept veteran's minimum deals. That is a lot of moves that need to be made for this all to happen.
