It starts with LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. And while landing both, let alone one, seems like a pipe dream, recent happenings suggest it's possible.
ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst reported that according to sources James will only sign for a max contract. While seven teams have the cap space to afford the $22.2 million contract James demands, only two—the Lakers and Phoenix Suns—have enough space to sign James and another "high-level" free agent.
Speaking of high-level free agents, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported that Anthony is expected to meet with the Lakers before he makes a decision. And ESPN.com's Nick Friedell reported that Anthony's coach at Syracuse, Jim Boeheim, believes he'd take a pay cut to play for a contender:
In my opinion he wants to win. I think that's the bottom line. He realizes that this is his peak, three or four years ahead, where's the best place to go and win? I think he'll take a little less money. I don't think that's that big of an issue.
That's good news for Los Angeles because it can't afford to offer both Anthony and James max contracts, thanks to the $34.7 million it owes Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.
But it will still almost definitely need to shed Nash's $9.7 million to sign both. After all, the Lakers have competition. Anthony is expected to meet with the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks before the Lakers.
If that competition is too stiff and Los Angeles fails to acquire Anthony and/or James, its fallback option is Pau Gasol, according to ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne. And believe it or not, there's mutual interest:
Gasol has strong ties to Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who has advocated for his return, and a deep affinity for Los Angeles and the fran...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
