Carmelo Anthony to Join LeBron James After He Agrees to One-Year Deal With Los Angeles Lakers
After eight years of rumors, free-agent forward Carmelo Anthony has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, said Anthony's manager, Bay Frazier.
Frazier told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the deal would only be for one season. The agent of the former All-star, Aaron Mintz of the CAA Sports, sealed the deal with Rob Pelinka, who is the general manager of the purple and gold squad.
Last season, Carmelo Anthony moved up to the 10th spot on the NBA's all-time career scoring list. He was able to revive his career after two seasons of playing under the Portland Trailblazers.
After a year of an ill-fated stint with the Houston Rockets, the former All-star was left out of the NBA. The 18-year veteran evolved his game after a year's hiatus.
From a superstar role, Anthony adjusted his game to a bench role with the Blazers last season. In his new role, Anthony averaged 13.4 points in just 24.5 minutes per game while shooting a career-best 40.9 percent beyond the arc.
Carmelo Anthony: 18 Years in NBA
The 37-year-old star entered the league as part of the famed 2003 draft class. Carmelo Anthony, alongside the no.1 overall pick in the '03 draft class, LeBron James were just the only two remaining active players in the draft class.
Both stars have maintained a close friendship since they first met in high school, and after two decades, they are now teammates, playing under the purple and gold squad.
In his 18 years in the league, Anthony has earned not less than $260 million in salary. Signing Anthony was a key move for the Lakers in the free agency.
Carmelo Anthony was a 10-time All-Star, had a six-time All-NBA selection, and was a three-time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA. Despite his amazing resume, success has eluded him in the postseason.
In 13 career playoff appearances, Anthony's teams have only made the conference finals just once, and he was not yet able to set his foot on the NBA Finals stage.
The surefire future Hall of Famer, Anthony, is currently sitting at the 10th spot in the scoring list with 27,370 points, just 39 points behind Moses Malone for the ninth spot.
Carmelo Anthony won the scoring title with the Knicks in 2012-13, averaging 28.7 points. He spent 10 consecutive seasons in the top 10 in scoring and finished as a runner-up for the scoring title twice during the span.
Los Angeles Lakers' Free Agent Frenzy
The signing of Carmelo Anthony was only one of the several signings made by the LA Lakers on Tuesday. The LA Lakers also agreed with restricted free agent Talen Horton-Tucker on a three-year deal.
His agents, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and Lucas Newton, told Wojnarowski that THT agreed to a $32 million deal to stay with the team.
Horton-Tucker was an important player for the Lakers, as the 20-year-old has an ascending talent with potential star quality. The Lakers also signed young talent Malik Monk for their backcourt.
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Written by: Jess Smith
WATCH: Carmelo Anthony Joins Los Angeles Lakers Super Team - From Bleacher Report