Did The Los Angeles Lakers Make A Mistake?

Carmelo Anthony spent the 2021-22 NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers, but they did not bring him back last year.

Carmelo Anthony is one of the greatest players in NBA history, and the elite scorer will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

He spent the 2021-22 NBA season playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and averaged a very productive 13.3 points per contest while shooting 44.1% from the field and 37.5% from the three-point range in 69 games (66 off the bench).

The Lakers did not re-sign Anthony last summer, and he was a free agent for the entire 2022-23 season. 

In May, the ten-time All-Star announced his retirement. 

Thank you #STAYME7O pic.twitter.com/4au8cOd13s

— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) May 22, 2023

Did The Lakers Make A Mistake? 

There is a case to be made that Anthony could have been a huge help to the Lakers this past year. 

The team struggled at the start of the season, but ended up making a deep run to the Western Conference Finals (after finishing the year as the seventh seed with a 43-39 record). 

In 2022, Anthony proved that he was capable of still being a productive offensive player, and could have given the Lakers a boost off the bench in the NBA playoffs. 

Carmelo Anthony was feeling it from deep in the Lakers' OT win 🤩 pic.twitter.com/t4t8I13MTY

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 9, 2021

While the Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors in the first two rounds, they were swept by the Denver Nuggets.  

NUGGETS SWEEP LAKERS TO ADVANCE TO THEIR FIRST NBA FINALS.

All eyes on the prize 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kKPfHINE11

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 23, 2023

At the end of the regular season, the Lakers signed Tristan Thompson, who played in six NBA playoff games. 

Thompson is the better defender, but Anthony could have instead been signed and likely would have been able to have a more significant impact. 

In addition, there would have been the continuity of Anthony coming back for a second season after already playing with Anthony Davis and LeBron James.  

While the answer will never be known, it's fair to wonder if the Lakers would have been able to give the Nuggets a better challenge (if they had re-signed Anthony). 

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