3. Carmelo Anthony will be cheap, there is no risk!
This is the biggest reason beyond everything else why the Los Angeles Lakers should sign Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo is going to be a veteran minimum’s signing and there really is no risk involved in bringing him in.
He brings something to the table that undoubtedly helps the Los Angeles Lakers and is willing to take the step back that we mentioned. This is not the Lakers trying to get a third star out of Melo. This is bringing in a veteran depth piece, just as they have with so many other players.
What are the risks in this move? Carmelo completely disrupting the chemistry of the team and bringing the Lakers down with him? First of all, this roster is going to be much different than last season and almost completely different from two seasons ago. There is not going to be much built-in chemistry.
Second of all, if a veteran role player is able to bring down the entire team and its chemistry then you probably did not have good chemistry, to begin with.
You cannot tell me that the Lakers wouldn’t get more if they gave Melo the roster spot that they have given Jared Dudley the last two years. Every team has the backend roster spots that do not really matter and the team can replace that with an actually productive player.
And if he isn’t productive then you either don’t play him or just release him and sign a buyout guy in March. There is absolutely no risk, and while the reward isn’t massive, there is still an exciting reward.