Lakers’ top priority to bring both James and Anthony to Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Lakers will meet with free agent forward Carmelo Anthony on Thursday, while they have also made calls to LeBron James and Pau Gasol.
It is understood that Anthony’s representatives were one of the Lakers’ first calls on Monday night as the free agency market opened for business, while they also placed a call to the agent of Miami star James and will attempt to retain their own free agent in Gasol.
However, as reported by ESPN, the Lakers’ top priority is trying to convince both James and Anthony to leave their respective teams and join forces in Los Angeles.
While James is not scheduled in for any meetings with interested teams, it has been reported that he will seek a full max-level extension which would put team-mates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh under pressure to take a pay cut in order to allow the Heat front office to add role players.
Meanwhile that could in turn open the door for James to consider his options elsewhere, with the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns two of the franchises capable of giving him the level of salary that he is searching for.
While that situation continues to develop, it is understood that the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors all made enquiries about Gasol, with the Spaniard potentially having to wait until both James and Anthony have secured their futures before he gets a better idea of where he will be next season.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak also reportedly contacted free agents Luol Deng, Trevor Ariza and point guard Kyle Lowry on Monday night, but ultimately many of the decisions for several franchises around the league will depend on the outcome of Miami’s Big Three and their choice on whether or not to stay with the Heat.
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