Lakers Rumors: Mark Jackson Hire Could Attract Carmelo Anthony To Sign
The Los Angeles Lakers rumors are heating up surrounding the firing of Mark Jackson from the Golden State Warriors. In one of the most surprising coaching moves in recent NBA history, Mark Jackson is available after leading the Warriors to two straight playoffs appearances and their best record since the 1991-1992 season. Now Lakers rumors are squarely on Mark Jackson filling their coaching void after Mike D’Antoni resigned last week.
If the Lakers are able to hire Mark Jackson, it may reignite rumors of the Lakers chasing Carmelo Anthony. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles, the Jackson to the Lakers rumors are pretty solid.
As I reported last week, Lakers were closely monitoring playoffs to see what coaches would be let go. Mark Jackson is a candidate for LAL
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 6, 2014
The reality is that Mike D’Antoni was a deterrent for signing free agents. But Mark Jackson is well known around the league for being a “player’s coach”, a major plus for the Lakers this summer. The Lakers are one of the few teams ready to make a major splash in this year’s free agency class. The Lakers have ten players coming off the books, including Pau Gasol. Whether they re-sign him or not will most likely affect their ability to get Carmelo Anthony.
With the New York Knicks on the verge of hiring Steve Kerr and the reality of 2014-2015 being a rebuilding year for the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony is a prime candidate to look for greener grass. Lakers rumors of signing Carmelo Anthony are based on several factors. They are able to spend more money than most teams, offer the opportunity to play in another major market, and (with the right signings) can compete now. The Lakers also have a lottery pick which they can use in a trade or to take a quality talent in a deep draft.
Obviously the biggest question mark in all Lakers rumors involves Kobe Bryant. Kobe is locked in through 2016 and to say his health is a concern is an understatement. No one knows if Kobe will be able to return from his knee injury. If Kobe does return, the question will be if he can play second fiddle to Carmelo. If so, the Lakers would only be a few pieces away from being a serious Western Conference contender. They can fill the void of either a big man or point guard through the draft. The rest of the pieces can be picked up in a free agency class full of role players.
If the Lakers rumors concerning Mark Jackson do come true, expect to see some aggressive recruiting of Carmelo Anthony.
[Image via FanSided]
