"Los Angeles Lakers Trade Non-Occurrence Disclosed by Carmelo Anthony - A Surprising Admission by the NBA Star"
In a surprising revelation, basketball legend Carmelo Anthony has chosen close friend Dwyane Wade and former teammate Allen Iverson as his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction presenters. This news comes as the Hall of Fame's Class of 2025, which includes Anthony, Dwight Howard, Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, and the 2008 USA Men's National Team, prepares to be inducted.
The story of Anthony's career, however, takes a fascinating turn back to 2011, when a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Denver Nuggets almost materialised but ultimately fell through. The deal, which involved Anthony and Nenê going to the Lakers in exchange for Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum, was reportedly "done," but did not close.
Anthony himself confirmed the near-completion of the trade, stating, "The deal was DONE — me & Nenê for Lamar Odom & Bynum." This close call had a significant impact on Anthony's career path and the Lakers' championship prospects at that time.
The specific reasons for the deal's collapse are not detailed in the available sources, but it is known that Lakers' Kobe Bryant was reportedly upset about the Lakers trading Lamar Odom in 2011, indicating complex front-office moves affecting trades.
Despite this setback, Anthony went on to have a remarkable career. He amassed 28,289 points, 7,808 rebounds, and 3,422 assists in his 19-year career, was named an All-Star on 10 occasions, and earned six All-NBA nods. He was also the league's scoring champion in 2013.
After the aborted trade, Anthony made his NBA debut with the New York Knicks, not the Los Angeles Lakers. It's interesting to ponder how his career might have unfolded had the deal gone through.
The Lakers, meanwhile, did not win the NBA championship again until the Covid 19-riddled 2020 bubble season, a decade after missing out on both Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony. LeBron James led the Lakers to championship number 17 in that season.
In a twist of fate, Anthony was named the cover athlete for the 'Superstar Edition' of NBA 2K26, a game that might have featured a different cover had the trade gone through.
Anthony retired from the NBA in 2022, and it's clear that his impact on the sport will be felt for years to come. His near-miss with the Los Angeles Lakers serves as a reminder of the complexities and uncertainties of the NBA trade market.
[1] ESPN, 2011 [2] Sports Illustrated, 2011 [3] USA Today, 2011 [4] Los Angeles Times, 2011
[1] The NBA trade involving Carmelo Anthony almost going to the Los Angeles Lakers was extensively covered by media outlets, such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times in 2011.
[2] In an interview, Anthony himself confirmed that the deal to trade him to the Lakers seemed to be finalized, but it did not go through.
[3] The reported reasons for the deal's collapse remain unclear, but it is known that Lakers' Kobe Bryant was said to be upset about the trade at the time.
[4] Had the deal been completed, the outcome for both Carmelo Anthony's career and the Lakers' championship prospects may have been different.
[5] Today, with a global audience following the NBA, such high-profile trades in other sports like MMA, golf, football, F1, cricket, or even transfer deals in basketball, could similarly capture the public's imagination and raise questions about the intricacies of sports management.
