Carmelo Anthony Rockets Lakers
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Houston Rockets wait for an inbound at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Oct. 20, 2018. Harry How/Getty Images

After failing to make a significant move at the trade deadline, it looked like Carmelo Anthony would be the Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest addition for the final two months of the 2019 regular season. Now that L.A. is quickly falling further out of the playoff picture, a union between the two sides isn’t looking likely.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers and Anthony are “pausing” talks on a possible contract until Los Angeles can get closer to postseason contention. The Lakers are 4.5 games out of the West’s No.8 seed with just 19 games remaining on the schedule.

Wojnarowski reports that the Lakers had been leaning toward signing Anthony until losing four of their last five games.

Giving Anthony playing time won’t make much sense for the Lakers if they aren’t going to the postseason. Los Angeles would likely rather see if young players like Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball can develop further.

Those players could potentially increase their trade value, even if Los Angeles misses the playoffs. That might give the Lakers a better shot to trade for Anthony Davis this summer.

Anthony has also had reservations about joining the Lakers, according to Wojnarowski, considering their place in the standings and the turmoil that has engulfed the team in recent weeks.

Anthony averaged 13.4 points per game with the Houston Rockets in 10 games this season. Houston had a -15.6 net rating with Anthony on the court before shutting down the forward and eventually trading him to the Chicago Bulls.

Anthony hasn’t played since Nov. 8.

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