NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Signing Delayed Due To Pending Davis Trade, Leonard Verdict

The Los Angeles Lakers do have open roster spots and the consensus is that team general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach Frank Vogel will likely consider filling these up with veterans and free agents willing to accept lower pay. At the top of the list is Carmelo Anthony, someone who has been longed mentioned as likely to join LeBron James in Hollywood.

The scenario now for Anthony has become a bit complicated. According to ESPN, it seems that the Lakers may only move on to fill up their roster spots once the blockbuster trade for Davis is completed. But before that, the purple and gold is still awaiting the final decision of Kawhi Leonard. The two-time NBA champion is scheduled to meet with the Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors first before deciding where he will play next NBA season. But if recent reports are accurate, it looks like the 28-year-old will be heading to the Clippers - a team that had been considered a favorite even before the 2018-19 NBA season started.

Once the Leonard decision is concluded, such could provide the Lakers a big sigh of relief. They can focus on Davis and then the available free agents which seem to be getting thinner by the day. Thankfully, at least two names allegedly on their list have not been linked to several teams as of this writing.

Seeing Anthony join the Lakers hardly surprises anyone. James has been singled out as the potential reason, seeing how the two are close friends. Melo' coming to Los Angeles was speculated as early as February with the team in dire need of firepower. That was all overshadowed by the ridiculous pitch to Anthony Davis, which back then bogged down. At the rate things are going now, it looks like Anthony will have to wait once again.

Aside from Anthony, JR Smith is another player some camps are expecting to go to Hollywood. Like Melo, he too has links to James and fits into the wing needs of the purple and gold next NBA season. But it looks like this will take more time after he and the Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to postpone his guarantee date. The Cavs now have until Aug. 1 to waive or trade Smith before his $15 million salary for the 2019-2020 season becomes guaranteed, Fansided reported.