Kobe back from Europe for Melo pitch

[navy]

Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Kobe Bryant flew in late Wednesday night from a European vacation so he could attend and play a key part in the team's pitch to free agent forward Carmelo Anthony on Thursday, sources with knowledge of the situation said.

Bryant has a long history and friendship with Anthony and has been courting him for some time but felt it was important to be there when the Lakers made their pitch to him at an undisclosed location in Los Angeles.

The Lakers have made Anthony and fellow superstar free agent LeBron James the main focus of their offseason, going so far as to hold off hiring a coach and signing other free agents until they could make their pitches to the two players.

While they have called Rich Paul, James' agent, and were hoping to meet with him soon, sources maintain James and Paul have yet to grant formal meetings to any teams.

Anthony is far from a consolation prize, however. Sources indicate the Lakers are enamored with his game and believe he would complement Bryant well. The Lakers hope to pair the two wings with center Pau Gasol, whom they met with on the first day of free agency.

ESPN reported Wednesday night that the Oklahoma City Thunder duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook made a strong case to the Spaniard, with the Thunder emerging as a surprising front-runner, despite their financial limitations. The Chicago Bulls are scheduled to meet with Gasol on Thursday in Los Angeles.

However, the Lakers can pay Gasol more than any other team, and his fondness for the city and playing with Bryant should not be discounted. If the team can add to its roster with Anthony, sources said, Gasol would be far more inclined to re-sign with the Lakers.

Selling that vision will fall to Bryant, general manager Mitch Kupchak, Lakers president Jeanie Buss, executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss and several other figures the team has enlisted to make the case that Anthony should leave New York to play for a team that has won 16 NBA titles. Grantland's Zach Lowe reported Monday that the Lakers turned more than $100 million in profits last season --after paying luxury-tax and revenue-sharing fees -- because of their lucrative television and radio contracts.

The Lakers' $158 million profit last season (before luxury taxes and revenue sharing) was more than double that of the franchise with the next-highest profit, the Chicago Bulls ($75.7 million profit before taxes and revenue sharing). The Bulls, Mavericks and Rockets all have made pitches to Anthony this week. The New York Knicks are expected to make the final pitch to him, according to ESPNNewYork.com.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...-anthony-pitch

Where are those fools who said Kobe doesnt recruit?

[navy]

I'm pretty sure the Lakers FO will be doing most of the recruiting. He's probably there to show some support for his team. But on Carmelo... it'll be interesting to see if he gets any hate like LeBron did in 2010.

Melo isnt on Lebron's level in anything really so no.

Although if Lebron joins him in LA....

[BoutPractice]

It would neither be the best move for Melo nor for the Lakers.

If you're counting on the ghost of Kobe Bryant and 30 year old Carmelo alone to take you to the promised land, you're going to be sorely disappointed. This is not a recipe for long term success, and it is thinking small where the Lakers usually think big.

Carmelo's best option for his career at this point is to play a Paul Pierce role as part of a gritty ensemble cast in Chicago designed to contend for at least 2-3 years. That way he can get a ring as one of the most important players on the team the way Paul Pierce did in Boston. It would be the most graceful transition for him.

[buddha]

Marshall / Jordan Farmar
Kobe / Nick Young / Xavier Henry
Melo / Wesley Johnson
Randle / Ryan Kelly
Gasol / Jordan Hill

lol goodnight league

[BoutPractice]

Of course Rose is a question mark.

But even without Rose, the Bulls with Carmelo Anthony are a very dangerous team, especially in a weak East.

The Bulls are the best defense, anchored by one of the best centers, with one of the best coaches. They are also arguably the worst offense in the league. Despite that they won 47 games.

What happens when you add to that team one of the best scorers in the league, with a decent chance that another great scorer and playmaker joins the party?

If Rose comes back, you might be looking at a poor man's bad boy pistons. If he doesn't, you're still looking at an Eastern Conference Finals team for 3 or so years, with a good chance they pick up the pieces when Miami's dominance of the conference finally ends.

As for Melo, the only thing that can improve his career is a championship where he plays an important role. Right now he's essentially Alex English 2.0 in terms of where he fits historically. Nothing wrong with that, but "Alex English with a championship" is a whole different thing to be remembered as.

[-Lebron23-]

Marshall / Jordan Farmar
Kobe / Nick Young / Xavier Henry
Melo / Wesley Johnson
Randle / Ryan Kelly
Gasol / Jordan Hill

lol goodnight league

That team would score 115 points a game... and still lose by 20. God awful defense.

[MVBallin2K]

It would neither be the best move for Melo nor for the Lakers.

If you're counting on the ghost of Kobe Bryant and 30 year old Carmelo alone to take you to the promised land, you're going to be sorely disappointed. This is not a recipe for long term success, and it is thinking small where the Lakers usually think big.

Carmelo's best option for his career at this point is to play a Paul Pierce role as part of a gritty ensemble cast in Chicago designed to contend for at least 2-3 years. That way he can get a ring as one of the most important players on the team the way Paul Pierce did in Boston. It would be the most graceful transition for him.

I think this is definitely a move to attempt to attract Lebron if he's willing to meet and convince Gasol to stay. Whether it works or not, who knows. I don't think Melo is going to head to LA anyhow, not without at least knowing Lebron has a meeting set up. Melo's supposed to make his decision soon and Lebron's been quiet. It's more than likely not going to work out but may as well pitch to him and see if maybe there's a shot.

[BoutPractice]

I suppose it makes sense if they're thinking of a Melo-Kobe-LeBron situation, but it's the longest of longshots.

[SexSymbol]

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...-anthony-pitch

Where are those fools who said Kobe doesnt recruit?

He's not recruiting, he has to be there by default, team's best player after all

[dreamwarrior]

Melo would fit so well with the Lakers. The guy seems tired of being the #1 option and played the most minutes per game last year of any player.

[Levity]

surround those two guys with defensive minded players, and they can be competitive. blah blah blah theres only one ball blah blah blah. typical retarded argument we'll be hearing if that does happen.

[MVBallin2K]

He's not recruiting, he has to be there by default, team's best player after all

Kobe already contacted and talked to Melo about teaming up, so he has started a recruiting process regardless if he gets deeply into the pitch or not.

Speaking of which, considering Melo already has a meeting with the Knicks afterwards, this is gonna have to be one heck of a pitch by the Lakers if they want him. Though, some of Melo's other meetings went longer than expected so this may too. They're going to have to throw the pitch of a lifetime given the other teams involved, so I'm interested to see details start to come out about the meeting.

[jstern]

It would be funny if he gives him the Dwight Howard pitch, where he would tell him that he would be the second or third option.

[MVBallin2K]

So it looks like the meeting time got moved up and Kobe wasn't able to make it in time for the pitch. Apparently he might try and meet Melo later on if there's a chance.

James Worthy is at the pitch and Melo just arrived, so interested to see what happens now.

[Hey Yo]

So it looks like the meeting time got moved up and Kobe wasn't able to make it in time for the pitch. Apparently he might try and meet Melo later on if there's a chance.

James Worthy is at the pitch and Melo just arrived, so interested to see what happens now.

Does that mean Kobe will just send Melo his workout video to show he's 100%, like Rose did?