There has been no Showtime in L.A. of late, unless of course you apply the tag to the Clippers.  That is almost sacrilege from an historical perspective.  The modern Laker cornerstone, Kobe Bryant, believes he has at least two more elite seasons left in his legs. He doesn’t plan for those to be repeats of 2013-2014.  To avoid leaving his tenure with the Lakers having traded places with the prior to Chris Paul Clippers in terms of stature, Kobe needs Carmelo Anthony.  It all starts with Melo.  If they are successful in bringing Melo on board (to the chagrin of their prodigal son, Phil Jackson), Paul Gasol likely returns as well. That makes the Lakers respectable if not competitive for a title.  The greater hope is that, surveying the landscape upon such a result, Lebron James would decide to don the purple and gold as well. That would be the return to Showtime.  But, it all starts with attracting Carmelo Anthony.

Lebron wants to win, and with a little help this year in Miami, could have won. Those who criticize the guy should consider the weight he carried, the minutes he played, the earnings he sacrificed, and the feeling within his camp as to the respect he earned but did not get. While Lebron labored with the sixth highest minutes per game in the league, often carrying the team both offensively and defensively, guarding the best opponent at multiple positions, he often didn’t know until shortly before tip off whether D. Wade would play or not. There are youtube videos of Wade’s defensive erosion as his legs deteriorate, pointing to his opponent streaking down the court, and often it was Lebron laboring to chase them down. I repeat the word labor because that’s what this season was for Lebron, labor. He has never been the highest paid player on his team, either in Cleveland or Miami, but the effort required of him has unquestionably been the most.

There are other, subtle factors as well.  Lebron’s friends and family, who were royalty in Cleveland, are commoners in Miami, devoid of “special” treatment. Don’t think for a second they don’t express their displeasure to him, particularly in light of Pat Riley’s “Get a grip….”
pronouncement, clearly directed at James.  The Heat should consider that they didn’t deliver four finals and two championships to Lebron; he delivered those to the Heat, when he could get help.  Letting Mike Miller go to save money wasn’t the help he needed.

But it all starts with Carmelo Anthony.  Should he decide to go to L.A., join Kobe, and lure Pau Gasol, Lebron would be foolish to ignore the opportunity represented by that. Conversely, should Melo return to New York, the Lakers shouldn’t think for a moment that any other combination would attract Lebron.  Rather, he could sign a two year extension in Miami, with a player option on the second year, and join Carmelo a year later, in a Knick uniform. Think of the off-court earning opportunities that would bring to him. Think of the satisfaction Phil Jackson would get as a result.  More importantly, think of the Lakers, doomed to mediocrity, playing distant second fiddle to the Clippers in their own home. The Lakers desperately need Carmelo Anthony.