The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly offered an "extremely attentive" Carmelo Anthony a maximum contract worth $95 million over four years. Although Lakers star Kobe Bryant missed the meeting, ESPN reported the two All-Stars planned to meet later that night.
Los Angeles made the offer during their pitch meeting with Anthony on Thursday. The meeting lasted just under three hours, according to ESPN, and a jovial Anthony signed autographs for several Lakers fans on his way out.
"You know I can't say anything right now, but I wanted to stop and say hey," Anthony said, via ESPN.
Although Los Angeles offered Anthony a maximum deal, they reportedly also discussed salary scenarios if free agent LeBron James were to sign with the Lakers too.
An ESPN source present during the Lakers' pitch described Anthony as "extremely attentive" and characterized the meeting as having went "really well." The source also said he believes the Lakers have a legitimate chance to land the perennial All-Star
Bryant, who was supposedly flying to Los Angeles to attend the meeting, didn't return in time to make the Lakers' pitch.
"Kobe Bryant was not able to make it back from a family vacation in Europe in time for the meeting, according to sources," Dave McMenamin and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN wrote on Friday. "Bryant intended to meet with Anthony later Thursday evening, after Anthony's meeting with the New York Knicks following his session with the Lakers, sources said."
Anthony's free agency tour also included meetings earlier in the week with the Chicago Bulls, the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets.
Anthony has said he doesn't plan on dragging out his free agency and hopes to decide on a team quickly. The Knicks, who can offer Anthony the most money, remain the purported frontrunner to land him.
