Lakers officially cut ties with 6-foot-7 ex-Knicks superstar, Hall of Famer

The Los Angeles Lakers made headlines on Wednesday by completing a flurry of financially driven moves to make it easier for them to round out the 2026-27 roster. 

Officially cutting ties with a 6-foot-7 former New York Knicks superstar and Hall of Famer (inducted in 2025 after retiring in 2023) was one of the moves the Lakers had to make to give themselves the flexibility they need moving forward.

“The Los Angeles Lakers have officially renounced the free agent rights to LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Dion Waiters, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith Jr, Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley, Jaxson Hayes, Markieff Morris, and Wayne Ellington,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto noted.

Unfortunately for Anthony, who earned six All-Star nods, one All-NBA third-team nod, and one All-NBA second-team nod with the Knicks in his prime, he joined the Lakers slightly too late.

The 42-year-old signed with Los Angeles on Aug. 6, 2021, eight months after the franchise captured its 17th championship in franchise history. 

While Anthony was solid with the Lakers during his lone season with Los Angeles (he averaged 13.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 44.1% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc), he failed to make the postseason for the sixth time in his career.

Although the former first-round pick ultimately ended his career with a title, he’ll always be regarded as one of the most prolific isolation scorers the NBA has ever seen.

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