Sources: Lakers, Carmelo Anthony, Pause Contract Talks

The Los Angeles Lakers and free agent Carmelo Anthony are pausing talks on a possible contract agreement unless the franchise makes a turn back toward pursuit of Western Conference playoffs contention, league sources told ESPN.

The Lakers had been leaning toward signing Anthony for the rest of the season — until losses in four of the past five games left the organization and Anthony’s camp wondering if it made sense to bring the veteran into an unsettled environment with suddenly so little chance of making the playoffs, league sources said.

Anthony, a 10-time All-Star, had been hoping to find a new team that would provide a positive conclusion to his season after an abrupt stay with the Houston Rockets.

Source: Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN