Carmelo Anthony meeting with Lakers, wants decision by second week of July

The Los Angeles Lakers will meet with superstar free agent Carmelo Anthony once he becomes a free agent. The list of teams he will meet includes the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Lakers, and Anthony wants to make his decision by the second week of July, reports Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports.

Anthony's initial "list" of teams was released and it did not include Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant has already reached out to Anthony, however, and intends to recruit him to the Lakers this summer.

The prolific scorer wants to conduct his free agent meetings quickly, possibly visiting Houston and Dallas in the same day. Anthony already has an off-season home in Los Angeles, making for an easy opportunity for him to meet with the Lakers.

Los Angeles will have cap space to sign Anthony, but New York can offer him extra guaranteed money over an additional year. Anthony, 30, will likely sign one of the last significant contracts in his career that should carry through the remainder of his prime.