Carmelo Anthony has been essentially forced into involuntary retirement from the NBA as he hasn't seen interest from franchises. The Los Angeles Lakers third-year power forward, Kyle Kuzma, on the other hand, believes the 10-time All-Star deserves a roster spot in the league.

From Arash Markazi in the LA Times:

“Melo is easily better than half the league right now,” Kuzma said. “There’s no question about it. He should be on a team right now. He’s still one of the best players. The slander people throw at him is something I don’t really understand. Maybe that’s just the way today’s society is right now.

Kuzma, 24, also went on to say it would be “great” to have him in LA with the Lakers—Anthony is great friends with 2003 draft classmate and multiple Summer Olympics USA Basketball teammate in LeBron James—but the 6-foot-9 forward doesn't “make those decisions.” Kuzma also complimented the team's leading executive Rob Pelinka for doing a great job constructing the team.
The Lakers have had a busy offseason, first trading for All-NBA power forward Anthony Davis and sending their fourth overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans (along with young players in Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and Brandon Ingram). LA then signed a score of veterans to the team; big maan DeMarcus Cousins, shooting guard Danny Green, forward Jared Dudley alongside re-signing Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Alex Caruso.
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Anthony appeared on ESPN's “First Take” on Friday, telling Stephen A. Smith a wide range of details about his NBA exile—he last played for the Houston Rockets before being traded to Chicago and waived by the Bulls—and current ability to perform in the league that has cast him aside.