All bets are off on 2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions. Even the LA Lakers 'pipe dream' of acquiring Carmelo Anthony is not entirely off the table! Melo has talked to representatives of the team, and they have not been ruled out!

It is in the realm of possibility, and if there's a team crazy enough to pull it off, it's the Lakers-the most profitable team in the NBA even without making the playoffs and their superstar only playing six games.

The question: If Kobe and Carmelo join forces, is it enough to make them a contender in the cut-throat Western Conference? ESPN's experts weigh in:

"Israel Gutierrez, ESPN: Sure. It just depends on who's around them. They would need a rim protector and floor spacers to give them room to operate. It wouldn't be ideal, especially in the first season while they attempt to figure one another out, but it's possible. With the Clippers, Thunder, Rockets and Spurs all potentially improving, though, I wouldn't bet on that duo this season."

It would be a great starting point but they need to sell the idea to other players. The key here is that they don't need to acquire scorers which are the most expensive commodity in the league.

"Michael Wallace, ESPN: Yes, especially if Gasol finds a way to return. A starting core of Steve Nash, Kobe, Carmelo, Randle and Gasol would certainly be interesting. Of course, their biggest challenge is to find depth on the bench and to avoid injuries to the AARP portion of the roster. I see contender, not championship material just yet in the wild West."

This is the dynamic of the idea. Playing with Kobe as the lone star will be tedious for the players around him, but with Carmelo, defenders will have their hands full. Pau Gasol loves LA, but he would want to play for a competitive team. He's being courted by Durant and Westbrook in OKC and it's hard to refuse that. But if it's Kobe and Melo making the counter-offer, he would listen-and stay.

The Lakers can still choose a coach best suited for this set-up as well as a bench unit. That's doable as long as you have your stars. The NBA is and always will be, a league of superstars. A title is quite a reach, but if their pairing can somehow attract a star in the future (hello Kevin Love), then we can start talking.