Los Angeles Lakers No. 7 traces Carmelo Anthony's late-career chapter with the purple and gold. In 2021-22 he contributed 13.3 points in 26 minutes per game, shooting 37.5% from deep and earning fan love, even as the fit was imperfect. His season culminated in a Hall of Fame induction, closing a storied arc that began long before his Lakers stint.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis anchored the roster, with Russell Westbrook added that summer to boost the second unit amid a roster rebuild around the core. The piece ties Melo’s Lakers run to a broader Lakers history, highlighting how veteran scorers can impact fantasy value in bursts and deepen the franchise’s legendary aura.

From a fantasy lens, Melo’s No. 7 era demonstrates how aging scorers can buoy late-season lineups with scoring bursts and league-wide name value, even when minutes are limited. The Lakers’ jersey lore thus intersects with practical streamer decisions for savvy managers.

Denver pivoting from Bruce Brown’s arrival to guard-depth intrigue centers on Ayo Dosunmu, with Chicago’s package potentially sending Zeke Nnaji and Peyton Watson to the Bulls in exchange for Dosunmu and Justin Champagnie. Denver’s path hinges on Dosunmu’s downhill shooting, playmaking, and two-way coverage, which could mesh with Jokic and Murray while easing defensive matchups against teams like OKC. Westbrook’s status and a possible Wizards follow-up add intrigue to fantasy implications.

Houston enters next season as a premier Western Conference contender, pairing Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson with Kevin Durant and a deep mix of youth and experience. Reed Sheppard is earmarked for bigger bench reps, while Russell Westbrook remains unsigned and the Rockets weigh whether a reunion would help or hinder development. Minutes, fit, and roster gymnastics will shape the Rockets’ ceiling in a brutal West.

Key questions loom: can Houston sustain continuity while accelerating Sheppard’s growth, and would adding Westbrook disrupt or accelerate the second unit? Durant’s presence changes spacing and late-game dynamics, but the roster must balance development with a title-or-bust mindset, navigating roster spots and chemistry as the West stiffens.

New York's final roster spot could hinge on Ben Simmons, who is reportedly weighing retirement. If he returns, his length and playmaking would give the Knicks a versatile bench bridge next to Brunson and Randle. If retirement becomes real, the club pivots to wings with playmaking and shooting, like Russell Westbrook or Landry Shamet, to preserve East-title odds after last season's conference finals run.