Rip Hamilton says LeBron should bring Melo to the Lakers, "he would be a good piece"

James Lebron should take the phone right away and have his best friend, Carmelo Anthony, on the Lakers … say Rip Hamilton, who tells TMZ Sports Melo would be a "good piece" for L.A.

You all know the situation so far … Anthony is trying to return to the NBA since his release in November. It's one of the hottest topics of the off season.

There were a lot of people – especially Royce White – furious that King James has not made calls for Melo to become Purple & Gold … and Rip says it's time for LBJ to pick up the phone.

"I think he should be in the league right now," said Rip Sunday ahead of Nightingale in England.

"I think it could still happen, they've been talking about it for a long time, and when we think about what the Lakers have right now, Melo is a guy who can really be helpful playing with LeBron and knowing[[[[Anthony Davis& # 39;]game and stuff like that. "

"And, it's a veterinarian, and it's a guy who can close the game, so that would be a good piece for the Lakers."

Things have been take steam for Anthony recently, though .. with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant pushing to do it to the Brooklyn nets … and Melo told us that he had love to join them in BK.