PHOTO: Carmelo Anthony meets Pele in Cuba, interested in owning a Puerto Rican soccer team

Carmelo Anthony would prefer to still be playing basketball right now, but expanding his brand while enjoying the tropical island of Cuba isn't a bad deal.

The New York Knicks superstar traveled to Cuba with the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos, who are in the country to take on the Cuban national team as part of the ongoing restoration of diplomatic relations between the island nation and the United States.

'Melo met football legend Pele while there, so regardless of what else he does, the trip is already a good one. Pele, a Brazilian, serves as the honorary president of the Cosmos.

Anthony's reason for travel, however, isn't just to satisfy his soccer fandom or serve as a de facto diplomat. The volume scorer is also making the trip for business purposes, as the New York Daily News' Linda Stasi reports that the 10-time All-Star has been in talks with the NASL for months about an ownership stake in a Puerto Rican club.

According to Stasi, Anthony enjoyed Cuban cigars and live salsa music at the Havana Club Rum Museum on Monday evening. This after celebrating with the team on a raucous chartered flight and at a hotel restaurant on Sunday.

Anthony has earned approximately $158 million over the course of his 12-year career in salary alone, with an additional $100 million set to come his way over the next four years. The NASL dictates that the primary owner of each club must own at least 35 percent of the team's shares, so there's no dabbling in ownership here the way LeBron James has with a minority stake in Liverpool.