All this Carmelo Anthony trade talk makes me queasy when I see the proposed assets that Houston would have to give up for him. The list of players that keeps appearing include some combination of Martin, Jeffries, Budinger, Hill and Battier plus two future Knicks picks. Everyone is so high on Melo...well, what if we trade those guys and then Anthony goes down with an injury along with another rotation player or two? Where's your bench depth to compensate for such a loss? Well, their all in Denver furthering their careers while the Rockets finish out of the playoffs again. The problem I see with the Melo fever that is rampant in this forum is most posters are consumed with the notion of trying to win it all this season and not believing in the team as it is currently constituted. Carmelo Anthony is a terrific player with a generally crappy attitude. I don't see him fitting well on the floor or the locker room. His presence at the expense of all these talented youngsters is a poor odds gamble for this year and a terrible odds gamble on the future of this franchise. Kevin Martin can deliver twenty points a game and he fits this team. The Rockets desperately need Shane Battier on defense and firing up the occasional clutch three point shot. Chase Budinger has shown great potential and is a very intelligent player. Hill came to us late in the season and instantly won the confidence of the coaches with his play. The two NY draft picks should not be on the table considering the Knicks probable low finish for the next year or two. I just watched a recorded game of the Rockets beating Boston in the Garden toward the end of last season. That game offers a glimpse into what this current team can do without Yao...imagine what a healthy Yao brings back to the Rockets. The addition of Courtney Lee brings another premiere defender to the team and hopefully helps restore the defensive tenacity that has been missing. Let's look at the reasonable expected point production from the current team's possible rotation... Brooks...18--22 points per game Martin...18--22 Scola....18--20 Battier...06--09 Yao.......12--20 Lowry....08--12 Lee.......08--12 Hill........08--12 Budinger.08--12 Miller......05--08 Add it up...the current team can compete with the big boys in this league. Mr. Morey...Just say NO!
How would you feel if Daryl Morey and Rick Adelman disagree with your assessment and add Melo to the team? Personally, that would make any reservations I have about Melo disappear.
The problem I think is ceiling. With a squad of decent players, the ceiling isn't as high as if you had a few superstars with a few role players. You can't just compare PPG and then say oh you're trading away a combination of 50 PPG for a guy who just scores 25 PPG. When we traded for T-Mac, we were giving a way a very productive duo in Mobley + Francis and a servicable backup PF/C in Cato, for essentially just T-Mac. You can't just go by stats. How can you guarantee that a squad of Martin + Brooks + whatever other mid-tier players we have + Yao will be better than a squad of Melo + Yao + AB or Martin (if they stay) + role players.
Morey is shrewd, but not omniscient...as evidenced by the signing of Trevor Ariza. My reservations about Melo stand regardless of how he or Coach Adelman feel about it.
Didn't Boston trade away young talent as well for KG? They gave away a rising star in Al Jefferson (who I would say is catching up to KG's talent level if it weren't for injuries) and Ryan Gomes, other throw in players, and some nice draft picks. It turned out okay for Boston didn't it?
Assuming you assume that all 10 of the rotation players will play in every game and using the midpoints of your expected PPG, the Rockets would score around 130 points per game. You have the projected starting lineup scoring over 80 points per game (using your midpoints). Do you think with Yao returning and a whole year of Martin that Scola's PPG will increase?
Just say no to " Just Say No to Melo" threads. Don't think we need more threads on already 50 Melo threads. Lock it up!
If your assessment were anywhere near accurate, you have the Rockets scoring average at 129 pts/game. Not happening. Not happening for ANY team in the NBA.
Great thread, well reasoned, and not some knee jerk, shiny object in the stream look at things. :grin: DD
Hey Bob...good question on Scola. I think his potential is just starting to be realized. I believe that his total points could go up since he won't be splitting time with Landry. Scola is a true iron man who is coming into his own. Thanks.
i'd have to agree. melo's game, though prob the best all around offensive, is full of lackluster effort. doesn't play defense, not alot of assists, and really crappy FG% & turnovers. i can understand bringing a guy like him into our locker room, which is great bunch of dudes on the real, and expect him to adjust...but it's melo. melo is a first option. melo is superstar. melo plays for melo. remember last time we had some superstar who thought he's above the team?
EDIT: totally forgot. Melo = Anti-LeBron since way back when. melo is the only one who can get under the King's skin.
1-star for starting a new thread to say something that's already been said when plenty of Carmelo threads already exist.
