Are we talking about the same thing. I said they need picks from bad teams such as Nets to be remotely attractive in a lebron trade.
No we're not. If Lebron tells them he's leaving to Houston in free agency or they can trade him, a couple low firsts plus Gordon, Tucker, Capela (extended), might be enough to get them to agree to a trade rather than reclaim their cap space. A low first does have value.
And how do you propose we get those picks? Rockets have screwed themselves by giving a bench player like Rhyno a max contract. No team wants to touch him without pick(s) attached. Same with Jerry Lin when he had to give up a late 1st (Larry Nance eventually) to get rid of him
Morey's philosophy has always been "win now" and right now we have players in there prime for about 2-3years to where we don't need a first rounder in 2020. If a 1st rounder is what's keeping us from getting Melo than thisbteam probably doesn't really want or is in a desperation to get another star or Melo for that matter.