Knicks, Rockets working on Carmelo Anthony trade scenarios

The real hindrance with Melo to the Rockets isn't that it isnt a more appealing situation for Melo but that the Knicks nor will any other team take Ryan Anderson's contract for less than two first round picks, according Zach Lowe, Bobby Marks and many others.

Why would the Knicks take on 3 years of Anderson contract without significant incentives, when they could simply be rid of Carmelo & his contract at the end of the season? Carmelo has an opt out at the end of the year and no one believes he is going to opt in and forgo not only more money, long term security and freedom just for... what reason?

If Carmelo was somehow traded to the Cavs in that three team deal, he would also more than likely opt out at the end of the year for those same reasons, ie money, security & freedom. Thus if Lebron leaves, he could also leave.

 

I didn't say Carmelo to Houston is a strong possibility; but Carmelo to Cleveland is just as unlikely given the circumstances. I don't see any reason why Carmelo would waive his NTC to "maybe" play with LeBron just for one year, while Cavs as an organization seems to be more and more dysfunctional which Melo probably is fed up with right now. Also, I don't see Love-Melo-LeBron all starting at the same time, and somebody is going to the bench, which will definitely hurt the chemistry.

 

The underrating of Kyrie all over is just stupid. Trading for Kyrie would require a king's ransom. 25 year old tier 2 superstar that just killed in the last 2 NBA Finals.

 

Kyrie is better than Lillard. Lillard is pulling a Westbrook out in Portland, maximizing usage to get his stats to their optimum level while playing zero defense. Kyrie is deferent to Lebron; with his shooting and finishing abilities he could put up 30/10/5 stats if he got the Westbrook treatment on his own team.

 

Yeah Kyrie is the best Superstar to be on the trade market in over 8 years.

 

Once again, he can opt out if Bron leaves. Not ideal especially since he loses bird rights, but staying in NY is just not a good option at this point.

 

Let me get this straight...the Cavs are trying to convince LBJ to stay in the Land beyond next season and they are going to replace kyrie irving and kevin love with ryan anderson, eric bledsoe, and trevor ariza? You realize that before love and irving played with lebron they were considered amongst the best at their positions? Thats some good stuff you are smoking

 

To be petty?

Knicks and Carmelo both want what is best for themselves, but if the Knicks held on to him for a whole season knowing he didn't want to be there he could decide to be petty...

Or things could change over the course of the year...Maybe he has a change of heart and doesn't want to leave NY. Maybe he opts in for that reason...

 

Better than Harden?

 

No

 

I think Melo knows LeBron will leave anyway, so which winning team will take a 34 year-old Melo at that point? He doesn't have that much time to waste, Melo wants to win now as it's clear that he doesn't want to play for a 'bad' team anymore. It's just too much of a risk to take given his age and continuously declining value; I don't see Warriors or the Spurs clamoring to acquire Melo in the near future, so which team will take Melo? Maybe even Houston will not take him after this year.

 

Harden was traded to the Rockets.

Edit: replied to the wrong post.

 

Real question for Cavs is do they actually want to trade Kyrie. If they are condifent Kyrie can lead the team after next year they should keep Kyrie. If they intend to rebuild they might as well trade him now to get better return on him.

 

That's because Isola doesn't do what many beat writers do, which is simply paint the most rosy picture possible and take everything the front office says as gospel.

Isola is the beat writer/columnist for a major daily newspaper in the largest U.S. city, and is featured heavily on ESPN's primary television programs on an almost-daily basis. He's extremely credible. He just doesn't say what NY homers want to hear, and it's easier to shoot the messenger.

 

You bring up a good point about the LOVE MELO LEBRON positional problem. Melo and Lebron have both in the past disliked the idea of playing PF full time. Against GS or in the playoffs it probably isnt a problem since, Love would be on Draymond, Lebron/Melo on Durant/Iggy etc. The problem is the regular season when teams aren't as likely to play small for as long a period of time.

I only meant to quoted your post to clarify why Melo wouldn't be stuck in Cleveland if Lebron left the following year. Why he did or didn't waive his NTC for the Cavs I cant really venture to guess. Maybe he wants or doesnt want to play with Lebron. Maybe he did waive it and now wont or vice versa? I don;t know.

Lastly I don't know if Melo to the Rockets is a strong possibility, I don't believe that I claim that you thought it was or wasnt. I just think that it hinges on Andersons contract. IMO if the rockets could clear away Andersons contract to another team (not the knicks), Melo would already be a Rocket. In other words the Knicks would've trade Melo to houston for simply cap space.

 

double post

 

Frank Isola-ted?

 

It was on 2 yard line then Perry was hired

 

In his defense, the folks I've talked to close to the Rockets characterized it exactly the same way. Given Dolan's history, I tend to believe that side... but who knows. #shrug