Knicks, Rockets working on Carmelo Anthony trade scenarios

Just listen to GM Perry interview on ESPN...

When asked when he had last talked with Melo, he basically evaded the question. I'm betting Melo hasn't taken any of his calls. If Melo is his first trade and NYK get screwed he'll have a hard time living that down. He can play hard ball, but he risks creating an environment that no one is happy playing in. I think Cod talked about players want to come to Houston, because our guys are having fun. Same w/ GS, those guys have a blast on the court.

Every GM/Coach are starting to be measured by GS, but DM/MDA are creating a similar environment.

I don't think Melo is going to want CLE w/ Kyrie's trade demand and LBJ's discontent. What is interesting is the power plays being made by the players. How will management respond. Indy made their play and dumped George for pennies on the dollar. NY and CLE are up next, both with new GMs. Perry is in a bit of a hole with really only one team to deal with. CLE has a little more room, given they have 4 teams in Kyrie's sights.

Perry has an out by just cutting his losses and getting Melo on his way. Anderson is far from a pupu platter and would give NYK another piece to convert from the triangle. If we include some young guys and draft picks, he has some additional assets to work with.

I think the Kyrie for Melo talk is silly and is more wishful thinking by the NY press.

 

Guys, guys. You realize Melo is going to Portland right?

(I kid you not, TWO people tried to correct me with that today while talking hoops in the office. Salt Lake City keeps on giving.)

 

I don't see a Kyrie-Melo swap happen
If Cavs believe Lebron will not stay next year even they have Melo and Love. It's not smart to trade your most valuable asset for a declining star, and cost you 28m $$$ next season. Just begin your rebuild process, get some promising young players and decent first picks, and shed of some big contracts to reduce luxury tax cost. Anyway Lebron is leaving, why still pay so much $$$?

It's intresting to see if Cavs trade all of their BIG3

 

I don't see it. Kyrie did nothing worthwhile as The Man before Bron - Dame has done more but both guys are bad defenders. Westbrook is a top 5-6 guy at worst.

 

Minus lebron Kyrie didn't have a team as good as what dame has had every year

 

to be fair, the young kyrie we saw years ago is not the same one in his prime years who is now much better and more experienced.

 

For that scenario to happen, the Knicks offer wouldn't just have to be the best for Cleveland -- it would have to be so overwhelmingly better than everything else that CLE is willing to wait out Melo and play that game. Seems like a longshot.

I agree that if NYK truly called Carmelo's bluff, there might be a point that he folds... but I'm pretty confident that point isn't going to be reached over 2 months from training camp. Probably not even one month. (And I think it's much more likely that NYK is the one that folds.)

 

That was my initial response, but if it's Melo, Ntilikina and a 1st...that's not a bad return. Also it makes some strategic sense for Cleveland...they get a win now piece and rebuilding pieces if Lebron leaves.

But that's irrelevant. Lebron won't commit to staying...that's the impediment to Melo going to Cleveland. If Lebron were signed to a long term deal like Harden then I could absolutely see it. But he's not, and there's no deal Cleveland can make that will improve them enough to give them a chance against GSW.

Also, I don't buy this whole "Lebron is distraught" storyline....feels like an excuse to make his exit more palatable for fans.

 

It's just boredom. Still 10 or so days away from NFL training camps even opening, 6+ weeks from actual football. NBA free agency drying up. Still over 2 months from playoff baseball. Slowest time of the sports calendar, so any "new" report -- silly or not -- gets hyped up. Same way as Melo-to-Portland earlier this week. The national media isn't anti-Houston, it's just talking about the inevitability of Melo to the Rockets (without an official deal) gets old after a while. So they find certain twists.

It's not 100% that Carmelo comes here, but he prioritized Houston over Cleveland based on weeks, if not months, of analysis and discussions. The idea that he would suddenly accept Portland -- or Cleveland without Kyrie, it's second-best player -- just because NYK paused discussions for a few days in mid-July is incredibly naive. Melo understands that few deals in big business come that easily. This has been in the works for some time... it's not impossible that Melo folds (though I think it's more likely NYK does), but if that happens, it'll be significantly closer to training camp. He hasn't gone through all of this to fold at the first sign of NY's resistance.

 

People always bring this up, but Kyrie wasn't even in his prime when he was first leading the Cavs w/o LeBron. Kyrie last year averaged 25 PPG on 47/40/90 shooing split. That's really impressive, and I bet Kyrie can average 27~28 PPG now as the MAN although his shooting efficiency will suffer a bit if he's guarded by the best defender every night. So, basically he's the same level as Lillard or DeRozan (top 20-ish player.)

 

Kyrie has only been in the league for six years, the first three without Lebron and Love. Name some of his teammates during that time. Hell, name his best teammate. It was probably Dion Waiters. Name his coaches. That he was able to drag that team to 33 wins in his third year is almost a miracle in itself.

The only reason Lillard has done more is because he his team had Aldridge, Batum, a healthy Wesley Matthews, and Robin Lopez. They're probably both tier 2/3 stars, but I think Irving is clearly better at this point. He always had the more mature game and now he has the confidence to go with it.

 

I really feel like Kyrie might have thrown a wrench in this... if it's still up to us or Cleveland we're screwed.

 

HOU: Melo (NYK)

CLE: Bledsoe (PHO) + Tyson Chandler (PHO) + Jared Dudley (PHO) + NYK 2018 1st (unprotected)

PHO: Ryno (HOU) + Iman Shumpert (CLE) + Frank Ntilikina (NYK) + Onuaku (HOU) + 2018 1st from CLE + 2020 1st from HOU (lottery protected)

NYK: Irving (CLE) + TJ Warren (PHO) + Channing Frye (CLE) + HOU expirings (Long, Taylor, Quarterman) + rights to Llull (HOU) + rights to Gentille (HOU)+ rights to Todorovic (HOU) + $3M cash from HOU

Just spit ballin....

 

If the Knicks are stupid enough to give Cleveland, Melo and their two first rounders, then Cleveland should say Yes! Those are going to be two very high picks for them. Especially since the Knicks are going to suck again. If Cleveland can land a guy like Bledsoe too that wouldn't be so bad either. The Knicks just never learn from their past mistakes. They are going to get Irving and he is going to rot in Basketball hell of the East. I just hope melo is not crazy enough to waive his no trade clause to go an insanely disfunctional team with no GM.

 

Scott Perry sounds like an idiot.

 

Did you that interview he gave to ESPN? Is that dude r****ded? It was uncomfortable when he said he's never met Dolan. Lol

 

Agreed to be on TV interview but couldn't comment on anything. WTH

 

How do the Knicks hire a guy who doesn't meet with the owner, then the way he answers questions is just...I dont even have words for it lol

 

Why would Melo want to go to Cleveland with no Kyrie and LeBron planning to leave next summer?

If anything, this makes it a certainty Melo comes to Houston.

 

Which poster made that "Am I the only one who doesn't think the Knicks aren't idiots?" Lol