I think it's pretty simple: when Ryan Anderson is hitting 3's, he's better for the Rockets than having Melo. He didn't in the playoffs last year, and that sucked a lot because he just gives nothing else if he's not hitting 3's. This is why Melo was desirable: he can give you other ways to score if he's not hitting shots. But actually having Ryno on this roster is a higher variance move than having Carmelo because of his streakiness, and ultimately that might a gamble we have to take against the Warriors. We have a chance against them if Ryno goes nuclear like he's shown he can be at times last season.
[Conspiracy theory]: Rockets will still pursue Melo and Melo will still try to get to Houston, after this season. Reasoning: It has been reported that Paul George and Westbrook played a strong role in recruiting Melo. At this time, Westbrook still hasn't signed an extension, Paul George has a year left on his contract, and both are rumored targets for the Lakers. What exactly did PG and Russ say to Melo to lure him? It couldn't have been, hey, we're here for the long haul and us three will be great. And it couldn't have been, hey, our owner is known for paying the luxury tax so he'll take care of all three of us long term. Their pitch must have been something more like: we're in this together, let's make it one great year and then move on. OKC knows we're moving on and they are all in on this year and then full rebuild next year. After this year, Russ is going to do a sign and trade to Lakers so he keeps his bird rights and OKC gets assets back from Lakers and Lakers get off salary so they have more cap space. PG is going to sign outright, and you Melo can either go to LA in a trade if you want or revisit the Ryan Anderson trade to Houston. OKC would be willing to make that trade because by that time it's only two years of Ryno, they will be in full rebuild mode and willing to take Anderson on if Rockets attach draft picks. OKC will then use Laker assets, Rockets picks, and their own picks to rebuild quick. Westbrook feels like this way he can get to Lakerland and it not be a bad PR move since OKC gets stuff back, and OKC likes it because they know they'll lose Russ and they know just trading him away would demoralize the fanbase, even if they got a lot back. This way they don't have to choose between getting one more winning season or losing Westbrook for nothing. They at least get one season of awesome basketball before the Westbrook era is over, but with some assets to move on. Oh and we know from Morey's history that if at first he doesn't get his guy, he gets him later (sometimes much later). I'm probably wildly off base but if Westbrook doesn't sign his extension by the deadline this kinda chatter is only going to get louder.
I spent all summer gloating to my friend who is an OKC fan that Houston would get Melo, so now that OKC swooped in and got him and I have to hold SOMETHING over his head.
My okc fan friend spent all summer telling me our team would be ruined by "cancer, no defense melo". Now that they acquired melo he doesnt know what to think about him.
I don't know how much this is true... don't underestimate the ineptitude of the Knicks. Kanter's cost is pretty much the same as Anderson's. They are both defensive liabilities that have one great offensive trait - Anderson shooting and Kanter post scoring. I'd take the spacing value Anderson's shooting adds over Kanter's post scoring ability any day of the week. And Anderson may be more valuable to our team than he would be on any other roster. Only real difference is Anderson has an extra year on the contract compared to Kanter's.
Not so fast. ALL Anderson does is shoot 3's. If he's not hitting he's pretty useless. Carmelo can shoot 3's and create off the dribble when he's not hitting. So yea ur right, but not telling the whole story. I'd take Melo over Ryno any day. But I'm happy with Anderson this year too. Still upset to see Melo wearing that OKC jersey
There is no right or wrong but Ultimate Success and Ultimate Failure. And the space inbetween. Morey was always on a good way to Ultimate Success but with bumps on the road.
A quick look on basketball reference - https://www.basketball-reference.co...hony&y2=2018&player_id2=anthoca01&idx=players EGo leads Melo in most categories with the exception of rebounding, steals and blocks but not by much. EGo leads is all offensive categories (except turnovers). Both have played roughly the same minutes per game. For example: PPG: EG - 23.1 on .535 eFG%; CA - 20.1 on .480 eFG% PER: EG - 18.8; CA - 16.9 TS%: EG - .590; CA - .526 The stats show that EGo takes more 3s but makes them at a better rate than Melo, but Melo takes twice as many 2pt shots yet makes them at a lower percentage (chucker) than EGo.
