Carmelo: "I'm not going to (come off the bench) in a situation where I still know my capabilities"

He hasn't signed yet sooooo

 

Good. He shouldn’t come off the bench. Start melo at the 4 and finally have a scoring option from there.

 

10 x All Star

6 all NBA selections

2013 scoring champ

3 gold medals in which he was the key component

Carried a less than average roster as the man to 54 wins, a division title and 2nd round appearance 5 years ago.

I know 5 years ago seems like it was a long time ago and it is... but these guys probably remember and hold on to them like it was yesterday. But even the year before last he was still an All Star. Doubters and Melo haters will say it’s mostly a popularity contest and that’s true but it still happened. He also put up 22/6 that same year. Empty stats on a bad team? Sure...but how many players can do that even with heavy minutes and being featured? The first thought that comes to mind is Ariza’s first stint as a Rocket.

After all of his achievements and accomplishments can you really blame the guy for having an ego? He’s obviously confident and thinks he’s still a big time player and I’m good with that. Looking forward to seeing what he’s got.

 

I don't mind him starting per se, but the attitude is clearly an issue. He should be open to whatever we give him. He's not owed a damn thing! He should be grateful a championship type team even wants him.

CP3 / Gordon
Harden / Green
Melo / Ennis
Tucker
Capela / Hartenstein

As far as defense goes, it makes sense actually to let Ennis come off the bench and you know Tucker will log heavy minutes now with no back up versatile wing any more. Also he will play the 5. Nene is done. That way you can play Gordon and Green too without too much worry. Ennis guards the best wing, Tucker the best big.

 

Melo averaged about 25 ppg and 7 rpg, and shot about 37% from 3pt in his 7 seasons with the Knicks. You probably can't find a dozen current NBA players with similar stats over that long a period.

 

melo is starting. not a big deal. whoever plays best, will be finishing. non-story here

 

Kind of is a big deal, the guy's head is still big as a watermelon. You would expect being bought out he would be more open and say the right things. Obviously he should start here but Eric Gordon will get his PT at the end of games, maybe even James Ennis tbh. He will not be useful on the switch vs Golden State and if we get to the conference finals again he will have to become a role player.

 

One more vital component when it comes to Melo being able to play and defend the 4. The game has changed so much and so have the players at PF. There’s literally no dominant 4’s left in the West. I mean unless you count Durant... ain’t nobody left that’s gonna expose Melo. The days of Cwebb, Sheed, KG, Dirk, Duncan are long gone. BGriff has gone east, ZBo is old, LMA and AD play the 5. There’s no post threat to expose him and there’s no 4’s that are talented enough to consistently beat him from the peremiter.

The top PF’s left out west include a murderers row of players like Tobias Harris, Julius Randle, Mirotic, Millsap, Favors and Dray who has never been an offensive threat anyways. Honesty, that list is so weak I feel like I’m missing some major players but I don’t think I am? Hell Melo might even make the All Star team as starting PF for the west.

 

Told ya guys.

This is the MElo of last 15 seasons, one of the most selfish players in the history of the NBA. He has always put himself over team.

You guys expect him to change all of a sudden at age 34?

This overrated, over the hill, no defense, selfish chucker with a bad efficiency is just not worth it on a team like Rockets, even for free.

We will be hurting our defensive identity and team chemistry with this goon on board.

 

Low risk. Ha.

 

i trust morey and dantoni. they all talked about this so if they still want him, they see something. not worried one bit.

 

Get used to seeing them together.

 

Get used to getting smacked by the Warriors in the playoffs, that is if we get to meet them. lulz..

Warriors are licking their chops seeing Melo in our lineup.

 

I agree but he won't be starting if he isn't effective. I mean hes 2.4 million dollars on the books and although I am definitely worried after what he said he has to realize that this is his last stint in the NBA with an effective role. If he decides to continue to try to be the man, he won't be in our lineup and he will have to swallow that forcefully on the bench lol

 

Touché. We did the same when they signed Swaggy and McGee. Wasn’t as funny when they actually made positive contributions while our defensive stalwarts Luc/Ariza couldn’t stop anybody while one couldn’t buy a layup and the other decided to build a brick mansion.

 

Biggest fear for me is that he’s Ty Lawson 2.0 without the alcohol.

I’m gonna put my trust in our point gawds to get him right.

 

We dont need all the necessary drama.

The selfish goon will not go down quietly and this team does not need that kind of distraction.

Melo is not a low risk, high reward move.

It's actually a very high risk, and a very low reward move.

All you have to do is look at his long standing history in the league.

 

I don't know why but I'm way more excited about this possibility than I thought I'd be.

Sure Melo's lost a step, but last year I remember seeing him as the next best option after PG and this offseason I still see a lot of value he could give us. Defensively it'll be a chore, and if there's one thing left for us to do, it's finding one more wing defender at any cost. We all know this. But offensively, I don't see melo as "trash" at all. CP & harden are much better distributors and hit the target on passes way better than Westbrook and PG do. As a dynamic catch & shoot/one dribble pull up guy, Melo I would think would really benefit from this. The real difference is that PG doesn't draw nearly as much attention in the lane as harden/cp do. Melo will most definitely be a rich man's ryan anderson at worst ... i think haha

 

What exactly do you mean when you call him a “goon” lol.

 

He should be thankful we're willing to pay him the minimum - lol! I'm sure none of the other contenders were willing to pony up such a substantial payday - lol! You need to recognize a gift when you see one...
As I posted earlier - he doesn't owe us a damn thing...
He's here for a mutually beneficial situation... he's not some scrub that should be happy to be on a roster...

and when he's signed, I'm sure he will be owed a lot... cause I'd bet money that Morey made a lot of promises to get him for the cut rate deal we're gonna get....