[NYPost] Rockets could make push for Carmelo (UPDATE: Blog post)

Like what....

Saying that we don't know yet what the salary cap is, and its probably not smart to assume its going to sky rocket all the way up to 62 million?

Saying that it will be difficult at the very least to move Asik & Lin if Morey is to lose LEVERAGE in potential trades by other GM's knowing that Morey has to move those two with no salary back in return at all costs if he wants Melo?

By stating that the extra year and the extra millions per year a player nearing the end of his peak MEANS something to them, and is a factor in their decision making process?

Please... enlighten me on where I am factually wrong here.

 

We have walked to the doorstep of the tower of Babel. Reason and understanding do not rule here.

 

Melo should go to Chicago, he needs to stay in the East.

 

THAT only happens if Lebron says "Houston or nothing".

If Lebron is willing to go to multiple teams, the bidding will be sky high.

As for equal value, I don't think you can actually get "equal" value for Lebron. The best player in the NBA, so regardless of the deal he's the best player in the package. However, don't expect it to be anywhere near cheap unless Lebron literally decides that Houston is the *ONLY* place for him.

If Lebron says, "Lakers, Cavs, Chicago or Houston", you can expect the bidding to go sky high. And would most likely involve giving up Harden or Howard and possibly even both.

So the idea that we can make a bid for Lebron realistically hinges on Lebron saying "Houston or Nothing". Otherwise, don't expect to get Lebron on the cheap. Teams just don't give up players like Lebron willingly or easily.

 

I apologize for the hate, but acquiring Melo makes a TON of sense.

You are putting way way way too much emphasis on the volume of shots Melo/Harden/Parsons take as well as the limited mid range characteristic of our offense. These things are very flexible.

Right now this is what we have:
-A solid rotational core of Beverley, Lin, Parsons, Howard, Harden and Jones with supplementary pieces mixed and matched as matchups and "what works" dictate.
-As such, it is very clear that Howard, Harden, and Parsons drive the production of the offense, with the others simply complimentary to help complete the team.
-We rely on HEAVY minutes from Harden and Parsons for the simple reason there is not replacement guys to fill what they do. Howard less so, because Asik is available.

With this setup, we have produced the following:

6th. rated offense

Offensive Four Factors
-eFG - 3rd.
-TOV% - 29th.
-ORB% - 7th.
-FT/FGA - 1st.

12th rated defense

Defensive Four Factors
-eFG% - 5th
-TOV% - 27th
-DRB% - 22nd
-FT/FGA - 6th

Offensively, we succeed because we score efficiently, we get to the line and we rebound offensively very well. We are hindered by the number of turnovers.

Defensively, we succeed because we don't foul, and we don't give up easy shots. We are hurt because we don't force turnovers, and we don't rebound well.

Now look at what the a Carmelo-centric led Knicks squad produces:

11th. rated offense

Offensive Four Factors
-eFG - 14th
-TOV% - 3rd
-ORB% - 18th
-FT/FGA - 30th

25th rated defense
Defensive Four Factors
-eFG% - 27th
-TOV% - 12th
-DRB% - 13th
-FT/FGA - 29th

It is practically inverse of what the Rockets do. Simply put, you take what is good from their team (Melo) and you use it to supplement our weaknesses. What really gets me is you comparing Melo to JR Smith. Are you freaking kidding me? Melo scores at a high volume at decent efficiency, but his real value is that HE DOESN'T TURN THE BALL OVER. He turns it over just 9% of the time, just 9%! That is half as much as Lin (19%), Harden (16%) and Howard (18%)

Now lets suppose we use Dmo and a pick to dump Lin and we just give away Asik, clearing enough to make a lucrative offer to Melo in the offseason. Let us also suppose, the starting lineup does not change but the bench unit is now Cannan/Melo/(Camby?) instead of Lin/Dmo/Asik.

With Melo now taking the 9 shots Lin was taking, and lets say McHale can play Harden/Parsons each 2 minutes less per game freeing up another 3-4 shots, that is easily 14 shots available for him, simply by having him play Jeremy's role and not be involved with the starters. Is 14 shots the same as the 20 he has been taking in his career? Nope, but it sure isn't terrible.

You are going to sit here and tell me that essentially replacing Jeremy's production with Melo is going to hurt the team? Sorry but no. We will score even more efficiently, we will turn the ball over less, our rebounding will get better, and we will get to the line more. Not to mention we will be a nightmare to match up with.

The only real question marks are:
1.) Is Melo cool with that role?
2.) Is Canan serviceable?
3.) Can we find a replacement back up center for Asik?

 

no. melo is not cool with coming off the bench. that is not a question anyone is asking...

 

Exactly. Why would LBJ leave Miami? For the money? LOL. His income is in the nine figure range. For more titles? They are quite possibly going to three peat. Lebron discussions are complete fantasies. Get a grip.

 

Not a problem. You are a solid contributor. You have my respect. Best to you and yours.

 

Lebron would not say multiple teams, he will pick one team and say I'm going there. So there will not be any "bidding war"

 

And what exactly do you base THAT on? Remember the Decision? That's the only concrete history we have to base our opinions of Lebron's future behavior.
Unless you're hanging out Lebron and he told you that he's only going to talk to ONE team, you're just fooling yourself with a NBA2k14 fantasy.

IF Lebron hits FA, he'll be the hottest commodity in the NBA. EVERY team that has the slightest of chances will line up and offer him the moon, and offer almost as much to Miami in a S&T scenario.

The idea that Lebron will suddenly go against FA trends AND his own personal history and suddenly declare "Houston or nothing" isn't based on any sort of facts. Lebron talked to multiple teams. He did the "decision". The VAST majority of FA's put *multiple* options on the table.

Harden did the same when he was traded. He presented a short list of teams.
Howard did the same when he went FA. He talked to a handful of teams.

To think that Houston is suddenly such a magical place that he would ONLY talk to Houston borders on delusional. So unless you have some super secret dirt on Lebron's intention going into FA, file this under Pipe Dream...

 

I have a nagging suspicion that LAL max cap space is going to be used as a "Red Herring" to get these guys where they want to go really (maybe Houston being one of those spots) or to force their current teams into resigning them under their current terms (IE: I'm only resigning with Miami if they resign both Bosh and Wade).

If you're a guy like Lebron, or even Melo, do you really want to go to LA and the sole pitch to you be "we will be really good next year", or "You and Kobe could fit well together.... Shaq and Kobe won titles together"????

I don't think LA is really a destination for these guys but you are still going to hear about it being a destination more as a Red Herring than anything else.

 

4:12. speaks about melo to houston.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iNZIebQ_3kY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

so you seriously think Lebron would give Miami the choice of where he is going to spend the rest of his career? Im not saying he would come here but whichever team he chooses, Miami will be forced to accept their offer or risk him signing outright to another team.

He is not going to go into Miami in FA and be like "ehh either LA or Houston, whichever you think is better." He will pick his team and he will go to Miami and say, "if you want to help both of us out I suggest you accept their offer."

Do you think he gave Cleveland multiple choices? He said he was going to go to Miami and they traded him there, no ifs ands or buts.

 

Lebron and Melo situations are not comparable. In terms of Lebron's legacy if he comes here, he'd be seen as the guy who just look for teams to win titles. It would leave a sour taste in the minds of fans. Cleveland people can accept because his teammates weren't good. But leaving the Miami team he himself partially created makes him seem fake.

No one outside of NY is going to blame Melo for leaving the Knicks. Heck, many Knicks fans think they should try to trade him instead of keeping him at that humongous deal.

 

That Jalen report is so fun to watch.

 

I'd rather have DeMarre Carroll or Draymond Green.

 

I could be wrong, but I would think Phil being in NY would be a great starting point (not to mention the money) at keeping Melo there. Of course we don't know how Phil feels, but I just don't see him letting Melo walk unless he wants to build from scratch.

Here are some comments in this article that suggests Melo loves the PJax move.
http://t.co/Lh0ESXdheW

 

I don't know why Phil would be the end-all-be-all for Carmelo. The team is still awful and the Rockets have a better executive than Phil in Daryl Morey. Not to mention umm... James Harden and Dwight Howard.

If Phil Jackson is all it takes to keep Carmelo in New York, then have fun with mediocrity. The Knicks are going nowhere.

 

I agree on this point, Morey won't obsesses over a specific player, Durant, Westbrook, Carmelo, Bosh, LMA, Love, all of them will be aggressively pursued. That's six players and probably more I haven't thought of. You have to figure that Morey can reel one of them in.

 

While I agree that Houston is the better spot now for Carmelo, titles talk. Obviously Jackson has the hardware to back up his ability in leading a franchise to multiple titles. No Jackson hasn't done it on the executive level, but players have seen Riley do it, so why can't Jackson do the same? If Melo believes that Jackson can somehow quickly build a contender in NY, he will stay. Of course that's just my opinion.