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

If Houston got Melo. Morey will have eventually got both players he targeted the the most free agent markets. Dwight and Melo. Can you freaking imagine?

 

Who is S.G.?

Also our cap room wouldn't be that huge even if Lin and Asik are moved. Melo would have to sign at a pretty big discount.

 

Sports Guy aka Bill Simmons

 

Ah...no wonder why he is so clueless when it comes to the cap.

 

Melo has great strengths. Overall, I don't like him. Seems to lack leadership... similar to Harden.

However, we can be champions if these non-leaders, Dwight is suspect too, with a great coach. Huge abundance of talent.

 

Why does everyone want to give the Knicks Parsons. We don't have to give them anything, we just have to dump contracts.

 

Gotta be hard on lin/bev/parsons/asik all playing knowing their team is trying desperately to figure out how to trade them. Or in Bev's case, demote him.

Just seems unusual for such a successful team to be constantly harping on the fact that most of their players are completely expendable. Kind of a smug 'we can do better'. Maybe not. Just look at what happened to the Laker super team.

Players have pride, and I'm sure this has gotta be effecting them. And frankly, I think they deserve a little more respect.

 

Do not believe every rumor you read. 98% of it is just c**p made up by people who want to be seen as "in the know". The players know that.

 

^Why sensitive females shouldn't follow professional sports.

 

The NBA (not basketball itself) skews entertainment with million dollars stars. Love them all you want, but do not feel sorry for them.

 

I see why he used S.G. instead of B.S.

 

Easier said than done. I would be surprised if they didn't try to do before the deadline and still ended up keeping Lin and Asik. Those two alone is not worth it for the Knicks, it doesn't make them into a great team and locks in some more big contracts. They probably would have jumped all over that in a sign and trade(Even chucked us some draft picks probably) in recent times but with Phil Jackson there I can't see the same stupidity. If I'm New York and I know Melo is leaving Asik, Lin and Parsons is a good trade, fillers both ways probably.

 

I wonder why Bill Simmons thinks Chicago would be the smartest choice. Maybe the East is less competitive? I'd think D12 > Noah, Harden > Rose....I'm not too familiar with Chicago's cap situation and picks. Are they in a better position than the Rockets?

 

Could we possibly get Carmelo and Lowry in the offseason? Before I get nuked, this is a legit question about the cap, not just being a homer.

If we dump Asik and Lin and get a trade exception back, could we then sign melo outright and then trade a pick plus the exception to toronto for Lowry at equal to or less than the 8.4ish Lin and Asik are each owed?

 

I suspect there are a couple reasons.

Chicago has an easier road to the play offs and finals in the East. Yes, there is Miami and Indiana, but that's nothing like the gauntlet of OKC, Spurs, Clippers, GSW, Portland and GSW that Houston needs to go through.

While D12 ~ Noah in terms of impact and Harden > Rose, it could be argued that Noah/Rose is a more natural fit with Melo than Dwight/Harden. Noah doesn't demand shots at all. And Rose's ball handling isn't really *that* much different in terms of ball usage than Harden.

Since Noah is a passing big and Dwight expects to get shots, that's more shots for Melo.

Let's also consider the needs of both teams. Chicago need scoring. Their defense is already elite. Houston can use Melo's scoring, but we're already an elite scoring team. Our defense is where we can improve the most. Melo's not going to hurt us defensively vs Tjones, but Melo's #1 strength (ability to score) is not nearly the same need as it is for the Bulls.

Looking at it purely from a roster construction standpoint, Melo probably fits better on the Bulls.

Despite all that, I suspect that Houston + Melo is closer to a championship than Chicago + Melo. The Bulls lack of roster depth and Rose's suspect health just can't be ignored.

 

You don't even have to look at the players. If Melo just looked at the coaches of either teams he'd know which one will get him closer to the ring. Thibodeau can coach a team of D-Leaguers to the playoffs.

 

And Chicago's cheap ownership will ensure he has to.

 

Touche. But I'd think they would open the wallet for Melo since they would amnesty Boozer and trade Gibson and others away just to fit Melo's salary.

 

Excellent analysis.

 

Gosh I don't want us to be another Miami Heat having to win with 3 top players