[Stein] Melo will consider Rockets, Bulls and Mavs

When it comes to Melo or any marquee free agent, I don't think mark Cuban will give one single damn about luxury tax

 

right, last year it was Lin who led them to the playoffs.

 

So we send out 6 players and max out our cap space in the process? Then we have Howard, Beverly, Melo, Daniels, Parsons, DMo, Cannon, Harden, and maaaaybe Hamilton under contract? Then what? I love the starting lineup, but we'd have no bench. Howard gets in foul trouble (he will) we are screwed.

 

In that scenario (which I think will be specifically explored), the Rockets would still have their full MLE, the Biannual Exception, and vets lining up to take the league minimum for PT on a contender. Oh, and you left off Felton.

 

Harden will come off the bench like he did in OKC and people will stop whining about defense and everyone will be happy

 

Stein is accurate.

Don't underestimate Melo's loyalty to his friends though. He wants to be a winner (according to him) but he also wants to play with his friends. (What I know) His Knicks teammates are really his brothers. His bond with JR is almost like our Stevie and Cuttino had. It was like that with NeNe, too.

We've been over this before, but Melo knows he HAS to win now for his legacy. You can tell me I'm wrong all you want, but there are plenty of players that really CONSIDER the coach before they sign somewhere new. A coach can now make or break you, especially at a certain point in your career. (Example: Mike Brown and D'antoni destroyed Pau Gasol's game, IMO)

From what I knew awhile back, Melo wants to play for a proven coach. Take that as you may. He's got Fisher, McHale, Thibs (hopefully), Carlisle. Who has the edge in that group? I give the edge to Fisher only because of Phil Jackson and his brainwashing ability of players/coaches
(*sidenote: Although I am biased about good ol Kevin, this information was passed on to me neutrally.)


If we do want Melo, this is what helps usallegedly)
-Leon Rose, Melo's agent, has a good relationship with Morey. I don't know how much I believe this, but apparently, Morey's signing of Brooks multiple times was based on need and as a favor towards Leon....Morey is always thinking ahead, apparently.
-Melo and James are tight.
-Dwight and Melo have repaired their tension from past years. (stuff before LaLa)
-LaLa has family in Houston and can still build her brand there.
-We're one of the few teams built to win now (my opinion only)



Personally, I don't know if Melo would work well here. He's a volume shooter and we already have one. I don't think he's the piece we need.

We really need a David West and a lockdown defender.

But, starpower does work. Hi, Miami.


Flame me all you want. I'm used to it now. But I like to contribute what I hear to the real fans.

Love ya'll.

-Cod

 

Can we please not put another guy on the floor who's a liability on every defensive possession? We're constantly adding to both sides of the scoreboard.

 

The thread is based on a throw away line in an article that is really about how the Heat are planning to try to assemble a big four.

 

I think you're probably right on using the Mavs for leverage.

The other factor is Melo knows that Love is out there too. Melo also knows that most of these teams that want him would prefer to have Love. That's another factor. He's gotta convince the team that he wants to go to that he's ready to go elsewhere, thereby getting them to get the deal done and not wait on a deal for Love.

After all, Flip is sending the signals out that he isn't going to deal Love. Now that could be a ruse. But it could also be the truth. And if a deal doesn't get done for Love, teams could reload and reset in anticipation of a Love trade at the deadline.

For instance, our team. If Morey can't trade for Love he could reset by trading Asik for a future pick(s) and a large expiring contract(s), trading#25 for another future pick, and then try to squeeze a future pick out of Charlotte by trading DMo/_ones for Haywood and a future pick. So, if Morey can load up an extra 2 or 3 picks after this draft in addition to his own pick for 2015 and Boston has to burn through a couple of their picks...then the balance of assets may change somewhat and Morey may decide to hold for Love at the deadline.

Melo's camp is keenly aware of the possibilities here with Love wanting to be traded. I fully expected something to leak about Melo wanting to be traded. And I expect in the next couple weeks that at some point Melo will make it very clear and public that he is going to leave NY. At that point we'll see if trades develop. I really think its either Chicago or Houston that Melo wants.

 

Given that if Melo leaves NY, they don't want JR anyway, the Rockets can take JR along with Melo in a trade. It's a bit difficult, but doable.

Trade Lin + Asik + Casspi for Melo.
Trade Jones + our 1st rounder signed + Covington + Canaan for JR.

Obviously add picks as necessary.

 

Go Cod go! Keep it up!

 

That is WAYY to much to give up for a JR man.

 

To clarify, McHale is a positive in Melo's books?

 

Codman for the win... YES!

 

So we are bringing back 80's basketball? Hmm, could be worse. I'm not a huge Melo fan, but I'd welcome him to the team. We would be incredibly difficult to stop if Melo, Harden and Howard were willing to sacrifice to better the team. We could always add Defense by signing the right role players.

 

The thing with any offer the Knicks get in a S&T is that it is most definitely in the Knicks best interest to lose next year if Melo is leaving. I am not sure whether Fisher and Jackson will set aside their competitiveness to do this for the greater good, but it is what makes sense. They actually own their 2015 1st rounder.

So if Melo is leaving, their best plan is to tank 2014-15 and collect assets to help in 2015 and beyond, without eating up cap space for that FA class and obviously not getting any really good players for 2014 that could prevent their tanking. So players like JR Smith and Raymond Felton would ideally get shipped out along with Anthony.

I think ideally a trade that makes sense for the Knicks and all involved would look something like this:

Knicks Out: Carmelo, JR Smith, Raymond Felton
Knicks In: Jeremy Lin, Terrance Jones, Robert Covington, S&T'd Jordan Hamilton (could also go to a 3/4 team), Josh Powell Contract, Casspi Contract, Rockets 2014 1st round pick, Rockets 2016 1st round pick, Knicks (back from Rockets) 2015 2nd round pick

Rockets In: Carmelo, JR Smith
Rockets Out: Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin, Terrance Jones, Robert Covington, S&T'd Jordan Hamilton (could also go to a 3/4 team), Josh Powell Contract, Casspi Contract, Rockets 2014 1st round pick, Rockets 2016 1st round pick, Knicks (back from Rockets) 2015 2nd round pick

76ers In: Omer Asik, Raymond Felton, Max cash from Rockets and Knicks
76ers Out: Rights or Protected Pick that never would materialize

Knicks get rid of Felton and Smith which will help them lose in 2014-15 to improve their draft pick. They get a 2014 1st and 2016 1st from Rockets, plus their 2015 2nd back which should be very high. They get Lin back to sell tickets and build some excitement despite the impending tanking, plus two solid young pieces in Covington and Jones that are signed, but cost effective without much affect on 2015 max cap room.

Rockets get Carmelo and a good backup 3&D guy, who is buddies with Melo. They still have all their exceptions to fill out their backup C and PG positions.

76ers get close to their minimum cap spend and get the cash to cover Asik's extra salary above his cap cost. All they give up for Asik is taking the Felton contract.

 

I cringe at the idea of having to take on Felton or Smith...OR both

 

You missed the Melo part of the deal. It's clearly one big deal broken into two parts. Necessary since otherwise the salaries won't fit unless a 3rd team is involved(like the scenario above).

 

The Rockets wouldn't give up multiple first round picks and Jones if they're taking on bad contracts.

 

I'd love to see pau for mle and then trade Asik for a 3-D guy like Avery Bradley and some picks. Thanks for the post cod we've missed your updates.