[Stein] Melo will consider Rockets, Bulls and Mavs

Get the iPads ready!

 

Bosh isn't getting kicked off the island. He doesn't have to opt out, and he isn't going to opt out unless there is a deal already in place.

 

Boozer is an expiring. His purpose in the trade is more for salary matching than anything. Other than Gibson, Butler and Dunleavy, the Bulls don't have other players to trade. I could see them moving Dunleavy, but he's somewhat redundant with Martin/Budinger/Brewer. No way they surrender Butler. Gibson could be interchangable with Boozer if they are willing to take on his long term contract.

 

My boy lives in Chicago as well, I get Bulls talk from him when I see him.
He told me numerous times that the Chicago front office is notoriously thrifty with their money.They absolutely do not like going into the tax. Has that changed in the last few years, if not then I see no way in hell they pay Carlos Boozer money to not play, and I really doubt there is any team in the league that wants that salary for the production he gives so they would have to pay a hefty sum to get a team to take Boozer.

 

I know that..... but if they amnesty him, the Bulls are still paying him... Reinsdorf is not exactly happy about paying Rose the last two years to not pay, and now would be paying Boozer to not play AND would have management asking him to give eighty million to yet another player.

 

My money is on all 3 at Miami to stay put one more season and try to win a 3rd championship before they go their separate ways. 4 years together, 4 trips to the finals and 2 championships is pretty damn good. I'm guessing they don't want to separate on a sour note. None of the 3 players have had the type of success separately that they have had together. It all hinges on Lebron, if he stays they all stay. If he goes then who know with Wade and Bosh. Most likely they would go too or at least Bosh.

 

The Bulls owner is extremely frugal with his money, he does not like paying people to sit home. He has surrounded himself with conservative people in the front office (Paxson/Foreman). Reinsdorf will pay his own players as he is very loyal. I do not doubt that Thibs and the front office want Love or Anthony.. however, it will be a VERY hard sell to the owner that you want him to shell out max money again, when he has been burned by virtually every free agent he has spent on, and has paid roughly 30 million to Rose to not play the last two years and will probably be paying Boozer many millions to not play for the Bulls.

We will see what happens. I think that the Bulls are more in on Love, and he is an easier sell to Reinsdorf IF they can convince the Wolves to take on Boozer.... but that is a tough sell to Taylor and the Wolves.... you basically are saying "Hey we are taking your best player since Garnett, AND you get to pay Carlos Boozer for being a lazy bum for a year!"..... Minnesota is more likely to require a HUGE package from Chicago or a third team involved.

 

If LeBron leaves, he's basically leaving Wade to die there.
I can see Bosh opting out immediately and attempting to join with another star, or fit in to an already star filled lineup. Houston possibly, if LeBron doesn't come to Houston.

Wade would probably get a send off contract to finish his career with the Heat and ultimately retire in a year or two.

If LeBron leaves, we're almost guaranteed to get either LeBron, Bosh, or Melo. I don't see us whiffing on all three.

 

If you are a Rockets fan and want Melo, you need to be rooting for the Heat to win the series. The Heat Big Three are far more likely to make a change if they lose to San Antonio. If they comeback and win, they are arrogant enough to think they can do it a 4th straight time.

I could see Bosh leaving or Wade declining his option and taking far less with a "wink" from Riley and their generous owner.... and doing everything possible to replace Bosh with Melo or try and add Melo straight up.

Wade is FIRMLY entrenched in Miami, and the Heat owner has taken care of his former high profile players, I could see Wade offered an executive position or really anything he wants post retirement.

 

Lots of awful posts in the this thread.

 

Par for the course in the offseason...

 

Because Melo has a the Choice of saying were he wants to go. Plus it's not like we would be giving the Knicks nothing. They would get 2 expiring contract and a young player. We might have to give them a 1st Round draft pick to but as well but the would most likely be a late 1st rounder so they can have at it.

It's the quickest way to a clean slate, which is what the Knicks are looking to do.

 

The quickest way to clean the slate may be to just let him walk than to make that trade which is really just helping Houston and why should they do Melo any favors... The Knicks would be adding money to their already big pay roll and that still may not be a playoff team.

Morey may would have to get a 3rd team involved and find someone the Knicks would want because they already have expiring contracts and are set up to have huge cap space next year so just adding players because they are on the last year of their contact may not be a concern for them.

 

As with the rox box, if Melo can contribute more on the defensive end, he will be playing on a potential contender.

 

True but you still have to field a team. If he opts out the Knicks have to go out and sign somebody which may eat into cap room. So why not field a team for the 14-15 season and create more cap space for yourself and maybe pick up some trade pieces.

If they make that trade I think they may be a playoff team in the east.
Brooklyn will fall out of Playoffs for sure next year.

 

Err why is everyone so damn quick to trade Harden for Melo? Harden is the better player, younger, and doesn't hog the ball.

Both are bad defenders, but it's more likely Harden turns it around then Melo who has been in the league forever and hasn't shown it.

 

Hog as much*

Most of the game he's distributing a lot, but he does hog and go 1v1 late in the 4th though.

 

Think of the domino effect here if Melo chooses Houston. Lionel Hollins becomes far more interested in being instrumental with a true contender. Several veterans become more readily available via minimum exceptions, perhaps even the MLE if we manage to keep it.

More importantly, is there truly a better option than this for Carmelo Anthony? He gets to play with Dwight Howard and James Harden for at least 3 years and he makes almost the MAX.

What I've really been wondering: is it a coincidence that Howard was trained by Olajuwon, and Melo was trained by Olajuwon? Can Hakeem be our secret recruiter?