As Carmelo Anthony leans toward leaving New York, Chicago and Houston emerge as frontrunners

The two are not mutually exclusive. Yes we are star chasing, and we are team building as well. That is the genius of Daryl Morey. Last year he did not tare down the team when he added Dwight. This season whoever we add will be coming to a 54 win team that still has its nucleus from last season as well many developing parts. The only players of note that the Rockets will be losing are Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin. Omer was on his way out of the door regardless if we were star chasing or not.

What makes you think we are not? Right now the priority is the free agent market since those players will be mostly signed in the very near future. Like you, I very much hope the team signs a very good defensive coach to help out. I'm not happy with the teams defensive effort or and I'm especially not happy with their defensive rotations that seem to always leave some sharp shooter wide open at the 3 point line. It's a long summer and I'm guessing Lionel Hollins is not the only really good defensive coach out there.

 

They can stretch Nash's deal and clear enough room to sign both Melo and Gasol. LeBron is obviously not happening, neither Melo nor LeBron will take less than max, especially when Kobe is getting $24 million.

 

And one last thing...Lebron is running away from DWade who just opted out of a contract that was HUGE...but even so, a much, much smaller one than the one Kobe has now. We are expected to believe that he is ready to hitch his wagon to another overpaid (by a larger margin) old superstar who still thinks he can demand the ball the same way he did 10 years ago? Oh, and while Lebron takes a discount...an even bigger discount than what he would have been asked to take for the Heat, who gave no indication they were even going to ask him to take a discount in the first place (remember Lebron wants the max too). Please...we need not be so gullible!

In no way am I saying cyber is not legit...but let's not forget he is a Laker fan and this all seems too pie in the sky for me.

 

Stretch it so that it won't stretch anymore lol....and it still ain't happening. Kobe at 24 million is the worst contract for ANY other superstar to go play with...even if you are the best player in the world.

 

Would anyone be surprised if the source "close to carmelo" that said it was between the Knicks and lakers was Kobe? Choosing Chicago I could understand. I think the Knicks have no real chance to contend in the next few years, but if he loves NY and the money more than a better chance at a championship, so be it.

Lakers just seems like the worst possible choice. Less money than NY, who knows what the rest of the roster will look like, but it doesn't project to be good, in a much tougher conference, with his "help" in Kobe coming back from a major injury and sucking up huge cap space. Then their plan appears to be to try and get Pau to resign for cheap after Carmelo and Kobe just took the max?

It's just funny how after the Knicks meeting Carmelo was considered to be leaning heavily towards NY. Then the next day LA suddenly jumps into contention when the lakers meeting happened before the Knicks?

 

I respect CYBEX and know all info he gets is real, but I'm sticking with lebron going back to the CAVS if he leaves MIA > over taking a pay cut to play with melo & Kobe. I stand to that

 

What ESPN is doing is shameless and disgusting. All out media blitz to try and influence Melo's and James' decision. It happened last year with Howard and they're doing it again. Even when Howard confirmed he was signing with Houston they refused and still claimed it was 50/50 and Lakers was still his best choice. **** all this noise. All this bull**** you're Hearing is just that, media/ESPN created bull****.

 

They are in the West, Kobe is 60%? Randle is a rookie

 

I'm overseas atm and have limited wifi, can anyone give me a 24 hour recap if anything happened?

 

Cyber said LA made a HUGE impression on Melo. Can either take max to play with Kobe/Pau/Randle or take less to team with Lebron. If latter, LA must trade Nash. Apparently LA is upset they don't have a Hinkie and feel that what Houston is doing is collusion. Right.

Melo Gets to pick coach in LA is another positive. LA May throw 10 MM at Cal if they get Melo. Dallas according to Cyber is out. He isn't saying Houston is out, just that LA made an impression.

 

According to Woj, ESPN and other media reports, the Lakers have become strong contenders along with the Knicks and the Bulls to sign Carmelo.

 

I don't see how NY would possibly get Lebron next year. I can't imagine that he is going to sign a one year contract some where. The best free agents next year will be Love and Rondo who both likely get traded sometime this summer or by the trade deadline, and Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge. Even with cap space next off season it's hard to imagine who the Knicks or Lakers would add to make them into serious contenders.

 

Let's all photo bomb Lebron and Melo's twitter account with Kobe's vacation pictures from last week. He had a spare tire the size of a truck around his waist!! LOL

 

Thank you so much Cyberx, so much info.

 

ESPN propaganda machine has Melo Lebron trying to join Kobe/Gasol in LA for a super team. Rest of league is on hold until their decisions while we are bombarded with endless Ramona SHelburne how they Love LA and everyone wants to play with Kobe just like last year with Dwight

 

But we lost out on trading for spencer hawes or steve novak.this offseason was for nothing!just hope we can get to trade for mike dunleavey. Or hopefully we sign parsons. Maybe someone who can guard a guy with 0.8 seconds left on an inbound. (too soon?) hehehe

 

Thanks everyone rep is given

 

I'm sticking with king Drew until proven wrong. He said we would see the real Carmelo Anthony today.

 

Of the many things wrong here - i dont get the theory that veteran NBA players are all lining up to play behind a sleazy college coach in Calipari who failed badly in his first NBA stint decades ago. They want playing time as true freshman?

If you want to shock and awe NBA free agents by throwing money at coaches, you'd probably throw it at guys with proven NBA success - a Van Gundy, Larry Brown, or a current coach.

Invent a better narrative next time dood.

 

This was purely a CyberX recap, dood.