@topfive I found it: Mike D'Antoni when asked about rookies De'Anthony Melton and Trevon Duval: "I like both of them. I like their skill level. To be able to help us (right now) is ...... a stretch." So Morey wants to: MDmA is more intense about his feelings like so: RIP Macho Man.
I wouldn't go as far as "living up to it" I think he took advantage of a bizarre market situation which was an error and because of the crazy deals handed out even if something similar were to happen again the league and players union probably would not allow it. But the Rockets set the price for Ryno that year based on the cap and projections. They signed Gordon to less because they felt Gordon was not worth as much. Also I argue if Ryno didnt play as well as he did in 16-17 season there is no way the Rockets would be an attractive enough destination for guys like Paul and Melo (last off season) He was a big part of that 55 win team. Also what wasn't fair to Ryno was his name being thrown in constant Melo trade rumors all summer. Its a business but its tough to be told that he has to be included in the deal more for a contract than a player. These players worked hard to be NBA players so even if they know they may not be the best player to be treated more as a contract than a contributor has to hurt. Then the season started and the team played well with Ryno in the lineup he suffers an injury and the team keeps playing well maybe better in his absence. Whatever the reason he was not given the starting role back when he was healthy and in sports there is the unspoken rule that you shouldnt lose your starting spot due to injury. Ryno has been professional throughout this process you've never heard him complain or say anything negative, though privately it seemed that the Rockets were looking to move on from him now and he was fine with that as well he wanted to go somewhere he can play and feel wanted. The trade became a win win on both sides in the end. Ryno just could not stay on the floor against the likes of GS and once that is clear the team needs to upgrade at your position because if you get taken out by GS then you're worthless to the Rockets right now. The guy did what he could and played hard but once his confidence eroded (which IMO was partially the Rockets' fault) he became really tough to play.
This. I viewed him more of a defensive guard who would be playing off ball off the bench at best his first year with the Rockets.
Plot twist: @topfive is actually Morey, he is just bragging about this move, as he knows he will find devote followers to write about his legacy in CF.
I would add that he went to somebody and said he'd welcome a trade, then he gave up like 4 million a year in his contract to help facilitate it all. That will probably add to his longevity in the league (teams not being nervous to sign him later etc) and allow him to play his value up not from where it is but in where it's perceived. Win-win-win. If anyone lost out, I'd say it's Melton. Him playing for a winning team as a defense first guy and being able to shine as a contributor from time to time would have meant plenty. I think he's now in a place where his style of play might see him out of the league. Their youth shouldn't help him get on the court if you ask me. Maybe late season when the fake injuries come into play and they're just filling the court.
Ryno agreed that if a buyout was arranged in his final contract year, he'd agree to take roughly $5 less than the remaining salary he was owed. Obviously, he realized if he was bought out, he'd be able to sign with someone else for the rest of the season, for enough money to make up most of what he'd agreed to give up. Smart thinking on his or his agent's part.
I like @topfive's theory. The whole transaction has Morey's analytical ruthlessness written all over it. The #1 thing you have to keep in mind is that Morey has been trying to trade Anderson for a year and was unable to find an acceptable deal. What is the main thing Morey is likely to have concluded from that experience? Answer: He needs to convert Anderson into some other package of assets/liabilities that might be easier to exchange. So it's highly likely that Morey was in asset valuation mode, not "find the right player for us" mode, when he considered putting Melton into this deal. It's a blunt calculation about the odds of Melton becoming great, versus the valuation Phoenix was willing to put on that possibility. I think Morey saw that McDonough's estimation was higher than Morey's, and he decided to cash in that difference. How much Morey did to jack up McDonough's estimation, I don't know. But surely it's more than zero. The gamble could work out for McDonough. But my bet is that a year from now, Knight and Chriss won't be on the Rockets, and McDonough won't be with the Suns.
I think Deng Adel will be what everyone thinks D melton is going to be. Sadly, Deng Adel will be the one that got away. Hope Im wrong, but the kid has unlimited offensive potential.
Exactly. I'm not saying Melton won't be great -- he might. But the odds are that he will at best be a rotation guy, brought in for defensive purposes. So Morey might have manufactured some overly optimistic press to make him seem more likely to be a starter than a wash-out, in order to help move Ryno's ugly contract.
And here is a conspiracy theory for you Morey is paying Suns back for "stealing" Ariza from us when they offered him 15mils a year
Exactly Ryno has been a professional throughout this whole ordeal and understood its no hard feelings but he is getting paid a large chunk of money that now conflicts with the team's vision going forward. Ryno on this team for 7-8M would be incredible and add a ton of versatility but at the price he is at with the tax and all his contract would cost a ton of money to pay out. The two smaller contracts if anything may become easier to move for maybe a pick or someone that works to the Rockets current 2-way design better. As for Melton its a coin flip if you ask me. He would have learned what it meant to be a professional in terms of habits and being prepared. He would have been able to learn from top level talents in practice when he wasnt shipped down to RGV. Those do help development in a lot of ways (see TJones, DMo, Capela) but not always. He may be able to get more meaningful NBA minutes in phoenix despite their own youth if the Suns FO believe in him. They spent a lot to get him if he truly is the prize for this deal so I believe they will invest in him a lot heavier in that sense. With Booker's injury he should see more playing time now too. I dont believe he fully lost out but if the Suns do keep losing it will wear on him as it does a lot of young players.
De'Anthony Melton was never going to be a star. His best case comp is Avery Bradley who is not a star. An undersized, defense oriented wing is really never going to be a star. I think the Rockets inflated his reputation and potential a bit but so did every team with a draft pick that played well. Even second year players.
It made sense for Phoenix too. They got another cool headed and upstanding veteran who can space the floor while adding essentially a second round draft pick that may turn out to be a gem. It’s not like Phoenix is going to contend but there is value in having a few veteran players who epitomize professionalism and class that can show these young guys the ropes.
So, the whole foundation of this conspiracy theory is to explain the difference between Melton and a more "liquid" FRP. I think the genesis of trade analysis focusing on Melton v FRP came before we knew that Anderson agreed to give-up $5.4m in buyout. Surely, finding a situation appealing to Ryno -- enough to do that -- can also explain the difference between the objective value of Melton and very late FRP. I'm not saying Ryno gave up much, surely not as much as Lawson did, but equally, there isn't *that* much difference between what scouts have now seen in Melton v increased value of liquid, late FRPs. Finding a buyout team suitable for Ryno is like a poor-man's No Trade Clause -- whereby Ryno essentially OKs the trade to teams offering 3rd Year PT in exchange for the 4th Yr buyout terms. Morey merely pre-arranges buyout terms and says, "Hey, since you're getting that value, I'm only offering Melton." which also works with PHO due to need. Then Morey walks down a list of teams with this new Buyout Terms arrangement, trying to keep his FRP, and he gets a taker. Much simpler than topfive's conspiracy theory, which disregards Ryno's part in this, that wouldn't have existed last year.
they probably do this to every 2nd rounder that has some potential every summer league. Just happens Melton actually showed some upside. Last one was Donte Greene
Could be. It would be interesting to know at what point Ryno's people told Morey he was willing to do that. For all we know, Phoenix might have initiated that by saying, "We'd love to do this, but only with a guarantee that NEXT year, we won't be on the hook for anything more with Anderson than we already are with Chriss."
