If Rockets lose this series, don't worry, the good news is Rockets will go after Carmelo.

Will be the same result next year Love would get torched by Aldridge.

 

We need Lowry more than we need Carmelo.

 

Then let's get both
With the increase in salary in the cap this coming up year I believe we can pull it off

 

We would have to fire McHale before Lowry would ever come back here. He hates him more than anything.

 

One thing that is keeping us from being a good defense is defensive rebounding. We were bottom 10 this year in DReb %, mostly because Jones is a subpar defensive rebounder and we don't have anyone else picking up the slack.

Love doesn't have to command a double team. Harden and Howard draw enough attention from opposing defenses. He can space the floor and just be an efficient off the ball scorer, cleaning up misses like Jones and also hitting open threes.

I think Love is also a very smart player who can help facilitate the offense with the departure of Parsons, not to mention an incredible outlet passer who can get fast breaks going.

 

I don't think you necessarily bypass the opportunity, but don't you "quickly" make an offer to Minnesota in a take it or leave it type play? At the end of the day, absent that true, top 5 lotto pick type young player, the Rockets offer might be as good as it gets for the TWolves. Parsons+Jones+Asik... that's three players capable of starting on a team that is a 4-6 seed type in the playoffs... in the Western Conference.

Then factor in re-signability. Nobody is trading a great asset to Minnesota for a Kevin Love that won't resign.

Teams Love might resign with, that might be willing to trade for him: Lakers (trade lotto pick, future picks, other?), Suns (could be dangerous with him if they didn't have to give up too much), Warriors (who would they give up that Wolves would want?), Rockets, Knicks (maybe... because they're the Knicks... if they could find a way to get him)...

I don't know, maybe I'm missing something. And I'm sure there are crazy three or four team trades that can get involved.

But the T-Wolves just had their best coach in a while (despite Adelman's flaws that got him fired), Love had one of his best seasons (maybe his second best), they found a late draft gem in Dieng, were relatively healthy (not Trailblazers healthy, but healthy enough)... and were 9 losses outside a playoff spot. NINE! The Suns are getting better. Sooner or later the Pelicans will make a playoff push, etc.

The TWolves with Love aren't going anywhere. If they are lucky enough to slip into the playoffs next year, it will be as a low-seed and they will be bounced in the first round. You can point to the Blazers, but there's no Damian Lillard on the Twolves squad ready to make a jump in year 2.

Kevin Love will not finish his career as a Timberwolf. I'd wager a lot of money on that. The smart move for management there is to trade him, and trade him now.

Of the teams mentioned above, I think the Rockets have the most to offer.

Keep in mind, this is EXACTLY why Morey was so adamant about getting a lotto pick back for Asik. Yes, we'd probably have gotten swept by the Blazers without Asik, but they're down 3-1 anyway. And Parson, Jones, Lotto Pick is a no brainer for Timberwolf management. Maybe Ainge changes his mind, and will let go of a 2015 lotto pick, top 5 protected or something, for Asik this offseason. Package that pick with the aforementioned Jones and Parsons if Minnesota doesn't want Asik.

But in any case, Minnesota may just rest on their laurels. In which case, do I go after Melo? I guess so. I mean, he is a crazy good player despite his flaws. Better than Harden offensively.

I don't care for the fit with Harden... but increasingly, I'm not sure if it's Harden that's the problem there.. is any other star offensive player a good fit for him now? As crazy as it sounds, I wouldn't be completely opposed to moving Harden at that point... in a strange twist of fate, IF the Thunder lost in the first round, and the Rockets got Melo, I'd offer the Thunder Harden for Westbrook. Westbrook, Melo and Howard seem like a much better fit, to me. Don't think the Thunder would do it, but a 1st round loss plus the fact they have Reggie Jackson and it might tempt them. Jackson+Harden+Durant might be a better threesome than Westbrook+Jackson+Durant.

blah, blah, blah... /ramble

 

Anyone else hoping Doc Rivers leaves the Clips because of Sterling and we get him? IMO Melo and a host of other FA's would be lining up to play for Doc + Harden + D12.

 

I fail to see a problem here.

 

why are posters saying parsons is clearly gone? His contract is small and he is still young and a net positive on the floor. Houston's best chance to make a huge leap next season is to sign a third star and keep their value contracts (i.e. the ones with starting level production on min salaries, i.e. parsons and beverley). That gives them a chance to put out their best starting 5 possible.

To all the posters that say Melo is a bad fit, and doesn't solve Houston's problems (e.g. defense), I agree, but Morey's style has never been to acquire players to fix holes. He gets the best player available, even if that means a 5th undersized power forward, and asks questions later. Whether you agree or not, he has always believed the best talent always wins out, and fixing holes is better done by gambling on cheap talent and hoping it sticks (but if he can't find someone to fill a hole he has no problem going into the season with a whole unplugged). If you don't like Houston's run and gun style with just good enough defense, unfortunately you're in for a tough stretch as there is just about no way Houston doesn't double down on that strategy next season. Given that it is a must that Asik be dealt away to make room for a third star, and all of the potentially available stars are more offensively inclined (except for maybe Rondo), odds are more than likely Houston will try to win more games next year with even better O, and suffer on D. After signing that third star, money will be tight and I imagine the bench will be filled with d-league recruits on non-guaranteed contracts. That's okay because Morey has proven he can do that better than most. However, all the guys in the pipeline (Canaan, Daniels, Covington) are best known for shooting threes not defense.

Thats my prediction for next year, anyway. I hate that im posting this and not focused on this year, but its been so depressing. 20 years ago as a kid I saw the Rockets overcome insurmountable odds to become champions, and it kinda spoiled me. I'm hoping for the best, but I'm too old now to think coming back from down 3-1 is any more than extremely improbable.

 

How about talk Lowry and Melo into taking 5 million each

 

this is good news?

 

Besides Harden and Lin who else is mentally weak with no defense???

 

Carmelo is smarter than that. You think he's going to arbitrarily pick which team he goes to based on how far they went in the playoffs?

 

My wish list
1a rondo
1b melo
2 k.love

 

Unless DR is the next star who's career is wrecked because he can't stay healthy.

 

I want some hard nosed winners on this team. Going after Artest in 08 was a smart decision. This team needs to do the same because it won't be growing a pair anytime soon.

 

If we play him at the 4 than I'm fine with it... But if we are gonna try to put Lin, Harden, and Melo on the perimeter at any point in a game... We will stop NOBODY on defense!

I understand we probably wouldn't have Lin, but just the thought of that D is absolutely terrifying!

 

Oh, I think the Rockets will inquire! No question. Just the feeling I get is that Minny is holding out hope they can keep him. They won't. They will get burned here instead of being like Utah (Deron Williams) and Denver (Carmelo) and making the trade early for assets. I just don't see them trading Love over the summer. It might take the trading deadline in 2015.

 

Doesn't even matter. Noah & Anthony & Gibson = enough to get to ECFs this year, and probably next too.

 

There is some truth to this.

However, in order for the Bulls to get Melo, they will probably have to sign him as a free agent. That means the Bulls will have to clear a lot of salary, which means Carlos Boozer being amnestied, Taj Gibson, Mike Dunleavy and another rotation player being moved for cap space.

Further, Anthony does not know which Derrick Rose is going to show up.

Ultimately, I am not even sure the Bulls would make the moves needed to get Anthony signed.

It seems to me, a sign and trade to the Rockets or another Western Conference team makes more sense. The Rockets can give assets back to the Knicks, retain rights to Parsons and still have the MLE.

Howard/Anthony/Parsons/Harden/Beverley.