and focus on the future by saving cap space for possibly Durant or other big time FA's in the future to build a legit contender. Melo would take up so much cap space and the current roster makeup is not really legit contender.
If you can avoid it, you don't let a star player walk. If you want to attract marquee free agents in the future you either a) need a star/very talented or deep roster already, b) be in a huge media market with loads of cap room, and c) not have an aging/injured player on your roster that is taking up a max contract spot (Kobe)
i would let him walk. 4/5 years at max and they are not going anywhere anytime soon. he's probably going to officially be an "aging" star in a year or two.
As Kevin McHale said, I've never seen Cap Room score a basket yet though. I've seen old Cap, and his last name is Room, I've yet to see him put a hoop in, haven't seen him block a shot, haven't seen him get a rebound yet. But when Cap Room starts putting up numbers, we should be in great shape. Ha, but seriously... Cap room is nice to have and all but there are no guarantees. We saw in 2010, they "settled" for Amar'e Stoudemire after striking out on everyone else. So you don't have a foundation in place, what's your selling point? "I'm Phil Jackson and this is New York, sign with us." ? I guess we'll see how well that works this summer {with the Lakers}. "We're the historic Lakers, we're Los Angeles, we have Kobe Bryant, we have a ton of cap room, come sign with us!" I understand the Knicks hesitation; I'd be cautious too to offer a full 5 year max deal but if I'm Carmelo, I'm likely leaving {even though he too has himself to partially blame}.
If it's a choice between 5 yrs / $130 million vs. letting Melo walk, I would let him walk. This is one of the few times I would say that. The Knicks will probably get some good assets in a SnT if he leaves. IMO, giving him the max would almost certainly doom the Knicks to mediocrity the next 5 years. Letting him walk could lead to great success or complete failure based on PJ's skills as a GM (which I have serious doubts about). Bottom line: I think Knicks fans lose either way.
I do not believe Melo is a great player to build around but in todays NBA no stars are going to come to your team unless there is already another star there so their cap space isn't going to do them any good. So no I would not let him walk just because a top 10 NBA player is more valuable than any thing in sports imo... there is no way they can replace that type of an asset.
Maybe with if Phil came right out and said sucking for a year or two had to happen, but NY is not a market that accepts tanking or mediocrity. Even paying a massive luxury probably doesn't significantly effect worth on the open market and that dwarfs their annual bottom line. They obviously don't care that much about expenses by what they are paying for management. Growing the value is what is important, what are they worth, $3 billion?
please no more Melodrama... being from NY people have to hide in shame for being a Knicks fan. Thats why people here would rather be Nets fans at this point. If only Lin was here...wish he got traded bet the Knicks win more games with Lin and Melo swapped.
Either let him go and attempt to rebuild with limited picks and assets or keep him and stay mediocre. Lol if only they had Morey.
The Knicks need to go ahead and start the rebuilding process and that should have started with them trading him for something at the trade deadline...but teams dont learn from the past(Cleveland, LAL) IMO Cleveland was just stuck because I wouldnt have traded LeBron either but LAL should have hit the panic button and moved Dwight.
You keep Melo if you can, but in NO way shape or form should you give him a super-max. The fact is the Salary Cap means there's only a few ways to build a legitimate starting line for a contending team. 1. Multiple superstars who take pay cuts. 2. Draft young players who grow and develop, then ride their early contracts until they're too expensive or they take pay cuts. Since the Knicks aren't going to build through the draft and lacks the patience to develop young talent (ala OKC and the Spurs), then they have to follow the Miami model. And that only works if nobody is making big money. Melo at $18M = must keep. Melo at $25M = must walk. Melo at $20M is a toss up in my view. The difference is you being below the salary cap after your big 3 and having room to pick up key rotation players and being already over the cap and operating only on minimum contracts and the MLE after your big 3. Melo at max just kills the team's future and at best earns you a perennial play off exit.
You don't let FA walk, ever. That's how you tread water. Always always always get something in return, 1sts, 2nds, players who will get you 1sts or 2nds. You let him go, but you don't let him walk.
This. If you think he is leaving or it is time to rebuild, you trade him for whatever future building blocks you can get.
