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

You're like that troll in yahoo news who turns even articles on the Kardashians into political debates huh?

 

Fair enough, but his NBA jersey is a 7. Still don't see why this is an issue, it's just a picture in a fake jersey.

 

Maybe the Rockets informed him about the Dwight posters before they put them up.

 

I didn't turn this into an issue, Lin fans, Lin himself and the media did.

 

Or Bev just didn't care/publicly complain.

 

I honestly don't see how. The writing has been on the wall forever. This is just business as usual.

 

I really wanted to avoid putting together a post on this, since I know I'll get a bunch of responses telling me how the other team(s) would never do it. But since people (who apparently don't have Twitter) are clamoring for the mechanics of a "Big Five", I'll indulge you.

NOTE: I am only writing this from the standpoint that it works under the cap. I am not advocating that the other team(s) would oblige the Rockets in this "dream" scenario.


SCENARIO 1: ABSOLUTE DREAM SCENARIO

This scenario is just one of many, many permutations. But in order to show you just how well the Rockets have positioned themselves, cap-wise, I will use the most stupendous example even possible (see Trade 2, Plan A).

Trade 1:
Houston gets: Carmelo Anthony (S&T - starting salary of ~$18M), New Orleans pick
New Orleans gets: Omer Asik
New York gets: Donatas Motiejunas, Robert Covington, (the non-guaranteed contracts of) Omri Casspi and Josh Powell, multiple draft picks

This trade assumes that the Rockets could otherwise just clear this cap room by trading Lin to a team like Philly and waiving other guys and that the Rockets and Melo can convince the Knicks that they'd much rather get a couple of nice young players and draft picks than lose Melo for nothing. The Knicks would also generate a huge trade exception in this deal. New York could throw someone like Lamar Odom or Shannon Brown into the deal to maximize the size of that trade exception.

Trade 2 - Plan A:
Houston gets: Kevin Love
Philadelphia gets: Jeremy Lin, a future pick
Minnesota gets: Terrence Jones, Isaiah Canaan and many, many picks (including the New Orleans pick)

This trade assumes (most likely to a ridiculous extent) that Glen Taylor comes to the realization that the Timberwolves can't possibly win at an acceptable level in the near-term and that taking on David Lee's contract and paying Klay Thompson the max is not going to get Minnesota into championship contention. The Rockets could represent the one team with whom Love would sign an extension (not that it would hold up a deal from Houston's perspective) and which can offer both (a) a valuable draft pick (the NO pick) and (b) a talented young player (Jones). The Timberwolves also get a ton of salary relief.

The most likely reason "Plan A" wouldn't work, however, is that the Rockets would not be able to offer Chandler Parsons a very large contract, as they would be hard-capped at the "apron" level, expected to be around $81 million next season.

Trade 2 - Plan B:
Houston gets: Kyle Lowry (S&T)
Toronto gets: EITHER (a) Jeremy Lin, picks (perhaps including the New Orleans pick) OR (b) picks, with Lin going to Philly

This trade assumes that the Rockets can convince Toronto that (1) it has a Melo S&T lined up and (2) Houston is capable of clearing enough cap room, in addition to a Melo S&T, to just sign Lowry outright. (See MORE "REALISTIC" DREAM SCENARIO below.) With Toronto faced with Lowry leaving for nothing and the prospect of Greivis Vasquez leveraging that into an overpay in free agency, the Raptors might be willing to take on Lin (who would be great there, by the way) if it nets them multiple picks (at least one of which might be VERY good).

Assuming that Lowry's new deal is substantially less than Love's salary, the Rockets would have just enough wiggle room (possibly) under the apron to bring Parsons back on a sizable new deal.


SCENARIO 2: MORE "REALISTIC" DREAM SCENARIO

This scenario is somewhat more realistic, by comparison.

Transaction 1: Sign Kyle Lowry using cap room

If the Asik-to-New Orleans trade will indeed be an isolated transaction, the Rockets could clear at least $8M or so in cap room without even dumping Lin's contract or anyone else important to the team's future plans. While it would require Lowry to take less money than what Toronto is allegedly offering (a BIG leap of faith, here), the contract offer would be nothing to sneeze at.

Transaction 2:
Houston gets: Carmelo Anthony (S&T - starting salary of ~$18M)
New York gets: Jeremy Lin, assortment of young guys (including Jones?), multiple draft picks

Much like in Scenario 1, this trade assumes that the Rockets could otherwise just clear this cap room to sign Melo (and presumably forego their ability to also add Lowry). The Knicks' trade exception wouldn't be quite as big; but Lin could always be redirected to a third team like Philly if the Knicks didn't want him.


I know I've left out a ton of other moving parts and other permutations, as those are seemingly infinite. And, yes, this situation would involve multiple guys (Melo, Lowry, Parsons) needing to take less than they could otherwise get on the open market.

But this stuff is at least theoretically POSSIBLE.

I'd be shocked if Daryl Morey didn't mention at least some of these possibilities to Melo in his recruiting pitch.

 

Can I just say something? Do yall realize how crazy it is that three years ago our best players were Kevin Martin and Luis Scola? that we almost mortgaged our entire future on Pau Gasol and Nene? that Dwight and Carmelo had ZERO interest in playing for the rockets? God, how times have changed.

 

Honestly, from what I've read/seen/heared, I don't see Howard neither Harden too excited about the possibility of Melo coming to Houston.

 

<iframe src="//instagram.com/p/p9kbhYkMN-/embed/" width="612" height="710" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>

 

Rockets are getting neither Melo or Love.

 

FWIW

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kevin Mchale just got on this flight I'm working on!</p>&mdash; Micahangelo (@MicahTh3Prophet) <a href="https://twitter.com/MicahTh3Prophet/statuses/484424953177964544">July 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Said he going to talk to Kevin Love! ����������</p>&mdash; Micahangelo (@MicahTh3Prophet) <a href="https://twitter.com/MicahTh3Prophet/statuses/484426685001900033">July 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

yeah it was crazy. remember when our best player was trevor ariza? LOLZ

 

Not only did he not publicly complain, when he was asked directly about it he was perfectly fine with it.

The only reason ESPN cares about this story is because of Lin's "appeal."

If the Rockets had done Terrence Jones "dirty" by shooping Melo in his jersey number it wouldn't have made a single news outlet.

 

Couldn't take a pic of him directly without losing my job but I do have proof I worked the flight. How can I upload the pic from my iphone?

 

That's not what I said. I have no idea why you're bringing race into this when it's pretty unrelated, and turning it into that "they versus us" crap that everyone is tired of on the boards. Rockets did something that some people thought was a low blow, some people thought was business as usual. Lin responded, which some people thought showed he was too sensitive, while other people thought he was standing up for himself. CF fans and media then over-emphasized it because we're all bored on a Wed afternoon.

But no need to bring race into it. Again, like those yahoo commentors. smh...

 

You mean like Dwight saying how much he wants to play with Melo?

 

That's the same guy that posted here, just for the record.

 

Would you be?? Both Harden and Howard love getting their "touches"....... and Morey's plan is to bring in another guy who loves to dominate and shoot the ball?? Love my Rockets...... but Melo has never made sense here.

 

I believe you man.

was it the 3:15 flight? Do you work at the check in desk?