Those are some huge questions that need to be answered. If they don't buy him out, why would they trade with us? Why would they buy him out when he could be shopped around? If they did buy him out, how much would he ask for from his next team? Finally, can we afford his price tag?
So now we're going to have two players that are useless in the pick and roll. I say we put Anderson and Melo on the floor at the same time just to see if a team can shoot 100% on us in a quarter.
I think he's worth the risk. Playing along side CP3 and Harden, to exquisite play makers is a whole different animal than playing with Westbrook and George.
Let's look at it this way: Joe Johnson: 7 times an All-Star, 1 time All-NBA, 37 years old Carmelo Anthony: 10 times an All-Star, 6 times All-NBA, 34 years old If we're going to have a cheap-contract former star on the roster, I want the one who's both younger AND better.
Melo will be with the Rockets. Lakers probably don’t want too much clutter interfering in their hunt for Kawhi next summer. Lakers are probably going to remain a bunch of expiring contracts that are not belonging to banana boat members
He’s going to go to LA. He loves the drama and the diva Me7oo would love to go to that superficial city of actors.
Because he has a no-trade clause. There are teams that might take the gamble on him for the primary purpose of getting his expiring contract, but Melo won't approve a trade there unless a release is a stipulation of the trade. OKC would buy him out (in combination with waiving and stretching) if there's no trade because it literally saves them close to $100 million when factoring in luxury taxes. One way or another, he's gone for that reason. The only teams with more than MLE money available are awful ones like Chicago, Atlanta, and Sacramento, which will have no interest in a 34-year-old Carmelo Anthony. And Carmelo will still be making most of his money from OKC via his original contract. Works the same way as a buyout at the trade deadline -- money is less important because it's literally the player's second contract for that season.
If we can package RyNoSkills with somebody else for Melo that would be best! Thunder could stretch provision Ryno for less money than stretch provision Melo. Plus we could sweeten the pot with a draft pick!
OKC: We are headed for luxury tax hell. How can we limit this?!? Melo: Hey, Thunder, I'm fine with a buyout. Or a trade, but only to Houston. OKC: Trade? I'll bet the Rockets would be interested in a trade. Then they'll have to pick up the full salary. Excellent! Morey: *thinking* Hmmm... pay for a year of Melo, but get rid of Ryno. Or wait and get Melo for cheap after a certain-to-happen buyout, but still see Ryno's face every damn day, reminding me what a dumb contract that was. Decisions, decisions...
If Melo is on the Rockets next year that coach in okc may be fired next year after Melo plays so much better in Houston.
Last offseason, he would have replaced Ryno in the starting lineup. Clear upgrade. This year, he’d be replacing Trevor Ariza. I’m skeptical of the fit defensively. Offensively, it’s an upgrade for sure. But defensively, it’s gonna hurt. And defense is what got the Rockets to Golden State’s level. In a perfect world (at least in this universe), the Rockets bring back Luc AND sign Melo. Melo agrees to come off the bench to school second units. Carmelo could be staggered with Harden to alternate being the first options. Not sure what MDA could cook up as far as plays from the elbow, but we’ll see.
Yeah, but next summer we could just not re-sign Melo (if it doesn't work out) and be clear of Ryno's $20M, too.
Every sportsmedia talking head, summer 2017: "CP3 and Harden? Just don't see how the ball will be distributed." Players who WANT to make it happen WILL make it happen.
Would cost okc a ton of money though. Deal doesn’t really make sense for them. Now maybe a three team deal where we send ryno somewhere else
PG: Chris Paul/Michael Carter Williams/Trevon Duval SG: James Harden/Gerald Green/De’Anthony Melton SF: Kawhi Leonard/Jabari Parker/Luc Mbah a Moute PF: PJ Tucker/Carmelo Anthony/Michael Beasley C: Brook Lopez/Zhou Qi/Isiah Hartenstein
