Melo is just turning out to be a major d-bag. He's seriously going to drag this thing out to the very end and a lot of teams are going to suffer because of it.
I still look at it as: what kind of guy are you going to get for those picks? Probable: #6 (Nets) #11 (GSW) #25 (LAL) 2012 Rockets (let's hope that's #15 or higher) Of course they hold value, but odds aren't great that the Nuggets land a new franchise guy with these picks. General Rule of Thumb is, whoever ends up with the single best player (or player to be drafted) wins. I know I'd shovel almost all of the Rockets' pile of depth if it netted me one guy of Anthony's caliber.
Guess LaLa says "either we go to New York or we stay here and cash in". If Melo refuses to go to Jersey, then it comes down to what everyone believed in the first place. His first three choice of teams are: 1) Knicks; 2) Knicks; 3) Nuggets.
This is terrible reasoning. What all NJ gave up to get those picks are in the past -- it's a sunk cost. Going forward, what they are giving up is their high lotto pick this year, 2 mid-first rounders, and a late first rounder, plus their promising rookie and Harris. Getting Anthony is a big coup, but they are losing a big avenue of adding role-players around him by giving up all their extra picks. And -- the biggest problem I have getting over it -- this offer seems to be head-and-shoulders better than the next best offer. If Favors/Harris/NJ-lotto-pick is insanely better than what NY and Houston could offer (and it is), why pile on the extras?
While I'm all for Melo being able to become a free agent and go play wherever he wants to play, I really hope, if Melo absolutely refuses to sign an extension with any team other than the Knicks, and unless the Knicks throw in Gallo AND Fields (yes, I said "and"), that Denver just decides to keep him and call his bluff about the extension. After the trade deadline, it will be extraordinarily difficult for New York to trade for Melo under the current CBA (i.e., on draft day), since they could no longer use Eddy Curry's expiring contract or Wilson Chandler (a restricted free agent to be) in any deal. Those two pieces would be crucial for any Melo trade to the Knicks before the CBA expires. Also, if you think about it, the current Knicks proposal (Curry, Chandler, Randolph/1st rd. pick, and Mason as filler) does not involve New York giving up a SINGLE asset (other than Randolph/1st rd. pick) that the Knicks would expect to have next year on a roster that adds Melo in free agency. Curry and Mason will be gone, and Chandler will most likely need to be renounced in order to create the necessary cap room to even get close enough to sign Melo outright. After the lockout ends, the Knicks may or may not have enough cap room to sign Melo outright. It'll probably be close. The current rules favoring S&T deals over outright signings will likely carry over to the new CBA, if not become even more favorable for S&Ts. The Nuggets could hold out on a S&T for Melo without (a) Gallo and/or Fields, (b) a S&T of Chandler under a reasonable, long-term deal (something that Denver won't get now), and (c) picks (they'll be waiting a few months less then for a 2014 NYK first rounder, at least). Also, the Nuggets will get a fairly sizable TPE (depending on the size of Chandler's new deal) in lieu of eating Curry's bloated salary this season. Bottom line: Melo can do whatever he wants. It's a free country, plus it's allowed under the current CBA. But he just might negotiate himself out of four years, $83 million (what he'd get if he signs an extension under the current CBA) and have to settle for (i) far less money with the Knicks next season via S&T from Denver or (ii) far, far less money as an outright free agent signing with New York.
It's just sad that so many other teams are being held hostage by one dude. Don't get me wrong, Melo is one of the best scores in the league, but COME ON MAN!
How is it Melo's fault? He has been denying it for a while now. He has not demanded a trade. He has done what he is supposed to do. Play for the nuggets. He is perfectly content playing with denver the rest of this season. He has even come out and said that he would consider resigning with Denver. (I don't think he will) it seems pretty clear that he is not going to agree to an extension with anyone. He will be a free agent and choose from there. If you want to rent him then rent his a**. But he is ultimately going to choose where he wants to go. My guess, he gets traded to a team like rox or mavs and walks as a free agent and signs with the knicks. I think Melo would rather have it that way because if he was to go in a trade, the Knicks would have to amass copious amounts of talent and picks to acquire him, thus making the Knicks less talented and set up for any sort of future.
I believe ZERO of what Melo says, the dude wants to play coy. The Russian will get his man or there will be consequences to pay!
It's early...but his stock has been steadily plummeting all season. He's not even listed in NBA.com's current rookie top 10.
Because we don't live in a Utopian society. Sometimes you have to overpay to get what you want, and going from a team like the Rockets with a bunch of serviceable role players, but no clear cut star like Carmelo (w/ Billups) to the Carmelo led Nets is a big deal. We've seen Denver balk before and use the lockout to try and scare Melo into resigning and they just might be stupid enough to balk again or go with NY just to spite NJ. It's not a risk the Nets are willing to take, and all these fringe 1st rounders are guaranteed contracts that will take time to adapt to the NBA. Billy King is a r****d but Prokhorov knows what he's doing. You have to overpay to get that centerpiece. Look at how criticized the Suns were for giving Nash his initial contract to lure him away from Dallas.
Guys, I said that this was the part of the justification that I did NOT agree with. That GSW pick and the Nets' own 2011 pick are really the only picks that are potentially worth much that New Jersey is throwing in the deal. The Lakers' and Rockets' picks are both heavily protected and will never result in a high draft pick. All I'm saying is, don't be scared off by the NUMBER of draft picks. It is the value that is important. Two potentially late lottery picks and two mid- to late first rounders is not going to kill that franchise, especially given how little they gave up to get them. If it was New Jersey's own picks, that could ruin that franchise for over a decade if Melo got injured. But because the Nets compiled the picks without giving up other assets, they are in a POSITION to "overpay" for Melo.
The Brooklyn arena isn't going to open until 2012 -2013 season at the earliest, most likely - better to shoot for a star in offseason 2012 or build through the draft rather than having Carmelo mope around an empty Prudential center on a 40 win team for a season. BTW the idea that the Nets are going to take away the Knicks fan base immediately is pretty far fetched. It's as far fetches as the idea that Jay-Z is going to attract superstars by having a minor ownerhip interest. If they do it will be very gradual, with people who grow up in and around the A-Yards area/Brooklyn area. It's sort of like saying the Texans are going to usurp the Cowboys - a) not going to happen, and b) there's enough room for both anyway. Actually, the Nets right now are about 20 minutes away from MSG by NJ Transit/PATH - that's not too much different than the subway ride between MSG/Penn Station and Atlantic Yards where they will end up in 2012.
How is this even news? Hasn't this been the case all along? It all depended on if Carmelo agrees to an extension.
If Melo is not intentionally adding to the drama he could simply go to Denver's GM and tell him that he does no want to be traded and wants to finish the season with the Nuggets, and would seriously consider singing the extension at the end of the year. That would put a stop to all of this foolishness! Bet he won't do it!
what the big deal on 4 1st rounders?? Just look at history.. All 4 could turn out to be role players are busts. The success rate on 1st rounders is not a given. Especially some late first rounders.
I disagree. If the Rockets aren't going to trade for Melo I want him to get traded to the Nets. Simply because it gets Melo out of the West and the value of the NY pick doesn't get hurt. I coudn't care less about how much money Melo is going to get.
Gaaah! You did it again! What they gave up to get the picks doesn't matter. If they traded away Lebron, Durant, and Chris Paul to get those picks, it wouldn't make them any more or less painful to lose in this trade. And it also couldn't justify overpaying needlessly. Having a mid-to-late future first rounder is better than not having one.
If Melo just talks to this guy, everything will be done. Prok can easily convince him... will promise him that he will get more superstars on his sides and will give him the Money/fame he wants.
