[NYPost] Rockets could make push for Carmelo (UPDATE: Blog post)

Take back my comment about keeping Asik. Imagine if they could get Marc Gasol, LeBron, and Rondo....

 

If merlo says he's gone or they think he's leaving

It's going to be Lin + asik + jones + 1st... For MELO + shumpert...

Then if doesn't work they will want parsons, then it will end of being Lin + asik + parsons... Just like Boston & anige this time morey will give up parsons this is what he's been waiting for if he can't sign someone outright.. give me love tho

 

First, what I have always heard is Asik/Lin/Jones and 2 #1's.... that is actually not a bad haul when you consider than Asik and Lin are off the books in time for the 2015 FA period. Jones is worth a mid to late lottery pick, and that #1's now are more valuable under the new CBA. The Rockets would be offering a lot.

Second, Chicago? They have to offer enough assets to get the Knicks interest, beat the Rockets offer AND not gut their team to the point that Melo won't want to play there. The Rockets are just a more attractive team, he gets to play with better players and Rose is a liability at this point.

Howard/Melo/Parsons/Harden/Beverley is an extremely good starting 5.

 

You also can't discount the "in conference" factor.

Even if the Bulls offer was slightly better than Houston's, would the Knicks *REALLY* want to help build an in conference power house? Why not trade Chandler to Miami while you're at it?

 

If New York is willing to do a sign and trade, they probably would prefer to send Melo to the Western conference. They don't want to face Melo in the playoff down the road.

 

At that point you do not care, you resign Parsons and pay any tax because you have essentially exploited the system. You get to sign a $12,000,000 a year player (Parsons) by going OVER the cap, and put him with 3 max players (Harden/Howard/Anthony). You get to use the MLE down the line, draft picks, the veteran minimum and resign your own guys (Beverley).

It would put Houston at an enormous advantage long term. Yes, you are capped out, but at what cost? Further you sign veterans like the Heat do and you look for diamonds in the rough (Beverley types), which Morey is very good at doing.

Obviously there are no guarantees, you can have someone get hurt, or see play level decline, but you have the talent needed to win a Title or Titles with a starting 5 of: Howard/Parsons/Anthony/Harden/Beverley.

 

Agreed.

The nightmare scenario for NY would be to S&T Melo to a team like Chicago, then have the Bulls not only win a championship but knock the Knicks out along the way as well.

No way in heck I see them sending Melo to the Bulls if the offers are even remotely close.

 

I agree with you, and it is a good point. Further, the Knicks already are not happy that Anthony and Noah spoke. Add the fact that the Knicks had eyes for Thibs and I don't see a jealous man like the Knicks owner wrapping up Melo to go to the Bulls and an owner (Reinsdorf) that he dislikes.

 

He looked really good on the olympic squad where he wasn't the number one bananna. He didn't have to be a playmaker and he ended up being their best finisher and top scorer, so I think he'd be great if he isn't the best player on the squad.

 

I think Melo is a beastly #2. I think the problem is trying to slot him into a #1 ala Durant and Lebron.

Assuming you get Melo to buy in that Harden is dictating the offense, then Melo could become very, very dangerous. He can shoot at range, post up, rebound, and isn't a bad post up defender. His help defense leaves some to be desired, but with Dwight behind him it's not that bad.

Beverley offsets some of the perimeter deficiencies, and despite Melo not being a quick on ball defender, he can easily bother stretch 3's and 4's simply due to length.

In my view, Melo is a #2 that too many teams try to make a #1. You put Melo as a #2 and get him to buy into Harden/Howard and there's lots of potential upside.

 

Accommodating is one thing, but making the best decision for your franchise to move forward is another. If the Knicks value the savings financially over taking back the S&T offer that includes picks, that's their option to take.

I'm not saying one way or another which way is better, but you just have to consider it when thinking about how these negotiations are going to go. When I say we are being "Assumptive" I mean we aren't taking EVERYTHING into consideration... and when you are dealing with the Knicks, its worth your while to consider EVERYTHING that goes into the mess that is the Knicks front office & ownership.

Honestly... who knows what their priorities are right now??... They are about to hire Phil Jackson and turn their franchise priorities upside down most likely.

I actually thought about Philly alot actually as maybe the best potential team to make this deal with. What a great turnaround that team could have if they play their cards right.

Think about this. Lets say they land Jabari Parker, and Marcus Smart in this years draft. Then they make a deal for Lin, Asik, Jones, and 2 draft picks.

They could have this core + a ton of future picks & no long term salary moving forward:

PG: MCW, Lin, Wroten
SG: Smart
SF: Parker
PF: Young
C: Asik, Noel

They would officially be my favorite team in the East after making this S&T deal... and they would put a very awesome anchor supporting a talented young core moving forward. Oh, and they would still have something around 16 million in cap space AFTER making this trade to add another free agent or two if they pleased (Hayward, L. Stephenson, Bradley, etc. could be added to this roster easily).

Unfortunately, there wont be too many other young teams with the cap space to absorb Lin & Asik for nothing & be in the same situation where they have a bunch of youngsters and nothing else, and need Lin & Asik in the same way so Philly might be the best and only option to participate in this NYK shakedown.

True.... but its a negotiation tactic they absolutely will use if they can. They could get under the tax pretty easily by moving Stat, Bargnani (who might have some trade value next year) or Chandler, but when looking at it at face value.... its still an option for them to consider that makes some sense to look at, and will be used against the Rockets in negotiations.

Depends on what you think a trove is. Chandler Parsons is a trove IMO. Despite his recent slump he's still the glue that holds this team together and is definitely someone that can play alongside Melo in this offense. If he's demanded and it stalls out the talks it could be an issue. If its about picks... well we all know how Morey hates giving up 1st rounders like they are his own kids or something.

Anyways... just saying... we have to consider pretty much everything is going to be nitpicked over after the season, and its also important to note that the priorities of the Knicks after Phil comes into play could very much alter what they consider a "good deal" in respect to what comes of losing Melo.

 

No chance in hell were getting Harden. Morey probably leaked this to show the fans we're "trying really hard" to make moves.

No chance in hell were getting Howard. Morey probably leaked this to show Harden we're "trying really hard" to make moves.

 

oh so Melo is going to guard Griffin, Randolph, West, Duncan, Ibaka etc....yea right
When i watch the rockets i never think, man we need more offense...

 

Griffin, Randolph, West, Duncan, and Ibaka have to guard him too dude. He's a tougher cover than Terrence Jones if you haven't already noticed...

 

Out of all of those guys, Griffin is really the only one that I would be worried about.

Randolph and Duncan are getting older.
Ibaka has a limited offensive game to being with. Harden can usually slow him down enough.
West we would only see if we made it to the Finals. Even still, I think that Melo could slow him down more than he could slow Melo down.

 

Suprised I haven't seen the thinking I have with melo.

If we try and trade for melo he doesn't have to become a FA, having him give us the all clear that he will opt in allows us to have max money in 2015 while having a 3rd superstar in the 2014-2015 season. It's what a lot of clubs will try and get love to do if they trade for him.

 

To Houston
2nd round pick (from Philly)
2015 #1 (from Charlotte - top 10 protected)

To Charlotte
Omer Asik

To Philly
Jeremy Lin
Choice of T.Jones or D.Motiejounas
2014 #1 from Houston

Waiving our min/non guaranteed rotation guys and making the above trade clears about 17 million in cap room for a Melo offer. With no state taxes and cost of living adjustments, I think that is very competitive with Chicago and New York. It is definitely plausable.

 

Exelent post

 

Isn't she also the villain in the movie "He Got Game". Did Melo not learn anything from Ray Allen and Spike Lee....I mean Jesus.

Like Sampson, she will be his Delilah. Women, can't live with them, can live without them, as long as you have hands.