Why would the Knicks take $.18 on the dollar to move Carmelo out of town? Because they fear they'd lose him for nothing? Getting back an average pick (based on Boston's projected record with Love/Rondo/Asik/Avery) and a low pick (based on Houston's projected record with Harden/Howard/Melo) doesn't justify shipping Melo out.
Unless Morey's plan is to threaten NY that he will renounce Chandler, freeing up the $4 million hold, dump Asik and Lin, and sign Melo outright. That is, if NY does not agree to a sign and trade of Melo for Asik, Lin, TJones and a pick, or something similar.
Just a random thought: Lillard misses that 0.9 shot, making Parsons' layup the game winner. That gives us game 7 at home with a 2 game winning streak.. close out game 7. Parsons could have been a huge hero. Would that change how people feel he's worth?
Regarding Asik and Lin and the Rockets ability to move them, from today's Houston Chronicle.... http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2014/06/rockets-begin-to-show-hand-for-free-agency-plans/ According to an individual familiar with the Rockets’ plans, they are confident they would be able to move Lin and Asik’s contracts because unlike their failed efforts to trade Asik last season, they would be looking to clear cap room, rather than bring back rotation players with similar contracts.
Except he's gone for nothing if they don't do this deal. The "assets" New York would get.... 1) Expiring Lin 2) Expiring Bass 3) Expiring Joel Anthony 4) Add good, young player in TJones 5) Unload Felton's contract (which doesn't expire until 2016) 6) Houston's 2015 1st 7) A 1st round pick from Boston 8) Recieve back their own 2015 2nd They clear their books in 2015 (except for JR Smith), and have a nice group of assets.....all because they own Melo's bird rights, nothing else.
Morey can probably convince Philly/Hinkie to take both for the price of 2 future 1sts. It's not farfetched to think there's a team (or two or three) that wouldn't mind taking on their contract with draft picks being a reward.
Asik has value. A team would gladly take him without any compensation. Indeed, I would expect the Rockets to get some value for him. Jeremy Lin does have negative value, but not sure it would take 2 #1's.
When was the last time Dolan and the Knicks have ever talked about "clearing the books"? That has never been their culture and that's because they're in New York. You and me know it's important to have cap flexibility but Dolan and the Knicks fanbase aren't going to want to hear that ESPECIALLY if all they get back for an elite player is a basket of expiring contracts and picks that they'll end up trading away anyways. And this is, of course, based on the premise that Melo would be stupid enough to opt into his final year with the Knicks.
You're going to have to attach a 1st to Lin to move him. Asik has value, I agree, but why would Philly want to bring Asik in without any compensation in return? They're in rebuilding mode and another high pick next year from sucking it up in the regular season secures that. If anything, a 2nd rounder will be attached to Asik to sweeten the transaction.
The Knicks attempted to clear space a few years ago to get Amare. Further, it only would take a single year of discipline, as the Knicks will potentially have a lot of space for the summer of 2015. The Knicks would rather trade Melo than just lose him as a free agent. Getting Asik and Lin do not hurt their 2015 off season plans. They can deal Asik for a #1 later. Getting someone like T. Jones helps the Knicks replace lost assets. Potentially a trade of Anthony to Houston could net them 3 #1's and passing off Felton on Houston...... TJ can be flipped for a #1, Asik for a #1, and Houston's #1... and Felton gone.
Lin will certainly require a #1, possibly 2....... Philly would take Asik with the plan to flip him later..... and if Philly doesn't want him, someone else will....
No way we renounce Chandler, it would be an empty threat. We wouldn't decline his option just to save <$400k. There is no chance we don't sign Parsons to a new deal, even if it's only to sign and trade him.
What the Knicks would rather do isn't necessarily what Melo would rather do. If he opts out then the entire "Knicks should trade Melo" conversation is rendered moot. But lets say he DOES do the Knicks a solid and opts in, why would getting a pupu platter of crap be better than what another team (say Chicago) can offer? Since we're proposing deals, wouldn't Boozer's expiring, Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler and a future 1st sound better?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mark Cuban on a report that the Rockets will have interest in Dirk Nowitzki when free agency hits: "I don't pay attention to that."</p>— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESefko/statuses/474256050267254784">June 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
