Sources: Carmelo open to multiyear deal with Rockets

There's no reason that Denver has to be in a hurry. Sure, Carmelo might want that, but has no leverage. I doubt a deal will get done until the trading deadline, and Denver has checked out all offers, unless something is too good to pass up. I'd also think that once they get a new GM, he will try to do everything he can to get Carmelo to stay.

Seldom do you see a "star" getting traded without getting a star in return. Just because Melo only wants to go to 3 teams, doesn't mean that is Denver's only option. Perhaps there is another team with a star, who WOULD be willing to re-up with Denver ... then Denver doesn't care who they trade him to.

If no stars are available, then it comes down to them getting under the luxury tax, since they aren't a contender, cap relief, and young talent that could become stars.

If it's truly down to these 3 teams, the reason that NJ could win this deal is that they could absorb Kenyon Martin in a deal, and offer some youth. But, if NJ gives away their best talent, then Carmelo might not want to go there.

If we win, we'll have to do the same, but beat what talent NJ can offer.

So, I'd think we'd use our 6.3 TE for someone like JR Smith or Anderson in a separate deal, to get salary off the books, and then lots of youth and talent, and whatever picks we can give. Would they want Kevin Martin? I don't know, but if they did, we'd have to include him. I assume whomever they are high on, we'd need to trade ... and it would hurt.

This isn't a Tracy McGrady situation. This will have to be a fair deal, not dumping what we don't want ... but even without a star, we DO have tradable assets ... and those assets will be painful to lose.

 

can't package the trade exception per rules. could, as someone else mentioned, do a separate deal with the trade exception, if it helps Denver reduce salary and is somethign they want to do.

 

Keep in mind TE can't be added with players in a trade. They can be traded for another player in a separate deal with that team but not piled on to make a trade work to match salaries for just one player. IE the TE can be sent to Denver for any player of theirs that makes $6.3 million or less. But we'd still have to get within 25% of Melo's salary with players. Battier/Jeffries will probably be included. Along with a couple of draft picks and two of our young assets. Hill probably being one of them.

Also in the case of Troy Murphy, he can't be traded along with another player for 90 days. Same is true for Courtney lee. If denver wants Murphy and picks only, that could happen if Murphy's salary is within 25% of Melo's or if New Jersey still has cap space to take up some of the difference.

 

Wouldn't it be cool if Billups is also included in the deal if Melo were to land here in Houston? It would make sense if you think about it. If the Nuggets are thinking of rebuilding, why would they want to keep Billups? He's still a great player, but he's not exactly young.

If that's the case, I will not be sorry to see Aaron Brooks go. It's safe to assume that we would all prefer Billups over Brooks.

The Lineup will then look like this.

Billups
Martin
Melo
Scola
Yao


I'm starting to like this rumor more and more.

 

Are you kidding me? Talk about overrating your players. That is a ridiculous thought. If you had a chance to land Melo for Budinger you wouldnt do it?
Pass the dutchie pon the left hand side.

 

thx for the clarification

 

Would have been good if we still had trevor ariza, we could give them a young sf to replace melo to go along with other assets I doubt they'd be interested in battier.

 

It'll be funny if Kevin Martin gets to play with Kenyon Martin. I am confused...which Kmart are you talking about?

 

LMAO! I was thinkin the same, I swear DD has gotten in your heads, C-Bud will be no where near superstar level.

 

Uh oh....Denver fans better start praying the Nuggets management doesn't mess with Houston.

MOREY RAPE!!!!

 

Only way this happens if Martin and Jeffries are involved.

Is a Carmelo at $17.2 mil worth a Martin at $10.6 mil?

Carmelo's EFF: 28.00
Martin's EFF: 15.98

Carmelo's price per EFF: 0.614 $/EFF
Martin's price per EFF: 0.663 $/EFF

 

I like the youth of AB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well, 22 pages of 'Melo to Rockets' speculation and I still don't know if it is the right thing to do.

I would not want to lose CBud or Martin. I could handle losing Brooks since we'll have Melo. And I have all of the faith in the world in Lowry.

I don't want to have to take back a 'bitter pill' contract to make it happen (i.e. Anderson, though I like his play).

I do not want to have to package our 6.3 Mil TE, either. We may need that at the deadline, in case we have an injury or the roster needs that extra tweek to make us contenders.

I agree with the speculation that this trade may weaken our defense, but that may be compensated by a strength that the Rox may have in spades. The ability to get to the line, which puts the opponent's players in foul trouble.

Melo's strengths and weaknesses have been well debated on the BBS, but I do agree that he has been better in his last two seasons than earlier in his career. The best parts of Melo's game that improve our roster are 1) He is a physical SF and 2) He is a closer in the 4th quarter.

I am concerned that a bidding war will ensue between us and NJ, further extracting assets from our team, should we win the sweepstakes.

I do, of course, Trust in Morey and know that he will do what is best.

I am just so anxious now. I hope that this plays out soon.

 

this would be great, we would be basically going all in to win this season.
I dont know how much longer billups would be effective but im sure he could be re signed to a smaller deal because he is also expiring.

Do you think denver would be down to take lowry instead of brooks?
because brooks is on his way to getting a payday and lowry is already locked up for a decent contract

 

I highly doubt it. It has to be Brooks. Brooks is more of the "impact player" that Denver is looking for than Lowry.

 

Obviously he wants New York, but lets hope he has to compromise some things, and ends up in Houston.
Though, I must admit, don't think the chances of him becoming a Rocket are very good.
I wouldn't want to lose Yao(assuming he comes back to form), only because I don't think a Yao-less-Melo/rest of team can win it all. Particularly with whatever center takes his place. It's not like the guys Melo has around him now suck. Of course you don't want to lose a Brooks for example.....but I would imagine if Denver was willing to talk, they would want young quality talent...Brooks. Plus, CB is getting old.
And oh yea......I hope we get rid of that Budinger guy in all this. :grin: jk

 

Huh? If 'Melo doesn't want to sign with a team long-term, they are going to be less likely to give Denver a legitimate offer for him in the first place. Unless a team wants to gamble on him not re-signing, these are Denver's best three options because they are going to give up the most.

And I can't think of many stars that were traded for other stars in modern NBA history. Look at the key players that went in recent star deals:

- Garnett went for Al Jefferson, Gomes, Telfair
- Shaq (to Miami) went for Odom, Butler, Brian Grant
- Mcgrady went for Francis, Mobley, Cato

All substantial hauls, but Francis/Mcgrady is the closest thing to star for star trade though Mcgrady was obviously the better talent. We can offer packages right along those lines with draft picks and expiring contracts.

 

We're being played with. This is Chris Bosh all over again.

 

I'm pretty sure they would be willing to take Battier's expiring contract off our hands...

 

Feels the same to me too, but you never know, maybe someday the big dog will fall to Houston.

I mean think about it, Melo is from Brooklyn, his wife is from NY......the Nets are moving to ...where????

Exactly...I think he ends up in the big apple.

DD