I don't know what to think about all this trade speculation. I'm just going to sit back and let what happens - happens.
Guys, as I posted in the Yao Ming Trade thread, don't underestimate the value of Yao's contract in Melo trade talks. Given that Denver is way over the luxury tax threshold, and setting aside draft picks, prospects and other enticements for a minute, the following simple trade: Yao Ming for Carmelo Anthony and Chris Andersen if made today, would improve the Nuggets' bottom line by a whopping $15 MILLION this year alone, due to payroll relief, luxury tax savings and Yao's insurance payout. That amount could go up to $18 million if Les puts in the maximum amount of cash into the deal. You could probably buy a couple of first rounders with that kind of money.
How about if we take Smith off their hand as well and save them $27 million??? Will that be enough to get 'er done?
What I read in a recent report is that any trade involving Melo, the Nuggets would most likely dump Harrington's contract as well. How about this? Lowry/Brooks/Smith Martin/Lee Carmelo/Battier/Williams Scola/Harrington/Patterson Hayes/Anderson/Miller Still enough assets left over to make another deal for a big.
For a RENTAL??? No freakin' way. For an extended Melo. Still probably no. I just don't see Morey willing to take back long-term deals on THREE guys (Melo, Birdman, Harrington). At least Birdman would be a decent shot-blocker off the bench or maybe even a fifth starter. Harrington would just be a cap killer for this team. Denver ought to just keep him. SOMEONE's going to need to score for that team.
Reports say that Denver wants whoever takes Melo (probably an extended one) to take Harrington off their hands, too. I don't like Harrington at all. Maybe we can ship him off somewhere for someone less stinky for maybe with a similar contract.
I know nothing about where Melo will go, but can people/media STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT THE NJ OFFER IS???? There is no NJ offer, they will not trade for a rental, and Melo will not extend with them, and NO they don´t have the assets to go after CP3, they can only sign him in 2 years, and Melo will not wait 2 years in mediocrity, so there is NO SPECIAL PLAN for Melo to land in NJ... so stop talking about them. Yes, Brook Lopez is a overrated softy Center that lacks the strong mentality that you need if you want to dominate in the paint these days, so Melo will not go there, "because they have the best young center in the league" like some people like to say..... and yes, Favors will not come close to the celling people say he can reach. PeAcE
That is a question I would like to ask as well. Why exactly is Derrick Favors seen as such a great blue chip prospect again? Is it the 6 points 5 rebounds 0.5 blocks that he puts up on a 9-23 team while barely getting off the bench behind Kris freakin' Humphries? Do people really think Denver is so dumb to fall for that? The guy had Slomile Bust written all over him since his days at Georgia Tech. Although a guy like Cousins has lived up to his infamous immaturity, at least he has shown genuine moments of dominance. If Denver wants a dumb athletic big who hasn't shown much so bad, why not just go for Jordan Hill.
I don't want JR Smith and/or Al Harrington on the Rockets; neither of the two understands the team concept of basketball, passing the ball to the the other 4 guys on your team, or playing defense on the other end of the court. Add all that with Smith's widely-noted off-court antics (choking people in a pick-up game), and there's a package that can repulse any NBA team.
Hell, Jordan Hill is better than Favors right now! I dunno what people see in Favors. I think blogsites such as draftexpress and nbadraft.net have polluted people's minds into thinking some random joe schmoe at of University of American City will turn out to be the next Dwight Howard or LeBron James, when in fact they don't know those were special players who instantly dominated in there 1st season in the league. What has Favors done to annoint himself the next Howard? I will give people the benefit of the doubt because he is only 19 years old compared to Jordan who is 22. But does 3 years really make that much of a difference? Both are young, but one has already shown you that he can handle it with the big boys like Gasol and Bosh, while the other can't even see playing time behind Murphy and Humphries on a 9 win squad in the freakin East! I for one think that the Nets messed up and should have taken Cousins instead of Favors. Dunno what the Nuggets see in him to be honest. I think they just want to sell the fanbase on the unknown and think people will buy tickets out of curiousity.
LOL...who knows with Heisley man. I have given up on the team having any success under Heisley's ownership. The team is a bunch of mismatched parts. I am guessing Gasol will be extended no matter what but Heisley might refuse to pay anyone else after watching this squad implode this season.
We would contend this year with this trade. Adding Melo for essentially nothing. Anderson would take the place of Hill's production.
Kids only playing 19 minutes a game -- I don't really expect his stats to be eye-popping. Supposedly he had similar draft measurements as Dwight Howard.. I think a lot of teams feel he could become Dwight-lite. Still extremely young and still growing into his body.. he's probably viewed as having a lot of untapped potential.
You could say the same thing about Jordan Hill. Kid only plays like 17 minutes a game -- I don't really expect his stats to be eye-popping. Supposedly he had similar draft measurements as Chris Bosh. I think alot of teams feel he could become Bosh-lite. Still extremely young and growing into his body.. he's probably viewed as having alot of untapped potential. See what I did there.
