What was Melo's actual 'fair market value' at the beginning of the offseason?

Super-max from Kings.

 

Again, it's not about the number.

JJ got $23 million last year. Chandler Parsons is getting $20+ million a year. The Grizzlies gave Kyle Anderson nearly $10 million a year.

It's more about chemistry risk and opportunity cost. As I said in the other thread. Why would a bottom feeder team add him on at any salary? The only reason would be to "sell tickets". But he's not really that draw anymore.

Then most of the top teams don't have a need.

There are some non-homecourt advantage/fringe playoff teams or teams with a real need at forward that I could see giving him a shot, maybe. The Rockets have a need at forward, but most importantly have CP3.

Teams that just wouldn't have interest at any level: Hawks (no use), Magic (no use), Bulls (no use), Nets(no use), Knicks (lol), Wizards(no use), Celtics (no use, no cap space), Raptors(no use), Suns(no use), Grizzlies(no use), Kings(no use), Lakers (no use, could get him now if they wanted to), Clippers (no use), Spurs (no use), Thunder (lol), Warriors (no use), Heat (not paying more in luxury tax), TWolves (isn't Wiggins like the younger, currently better version of Melo - not better than prime Melo clearly... Thibs won't want him, cmon)

Teams that MAYBE might have some interest level: Hornets (MJ makes weird decisions), Pistons (probably not but they're in a weird spot), Bucks (seems really unlikely, but see Pistons), Mavs (who knows with Cuban), Nuggets (might just do something weird like that), Pelicans (might be a risk they'd be willing to take), Jazz (I mean I really don't think so for a team whose identity first and foremost is defense, but they aren't amazing at forward), Blazers (at the vet minimum), Indiana (??), Cleveland, Philadelphia (seems very very unlikely but who knows)

Team(s) that definitively and actively wants him for sure: Rockets

 

"It's been expressed..."

"People are saying..."

"I've heard..."

"Everyone says..."

You're sounding very presidential today, @kjayp!

But seriously, apart from your own posts and maybe those of a few other non-believers here on CF, where exactly has this "been expressed"?

 

Since Melo voiced his opinion that he think he's still a starter? $6 mil because he would suck as a starter.

 

Lakers probably would have given Melo the money they gave Rondo ($9M) and Beasley ($3.5M).

Had Melo been available at the start free agency.....once they found out no PG13

 

I don't really see much value to the contract at the trade deadline. It could be a throw in piece to make a deal work.
It's an expiring deal for a player who at that point would be on his way out of his third team in 18 months or so.
There's no valuable return there for the player... it's just a contract at that point.
Which.. sure, I guess could have value... but could just sign anyone.

The poll has nothing to do with my point, as I've said.

More to your point, I laid out the teams. Feel free to explain why you think such and such team might take the risk. I wrote no use, but could definitely be more specific, ha.

 

Apologies. I misread your post because I was in the middle of an absolutely amazing sammich.

I have seen a bunch of "nobody else even made Melo an offer" posts on CF lately. There's a reason for that, though: Since last summer, Melo has said he wanted to come to Houston. Everyone in the league knew he'd end up here. What's the point of making an offer and tie up your entire off-season waiting for a response, when it's not likely to happen in the first place.

Seriously, nobody will ever convince me that more teams would want Dwight Howard on their roster than Melo.

 

There's nothing stopping the Lakers from getting Melo for the vet minimum now...

One would think if Lebron just said come over... its the Lakers, its LA.. you'd think Melo would at a minimum consider that strongly.

 

this. how hilarious would this be? but clearly Leborn knows Mellow is washed up

 

In the scope of the thread. When the Lakers had more money and before they picked up
Beasley/Rondo/JaVale MeGee/Lance Stephenson.......if the Lakers offered Melo $12 M....I think he would be there.
Rockets could not compete with that price (nor should they). Rockets are right on the cusp of beating the Warriors.
Lakers can pay more and take more of a chance.

With LeBron and Melo, the Lakers May have gone a different route with a Rondo/Beasley/Lance acquisition.

I think Melo didn’t go to the Lakers because Kawhi was rumored to be there this/next summer. Kawhi (SF) & LeBron (PF)....Kuzma backing up LeBron. No future beyond this season at PF w/Lakers.......but $12M for one yr might have appealed to Melo. Just speculation on my part of course.

 

The Lakers are perfectly capable of offering Melo the veterans minimum.
If they did, and Lebron called up Melo and said we really want you, he'd be in LA.
It's insane to think otherwise. His whole deal has been about cities he wants to be in since he left NYK.
And you can be damn sure he'd want for himself, for his relationship with Lala, for his kid, for the spotlight, for whatver, to be in LA.

They don't want him.

Mind you, OTHER teams can sign him, too.

And its not like we heard no rumors of other teams. We just really only heard I think about the Heat. And I guess maybe the Heat make some sense in that Melo is also friendly with DWade and there was a time where Miami was a draw as a destination?? But really.. no, the Heat doesn't make sense. But there was still that rumor.

There's not a lot of other rumors because not a lot of teams are really interested.

 

Didn't Paul George say that he was hellbent to go to the Lakers after his contract was up? Team were still trying to get him.

 

By the end of this season melo will look like an easy 10-25 mil a year guy

Mark my words

 

What teams were trying to get Paul George? I could be wrong, but I don't recall anyone making real offers other than LA and OKC. There's a difference between thinking someone would be a great addition and actually making an offer. If you're Milwaukee, for example, and you know it's 99.9% certain PG is either going to his hometown Lakers or staying with the team and city he's expressed great fondness for, why even make that offer? You may miss out on other big FA names because you're waiting for something that almost definitely won't happen.

 

I mean, look... this is a bit ridiculous... but to answer your questions.

#1 - Yes, they needed Boogie. They were very clear about the upside they saw to adding someone like Boogie, beyond the value. Their seasons got stale. They didn't finish with the top seed. And they were down 3-2 to the Rockets, with Draymond being kind of meh, and their only playable big as Kevon Looney.

#2 - Are you really comparing Melo right now to Boogie of last year? Boogie has been a beast of a player for a few years now...

#3 - Yet DESPITE that, when attitude and mentality questions were still an issue, DESPITE 1.5 years left on a contract, the Kings got jack **** back for Boogie basically. Sure, some assets, but they definitely sold LOW LOW LOW on him.

So you're going for the crappy team signs Melo to $10 million contract (or so), gives Melo a lot of minutes to trade him to a playoff team for a late 1st round pick??

I mean... never say never.

Bear in mind that's kind of what the Knicks and OKC did already. And it didn't work. And the excuse being trotted out now is because Melo had to just come in, and get no practice time, and not be able to assimilate, etc. The other problem is that with the Knicks Melo didn't play well. We kind of know what Melo would be with a bottom feeder team. He'd come in and have higher usage and lower efficiency than he should without impacting winning or team development in any way. Bottom feeder teams know this too.

So again, never say never, but I suspect the Suns, for instance, would much rather get Jackson and Bridges playing time while they learn from a Trevor Ariza type than a Carmelo type. Same for other teams (Magic with Isaac, Hawks with Prince, etc.)

 

Again, your viewing the situation after the fact nobody had money. The thread topic is if Melo was available
from day 1 of free agency. That may change things. Things you may not be considering.

 

Without the Rockets stepping in this could have been a Dez Bryant type of situation.