[Yahoo!] Carmelo privately expressing more enthusiasm to join Rockets than Knicks

I maybe a Battier homer but if Martin is moved, I forsee Shane as your starting SG.

Half court starters:

Brooks
Battier
Melo
Scola
Yao / Miller

Running and gunning bench:

Lowry
Lee
Budinger
Patterson
Hill

 

Miller's gonna be pissed.

 

If they were able to trade JUST Yao (and picks and prospects obviously but that's with every trade). Meaning... we'd keep Brooks/Martin and all those guys. You do this in a heartbeat.

I love me some Yao, but I think we could make due with Hayes and Miller for the next few years until we can find/draft/trade for an upgrade. I'm not saying that they are going to be able to fill the void Yao leaves behind the same, but when our 1-3 guys are Brooks, Martin and Melo... I can't think of a better perimeter unit in the league... and any unit would be like the Lakers or Heat that are only there because the have 2 out of 3 of the guys that are just really good.

Of course... no way in hell does Denver do this. They would deal for Martin before Yao IMO.

 

I mistakenly had Hill listed twice, Miller would be spelling Yao in the half court sets.

 

Nothing huge, but Bill Simmons just gave Houston some love on PTI. He also said Carmelo will NOT be a Net.

 

Nooooo!!! No way! Battier just can't shoot, except for the corner trey. He's lost a step and needs to pick his spots guarding 2's now. It depends on the matchup. Man, I just don't see that at all. Having said that, I'd be really bummed if Shane were included in a deal.

 

Besides Lee would definitely start over Shane in that situation.

 

R934life posted it in the other NYTimes thread on Carmelo but Chris Broussard says Denver will bring Melo into camp and wont trade him before then unless blown away. Denver wanted Lopez from Nets but obviously not happening. Nuggets hoping for a hot start or maybe bringing in another star alongside Carmelo.Chicago still not budging on giving up Noah. NYK lacks the picks and would have to get a 3rd team involved.

 

Jonathan Feigen just wrote a blog that cleared up some things. Pretty good story. Here are some of the main points...

More interesting points in the link discussing Dampier etc.

Here's the link http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2010/09/with_the_melodrama_heating_up_1.html

 

Bring on the Melo man Daryl...

 

Agree to disagree I guess.

 

Why not play the actual SG at the starting sg slot?

Yao
Scola
Melo
Lee
Brooks

I'm against getting Melo if it means gutting the team, but if we can get him on the cheap via Martin, Hill/PP and a pick, then I'm for it. Among the max FAs melo's in the bottom tier, however if Alexander doesn't mind paying lux money it doesn't matter.

 

Shane Battier was the starter at SG when we had McGrady and Artest... He was the one defending Kobe/Wade/Vince/Johnson/Richardson etc...

That said, I would not mind Lee starting...

 

Looke like they are gonna go into the season again like these other weak sauce teams who had the same strategy. Get offered less at the deadline, have to keep him, and then he leaves them for nothing. Rockets make the most since. Has for the longest. Most assets to make the deal work the easiest. The deal might get lowered by the dealine or go away. Then they get Maybe Favors? Unless he plays like Carmelo Anthopny. Then they are stuck with left over offers of Knicks and Bulls. Looks like another Cleveland and Toronto disaster shaping up for them. Too bad because the obvious team and deal is here waiting for them stairing them in the face the whole offseason.

 

Just saw Sportcenter and they had Denver Post beat writer Benjamin Hochman on and he said "he's talked with numerous league execs today that Houston has had talks with Denver and though the the talks have not excusively involved Kevin Martin and his 20 ppg, the Rockets are definitely interested in Carmelo and are open to anything".

What does that mean? Anybody on our roster is fair game, includng Yao?

He also said that just like the Bulls, the Nets aren't willing to give up their prized big man in Lopez and that could complicate the process.

They are in no rush to make a decision because it is a potentially franchise altering decision and they don't "leave any stone unturned" in this process.

 

DO IT!

 

I mean, the only plausible way I would do a Yao deal for Melo is if Nene is a part of the package.

Assuming we sign Dampier this is what I could see happening if Yao is involved.

Yao + Budinger + Jeffries for Melo and Nene

We would roll with this to start the season

Brooks/Lowry
Martin/Lee
Carmelo/Battier
Scola/Hayes/Patterson
Nene/Dampier/Miller

Would that lineup be enough to contend in the West?

 

I think so. I just think Yao is not going anywhere though.

 

Yeah me too.

I see him retiring as a Rocket. I doubt he plays for another team in the NBA.

Like I said in the other Melo thread, just thinking out loud.

 

"Actual SG" is irrelevant to me, as I believe both wing positions to be interchangable.

Furthermore there are 4 reasons I see:

1.) I think Lee fits better as a finisher in second unit w/ Lowry.
2.) There isnt much balance with the starting lineup in terms of guys who can produce without the ball.
3.) I like the added size/length on the wings, especially when it comes to the Durants and Lebrons of the league. I wouldn't want Anthony covering them.
4.) I dont have enough confidence in Lee's defense prowess yet to solo coverage the Kobe, Wades, etc.