[Report] Dame & McCollum reach out to Melo: "PDX a VERY real possibility" (Updt Pg. 7)

[Hindenburg]

Melo is 33. Constantly hurt and somewhat washed up. He's not making anyone significantly better at this point.

[DowJones]

I actually just ran into McCollum again at the airport the other day, had I known this storyline then, I'd have told him to step off, Melo he needs to be a Cav lol. Or even better we will just take CJ on the Cavs haha

Still, Portland would not be a top 3 still.

Still taking GS, Spurs, HOU, and OKC over them personally even with Melo.

Blazers having Melo with Nurk, Dame and CJ definitely puts them over OKC and they'd be deeper than Houston. I could see top 3 if everyone stays healthy and the fit works. Also I have no idea what to expect from the Spurs, they look pretty awful without Kawhi.

OKC and Houston don't have much outside of their two really high end guys on each squad. It's just a huge drop off whereas Portland wouldn't have quite the top tier of those two teams, but they also would run 4 deep instead of 2.

???

OKC was better than Portland last year and they added PG13. Portland would just be adding Melo. How does that put them over OKC?

[baldur]

Why do you think Portland send 3-4 players away? Isn't the Knicks desperate side? Even if they want to send carmelo away, why would they take in long term awful contracts like Evan turner, Allen crabby or meyers leonard?

[DusterBuster]

I actually just ran into McCollum again at the airport the other day, had I known this storyline then, I'd have told him to step off, Melo he needs to be a Cav lol. Or even better we will just take CJ on the Cavs haha

Still, Portland would not be a top 3 still.

Still taking GS, Spurs, HOU, and OKC over them personally even with Melo.

Blazers having Melo with Nurk, Dame and CJ definitely puts them over OKC and they'd be deeper than Houston. I could see top 3 if everyone stays healthy and the fit works. Also I have no idea what to expect from the Spurs, they look pretty awful without Kawhi.

OKC and Houston don't have much outside of their two really high end guys on each squad. It's just a huge drop off whereas Portland wouldn't have quite the top tier of those two teams, but they also would run 4 deep instead of 2.

???

OKC was better than Portland last year and they added PG13. Portland would just be adding Melo. How does that put them over OKC?

Because Portland isn't just adding Melo, they would have a Nurkic for a full season this year. People seem to think that Portland from the beginning of the year was the same team after they got Nurk.... they were not. Portland beat the "better" OKC team twice back to back when they had Nurk. He alone transformed that team to being far better than they were originally.

[red96]

Besides Eric Gordon what bench does Hou have?
CP3/harden/ariza/melo/capela.
Dame/Cj/Aminu/Melo/ Nurkic


Portland has a bench regardless of what they give up for melo... turner,harkless, crabbe, Layman who gets no minutes due to a crowded lineup.

PJ Tucker, Mbah a Moute, and Nene

I'd take the Blazers bench over Houston.

The Rockets have the best 2 starters and players of both teams, the best player off the bench, better bench overall, more play-off experience, and better coaching. The Rockets won 14 more games last season, and they upgraded the roster this off-season. The Rockets are just the better team. The Rockets will also have much more maneuverability than the Blazers next off-season. The Blazers look to be over the luxury tax for at least the next 3 seasons.

[Nuggets_Talk]

Nurkic / Anthony / Lillard / CJ is a damn good squad and much more complete than a Rockets team with Anthony. Make it happen, PDX.

How is that lineup more complete than CP3 /Harden/Ariza/Capela? Paul and Harden are far better playmakers and players overall, than Lillard and CJ. Were is PDX's bench? You got jokes. Portland as is will be fighting for a play-off spot. They were a .500 squad last season. GTFO.

Lillard / CJ / Melo / Vonleh / Nurk

with a bench of Crabbe, Caleb Swanigan (+Zach Collins if he pans out), Aminu, & Turner is a dam good bench to go along with that starting lineup. And they were on pace for 60 wins ever since Nurk joined (25% of the season), he makes a big difference. Not to mention everyone on the roster is young and continues to improve. GTFO.

You had be until the last line. Besides nurkic, portlands potential is near tapped out. Is crabbe going to suddenly break out? Lillard and cj are already amazing. Turner? Vonleh?

Swabian and Collins are just rookies. They won't make a difference for a couple seasons.

Portland will be right in that bottom 4 playoff race with the other 6-7 teams. But they aren't a 60 win team this year.

[LAvision]

Unless Melo takes a discount on a buyout, he's going to rot in NY. Both these teams are offering nothing but even worse contracts (Anderson, Crabbe, Turner? LOL).

[gmoney411]

You mean, like here:





--Mags

Except one is grounded in reality and the other is not

The Knicks stating they would keep him is seen as "a sad attempt" to gain leverage when in fact doing so is better than taking your garbage contract seems to be more in line with reality.

I have no idea why you or anybody is talking about the Knicks taking Anderson. The Knicks don't want him and the Rockets aren't really trying to trade him straight to the Knicks. There will be at least a third team involved. The Rockets found someone to take Anderson's contract before talks stopped and they'll find somebody again when talks start up.

[Scizzup]

are people seriously thinking they be as good as Hou/OKC with this? LOL. Russ/PG Cp3/Harden are so much better than top 2 players that they would need to add a legit top 15 player for it to change anything.

they be fighting with Minny/Utah for 5th-7th seed with Melo

[Waynearchetype]

are people seriously thinking they be as good as Hou/OKC with this? LOL. Russ/PG Cp3/Harden are so much better than top 2 players that they would need to add a legit top 15 player for it to change anything.

they be fighting with Minny/Utah for 5th-7th seed with Melo

Blazers strength will depend less on getting Melo and more if Nurkic is for real or not. He came in way out of shape and they still beat OKC twice. He looks like he has lost a ton of weight this summer already.

Melo would be a nice addition, but he isn't a king maker.

[NBAFan93]

Isn't this technically considered "tampering"??

I don't think it counts if it's not the executives doing the tampering.

And Melos situation is kind of unique - as the Knicks actually would welcome the recruitment .

[OptionZero]

Good thing Portland has capspace or expiring contracts, and some useful assets to package together to make moves and get better this offseason!

oh wait

They overpaid to bring back a bunch of average guys that nobody wants now, and then packaged their picks to move up and draft a college BACKUP big man that can't play. Awesome!

even the Knicks can't be stupid enough to take Turner or Leonard back, and they don't need Crabbe since they already have 2 overpaid shooting guards. Portland's not trading Dame or CJ, so . . . what salary do they have to send out?

Best I can come up with is Harkless, Ed Davis, and Noah Vonleh . . . and while Harkless is nice, that's sorta . . . not much? And it leaves PDX's cap messed up (one year rental?) And then Melo has to agree to waive the NTC?

And even if you get Melo, you probably aren't a home court advantage playoff team.

Nurkic is also a FA next year and he's gonna wanna get paid

Well, good luck PDX

[21/20/10/8]

Go to love the discussion when everything hinges of what someone "thinks", and interested.

If Melo wanted to be traded already, he would have already been traded.

[DowJones]

Blazers having Melo with Nurk, Dame and CJ definitely puts them over OKC and they'd be deeper than Houston. I could see top 3 if everyone stays healthy and the fit works. Also I have no idea what to expect from the Spurs, they look pretty awful without Kawhi.

OKC and Houston don't have much outside of their two really high end guys on each squad. It's just a huge drop off whereas Portland wouldn't have quite the top tier of those two teams, but they also would run 4 deep instead of 2.

???

OKC was better than Portland last year and they added PG13. Portland would just be adding Melo. How does that put them over OKC?

Because Portland isn't just adding Melo, they would have a Nurkic for a full season this year. People seem to think that Portland from the beginning of the year was the same team after they got Nurk.... they were not. Portland beat the "better" OKC team twice back to back when they had Nurk. He alone transformed that team to being far better than they were originally.

You are acting like Nurkic is a superstar. Maybe Portland just got hot at the end of the season.

PG13>Melo+Nurkic

Regardless, Portland+Melo might be able to get to the 2nd round...or they might get bounced out of round 1 as a 7 or 8 seed. 33 year old Melo certainly doesn't make them elite.

[gmoney411]

Go to love the discussion when everything hinges of what someone "thinks", and interested.

If Melo wanted to be traded already, he would have already been traded.

Exactly. I think people overstate how much Melo wants to leave the Knicks. If he can play with his friends he'll accept a trade. Otherwise, he'd probably be happier staying in NY. The Knicks likely want him gone more than he wants to leave.

[Prez]

???

OKC was better than Portland last year and they added PG13. Portland would just be adding Melo. How does that put them over OKC?

Because Portland isn't just adding Melo, they would have a Nurkic for a full season this year. People seem to think that Portland from the beginning of the year was the same team after they got Nurk.... they were not. Portland beat the "better" OKC team twice back to back when they had Nurk. He alone transformed that team to being far better than they were originally.

You are acting like Nurkic is a superstar. Maybe Portland just got hot at the end of the season.

PG13>Melo+Nurkic

Regardless, Portland+Melo might be able to get to the 2nd round...or they might get bounced out of round 1 as a 7 or 8 seed. 33 year old Melo certainly doesn't make them elite.

A player doesn't have to be a superstar to be a massive difference maker for a team. Khris Middleton isn't a superstar and was like 60% coming off his injury and still completely transformed our team when he returned. Same way Nurkic's physicality, defensive presence, and monster screens made a huge difference for Portland. He's not a superstar but Portland legitimately is a way, waaay better team with him.

[Revived]

I honestly like the Blazers with Dame/McCollum/Melo/Nurkic more than the Rockets team.

[Dr Aki]

This possibility is hilarious because Portland's has no good contracts that New York would even remotely enjoy

Considering the context of this was New York trying to buy Melo out in the first place to save money, unless Portland finds a third party willing to offer expiring and extra incentive, dealing with Portland is even less a starter than dealing with Houston's Ryan Anderson offer

Sorry Knicks fans, only **** sandwiches on offer, George was dealt for Oladipo's 84 mil contract, you ain't getting any better

[BowlRips]

It's funny. The perspective on the Knicks board is that a Harkless Leonard 1st swap would work

[Hello Brooklyn]

That would be a great fit and would make Portland a top 4 team in the West.

But Lillard is wrong. Melo just wants to play with his bestie Chris Paul. He's not going to Portland. Sorry.