Melodrama

[Mr. E]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm cool running with this team as currently constructed.

Carmelo Anthony would be a luxury. A very nice luxury to be sure, but ultimately a luxury.

Harden & Paul seem to want him, and he seems to want to be here so I'm assuming that it will happen. What I hope the Rockets do is hold to their guns and avoid overpaying. New York really has no leverage outside of keeping a disgruntled star on their roster. They also risk alienating his agent and all of his other clients.

The Rockets need to stand firm by their reported offer of Anderson and a second, or a first if a third team is needed.

No Ariza. No Gordon. No Capela. No Nene. No Zhou.

What is getting lost in the Melodrama is that Houston is not bidding against anyone at this point, and Melo does not seem willing to expand his list. The reports of Portland and OKC as trade partners for NY have been such manufactured nonsense in what appears to be an attempt to drive up a price when no bidding war is happening.

Patience is on the side of Houston & Melo in this whole situation. If it doesn't happen then the Rockets roll with a team that is already better than last season and the likely 2 or 3 seed, health permitting.

Stay strong, Houston!

[RaoulDuke79]

Agreed 100% with everything you just said. I'm actually really digging this roster as it stands now. A lot depends on how Flop3 and Harden co-exist, of course, but it looks to me we have upgraded what was already a pretty good team.

In particular, I like how much more versatile we could potentially be on defense with the Tucker/Luc additions, and I think Black is an upgrade over Harrell(maybe not offensively, but rebounding is your friend!).

So ya, I wouldn't even consider giving up more than Spaceman and a couple draft picks for Melo. Not against them bringing him in, especially if it helps toward the dream of Lebron coming here next year(WTF IS GOING ON IN THE NBA THESE DAYS SOUTH PARK RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE), but not for anything more than that.

If it IS going to happen though, just get it over with already for taint's sake.

Anyways, this thread really should be about the sad disappearance of Butters.

Damn you, Photobucket!

[quatin]

I feel like Morey is only trying to appease CP3 in trying to trade for Melo. I personally don't think it's a good idea at all. MDAs system worked well last year, we should be trying to build upon that, not throw a cog in it.

[texasholdem]

I feel like Morey is only trying to appease CP3 in trying to trade for Melo. I personally don't think it's a good idea at all. MDAs system worked well last year, we should be trying to build upon that, not throw a cog in it.

Adding Chris Paul is throwing a pretty damn big cog.

[K_chile22]

I feel like Morey is only trying to appease CP3 in trying to trade for Melo. I personally don't think it's a good idea at all. MDAs system worked well last year, we should be trying to build upon that, not throw a cog in it.

as long as it's just Melo for Anderson + fringe roster guys i dont see how it's anything but an upgrade. melo has shot better than ryno on catch and shoot threes over the last 4 years, can actually attack a closeout, and won't pass up open looks. Not to mention while his defense is still bad it's better than Anderson's

[quatin]

as long as it's just Melo for Anderson + fringe roster guys i dont see how it's anything but an upgrade. melo has shot better than ryno on catch and shoot threes over the last 4 years, can actually attack a closeout, and won't pass up open looks. Not to mention while his defense is still bad it's better than Anderson's

This is assuming Melo will accept catch and shoot, not post up and iso with mid range faders. There's no question Melo is better than Anderson on an island, but I don't see why we all assume he'll turn back to team USA play. We assumed Ty Lawson would stop drinking. We assumed Howard would turn back to Orlando Howard. Now we're going to assume Melo won't make MDA quit the team again.

[K_chile22]

as long as it's just Melo for Anderson + fringe roster guys i dont see how it's anything but an upgrade. melo has shot better than ryno on catch and shoot threes over the last 4 years, can actually attack a closeout, and won't pass up open looks. Not to mention while his defense is still bad it's better than Anderson's

This is assuming Melo will accept catch and shoot, not post up and iso with mid range faders. There's no question Melo is better than Anderson on an island, but I don't see why we all assume he'll turn back to team USA play. We assumed Ty Lawson would stop drinking. We assumed Howard would turn back to Orlando Howard. Now we're going to assume Melo won't make MDA quit the team again.

Well off court stuff is a bit different. And the Howard thing worked out pretty damn well until the last year. Got to the WCF. With the Warriors around you can't just sit with what you know is safe. You have to take risks and swing for the fences. That's what Melo is.

[Mr. E]

I'm not sure about the fit with Melo, either; and I'm pretty vocal that I'm OK running with Anderson and the upgraded lineup.

That said, K_chile22 raises a good point. Is this team - while definitely better - going to get past the Warriors? I do think that the additions of Paul, Tucker, M'Bah a Moute and Black to an already cohesive team probably gets the Rockets past the Spurs, but I'm not sure about the Warriors.

The GM of Toronto recently said that their job was to get past Cleveland. I don't like that mentality. Cleveland, while in their conference, is not on top of the hill. The goal for teams should be getting past the Champs. The Rockets, thankfully, are not one of the many NBA teams who have seemed to have shown their bellies and ceded the next few titles to the Warriors. The Rockets are at least approaching the upcoming season with the mentality that they can knock the Champs off of the mountain. In order to do this they may have to take that risk of hoping that Melo is Team USA Melo.

I'm not just speaking as a fan here; but I think that with the turmoil in Cleveland that Houston is the only team in the NBA with a chance of knocking off the Warriors. The Spurs did not get worse, but they did not get better. The Thunder added PG, but they have minimal depth. Boston...I don't know what to make of them if we are being honest. If Morey, Harden & Paul think that the final piece is Carmelo Anthony then I see why they want to go for it.

[Mr. E]

Anyways, this thread really should be about the sad disappearance of Butters.

Damn you, Photobucket!

This is a source of much consternation. I must address this.

[spolgar]

I agree with E here.

Carmelo Anthony is one annoying dude with an annoying game. While he might be a better piece than Anderson now, we don't give up our bench. I'm looking for an offense in the league where the ball doesn't really stick for more than a few seconds per player. With Melo as a Rocket, that would not be possible.

Further more, Carmelo has not been a third banana anywhere since the 2008 Olympics. Chemistry wise, this would take additional work. One big piece per off season is enough. If we don't win this year, Carmelo will be on the market again next year if he waives his player option.

[TMU]

Carmelo wasn't even on the banana boat.

[inquisitive]

I'm cool with staying put....would love to get James Johnson instead of Melo, but only chance to get Lebron is if Melo comes on board. This team surely will get past the Spurs unless they make a big move later. It won't get past the wArriors even with melo, but if Lebron comes next summer without giving up anyone, it will get past the warriors.

If we get Melo with only giving up Anderson and a 2nd rd pick, then go to WCF, i think Lebron is pretty much a Rocket this summer unless the Cavs win the title.

[jetlife_]

If Melo doesn't work out, we let him walk in the offseason and open up a huge chunk of cap space. The trade is worth it just to get Anderson's contract off the books.

[Mr. E]

As things stand right now, here's my prediction for the trade:

Houston out: Ryan Anderson, future 1st round pick (protections), Onuaku, NGC's, rights to foreign player
Houston in: Carmelo Anthony, NY future 2nd round pick, rights to foreign player from Team 4

New York out: Carmelo Anthony, 2 future second round picks, rights to foreign player
New York in: Player from Team 3 (likely Harkless from PDX), NGC's from Houston, rights to foreign player from Houston, Onuaku

Team 3 (likely Portland) out: Player (Harkless), Bad contract (Leonard or Turner)
Team 3 (likely Portland) in: Anderson, NY future 2nd round pick, rights to foreign player from NY, 2nd round pick from Team 4

Team 4 out: 2nd round pick, rights to foreign player
Team 4 in: Bad contract from Team 3, future 1st round pick from Houston

[Nidsmy]

I guess i'm baffled that a rockets fan wouldn't give up nene for carmelo anthony.

I love × exponentially james harden, but feel the franchise is in for a rude awakening with the addition of chris paul.

Good luck guys.

[Mr. E]

I guess i'm baffled that a rockets fan wouldn't give up nene for carmelo anthony.

I love × exponentially james harden, but feel the franchise is in for a rude awakening with the addition of chris paul.

Good luck guys.

If you watched enough Rockets games last season then you'd understand.

Plus, he is highly regarded throughout the league, and this is pretty much his final contract as far as we know (he may play until he's 50). It would be a terrible move in the eyes of many free agents to move this guy after he agreed to a bargain contract...even for a team known as an asset-shuffler like the Rockets.

Also - and this is a major thing - the Rockets do not need to sweeten the pot. They are the only team in the running by all reports, and the Knicks aren't exactly looking for guys like Nene. To be honest, I'm surprised that so many of their fans want guys like Ariza or Gordon considering the major youth focus they seem to be going for in the new Porzingis era.

[Clutch City Relic]

As things stand right now, here's my prediction for the trade:

Houston out: Ryan Anderson, future 1st round pick (protections), Onuaku, NGC's, rights to foreign player
Houston in: Carmelo Anthony, NY future 2nd round pick, rights to foreign player from Team 4

New York out: Carmelo Anthony, 2 future second round picks, rights to foreign player
New York in: Player from Team 3 (likely Harkless from PDX), NGC's from Houston, rights to foreign player from Houston, Onuaku

Team 3 (likely Portland) out: Player (Harkless), Bad contract (Leonard or Turner)
Team 3 (likely Portland) in: Anderson, NY future 2nd round pick, rights to foreign player from NY, 2nd round pick from Team 4

Team 4 out: 2nd round pick, rights to foreign player
Team 4 in: Bad contract from Team 3, future 1st round pick from Houston

Hartenstein, Llull, Gentile, Todorovic .....fine. Let the Knicks have their pick.

If you're talking Axel Hervelle or Sergei "Hot Potato" Lishouk, hands off

I think it looks good. I think team 4 is Phoenix/Brooklyn (even after taking Crabbe). Team 3.... if not Portland, maybe Detroit? Try and sell them on a Ryno-SVG reunion.

[texasholdem]

I guess i'm baffled that a rockets fan wouldn't give up nene for carmelo anthony.

I love × exponentially james harden, but feel the franchise is in for a rude awakening with the addition of chris paul.

Good luck guys.

Nene can't be traded until December 15 anyway. I hope this Carmelo situation is resolved one way or another before then.

[Mr. E]

Sergei "Hot Potato" Lishouk, hands off

Do the Rockets even have him anymore?

And I think that you're right about Phoenix. This deal will be interesting, but I get the feeling that the Rockets & the other two teams are the only active participants. NY seems to be digging in their heels out of panic.

If the Locked On Rockets podcast guy (Ben DuBose) is right then the Knicks promised Anthony & his very influential agent, Leon Rose, that he would be traded to Houston. I know that the Knicks front office is a mess, but if they are backing off on that then I can't see how every day & every delay does not hurt that already struggling franchise.

When is Porzingis a free agent?

[Clutch City Relic]

Do the Rockets even have him anymore?

We got his rights for the 3rd time when we traded for Josh Smith (from the Clippers) in Jan. 2016.... Morey must love him to trade for him 3 different times

When is Porzingis a free agent?

RFA in summer of 2019. If New York is still dysfunctional then, maybe he takes the qualifying offer to be an UFA in 2020...