RealGM

The Carmelo Anthony Trade Primer

Just some information to consider when coming up with a Carmelo Anthony trade.

1. Carmelo Anthony has a 15% Trade Kicker.

2. It is very unlikely that Carmelo Anthony opts out of his contract after the 2017-18 season.

3. Carmelo Anthony's 2017-18 salary is $26,243,760.

4. Carmelo Anthony's 2018-19 salary is $27,928,140.

5. Carmelo Anthony's total combined salary (26,243,760 + 27,928,140) is $54,171,900.

6. 15% of 54,171,900 is 8,125,785.

7. If you add Carmelo Anthony's 15% Trade Kicker (8,125,785) to his 2017-18 salary (26,243,760), it makes his incoming salary in a trade equal to $34,369,545.

8. Using the 125% + $100,000 trade rule that would apply to most teams ((34,369,545 minus 100,000 = 34,269,545) and (34,269,545 divided by 125% or 1.25 = $27,415,636)), the team receiving Carmelo Anthony would need to send out $27,415,636 in total salary.

9. Carmelo Anthony is currently only willing to waive his No-Trade Clause to go to the Houston Rockets.

10. The Houston Rockets do not WANT to trade for Carmelo Anthony unless it is convenient for them to do so, but they are okay not landing him in a trade.

11. The New York Knicks do not NEED to trade Carmelo Anthony unless they get fair value in return, but they are okay not trading him.

12. Carmelo Anthony is probably okay with losing and staying in New York if the right circumstance doesn't present itself.

13. The Knicks will not take ANY deal that involves a bad contract that goes beyond Carmelo Anthony's 2019 contract expiration even if said contract is the filler in the deal to make a trade work cap wise. Any contract going to New York longer than that in a Carmelo Anthony trade has to be a player that can unquestionably start for the Knicks.

14. The Rockets will not include Clint Capela, Trevor Ariza, Eric Gordon, James Harden, Chris Paul, any draft pick from 2020 or earlier that does not have a top 20 protection on it before becoming two second round draft picks or any first round pick beyond 2020.

15. Carmelo Anthony probably only extends his No Trade Clause list before the trade deadline to a top 5 team in the NBA that is also a top 3-4 team in their conference or a really favorable market (Any team in California, Texas, Florida or Chicago) that is a top 10 team in the NBA and also a top 3-4 team in their conference with a chance that the Wizards would be acceptable if they fall in that category (Top 10 NBA/Top 3-4 in Conference). This isn't guaranteed he will extend to those teams, but I feel like that is the minimum requirement for him to at least listen to the option.

Anything else I should add?

Melo is staying or he's going to a team like Portland, maybe back to Denver, Utah, or maybe San Antonio if NYK will take back LMA.

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yc6roao8

Utah and Knicks.

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=y7zmctw7

Blazers and Knicks.

I'd just add that Melo can waive part or all of that trade kicker in order to make the trade legal...if he wants to.

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yal2umj7

Knicks and Spurs.

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=jfb3fk4

Memphis sends NYK a future unprotected pick.

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=y7zdlqqw

Knicks and Nuggets.

Any basis of a deal would essentially be a team willing to take on Ryan Anderson and his 3 years, $60 million remaining. Its assumed that Houston would have to send that multiple picks to that 3rd team in addition to New York.

The other issue is perceived fair value for Anthony. I think there is a major discrepancy between what Carmelo is worth and what the Knicks want for him. That gap is reduced if:

a) Melo waives his trade kicker
b) Melo increases amount of teams he is fine getting traded to

At the end of the day, it is very difficult to integrate a player like Melo via trade during the season. A team would want a training camp at the end of the day.

I still think the Bulls might take Anderson + picks from Houston with Wade going to NYK and bought out.

GobertReport wrote:http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=jfb3fk4

Memphis sends NYK a future unprotected pick.

Knicks aren't taking that Parsons contract. That sh*t is stanky..

I think another important part is that the Knicks pay the trade kicker. So while it makes matching harder, it doesn't cost the receiving team more.

loserX wrote:I'd just add that Melo can waive part or all of that trade kicker in order to make the trade legal...if he wants to.

Indeed.

He's offered to do so for the Rockets according to reports.

--Mags

GobertReport wrote:Melo is staying or he's going to a team like Portland, maybe back to Denver, Utah, or maybe San Antonio if NYK will take back LMA.

Does San Antonio have any legit interest in Melo, though? The Spurs would need to add $819,000 or more in salary, but Melo and O'Quinn for Aldridge and Gay works cap wise. I would start shopping Courtney Lee for the best defensive point guard possible.

NYG wrote:

GobertReport wrote:Melo is staying or he's going to a team like Portland, maybe back to Denver, Utah, or maybe San Antonio if NYK will take back LMA.

Does San Antonio have any legit interest in Melo, though? The Spurs would need to add $819,000 or more in salary, but Melo and O'Quinn for Aldridge and Gay works cap wise. I would start shopping Courtney Lee for the best defensive point guard possible.

He's probably slightly better or equal to LMA.

GobertReport wrote:

NYG wrote:

GobertReport wrote:Melo is staying or he's going to a team like Portland, maybe back to Denver, Utah, or maybe San Antonio if NYK will take back LMA.

Does San Antonio have any legit interest in Melo, though? The Spurs would need to add $819,000 or more in salary, but Melo and O'Quinn for Aldridge and Gay works cap wise. I would start shopping Courtney Lee for the best defensive point guard possible.

He's probably slightly better or equal to LMA.

You think that deal is fair?

NYG wrote:

GobertReport wrote:

NYG wrote:
Does San Antonio have any legit interest in Melo, though? The Spurs would need to add $819,000 or more in salary, but Melo and O'Quinn for Aldridge and Gay works cap wise. I would start shopping Courtney Lee for the best defensive point guard possible.

He's probably slightly better or equal to LMA.

You think that deal is fair?

Id recommend removing Gay/Oquinn from the deal.

Melo for LMA.

Gasol/Joffrey
Melo/Gay/Bertans
Kawhi/Anderson
Green/Paul
Mills/Murray/White/(parker)

RipPizzaGuy wrote:

NYG wrote:

GobertReport wrote:
He's probably slightly better or equal to LMA.

You think that deal is fair?

Id recommend removing Gay/Oquinn from the deal.

Melo for LMA.

Gasol/Joffrey
Melo/Gay/Bertans
Kawhi/Anderson
Green/Paul
Mills/Murray/White/(parker)

That doesn't work cap wise unless he waives the trade kicker.

NYG wrote:

RipPizzaGuy wrote:

NYG wrote:
You think that deal is fair?

Id recommend removing Gay/Oquinn from the deal.

Melo for LMA.

Gasol/Joffrey
Melo/Gay/Bertans
Kawhi/Anderson
Green/Paul
Mills/Murray/White/(parker)

That doesn't work cap wise unless he waives the trade kicker.

Maybe include Parker for Lee? Although Im sure he would waive the trade kicker if he felt it was a better situation for him.

IMO, Melo's so-called play-wherever-I-want clause is going to end up equating to a my-ass-is-stuck-in-NY clause.

I tend to see a game of chicken at play with Morey, based on direct experience, understanding that Dolan will ultimately get impatient. I'm still hoping for Anderson being rerouted but at the end of the day I suspect Morey will throw in an extra pick, as he often has in trades, the Knicks will claim they wanted Anderson all along and were holding out for that extra pick and Morey will bamboozle the Knicks one more time. Anderson will be available December 15th and we'll see what the landscape holds through the deadline. Despite his flaws, what appears to get lost over time is the potential of how much better the Rockets could be with Melo replacing Anderson as it's truly not even close. With five weeks until training camp it's the fans who tend to panic. I still like the Jazz as Anderson's landing spot but it will likely require the Knicks to get smart and I have my doubts after the Baker and Hardaway overpays.