Knicks targeting Rondo

[Besart19]

Marc Berman ‏@NYPost_Berman 54m
Told Shumpert surgery was actually sometime in mid-to-late August and was so minor he didn't need crutches.

[Knicker23]

Question is is pairing Melo and Rondo together something we're ready to build this 'next era' around.. I think if that's a duo you see working, you do it and deal with the collateral contracts over time... just like Brooklyn did. You never know what teams are going to be willing to take on what or what opportunities will present themselves down the road... If Rondo+Melo is something that is worth building around for a the next couple of years, would be kinda silly to reject it because of a heavy contract or two....

That being said... if you want to be competitive in this league, you not only need a couple of top talents healthy and playing well together, you need it to happen in a way that allows for other players to be brought on too. Matchiing two top names together that can play is a step above what we have now, yes.. but if you're doing this you're doing it with the intention on winning, and you need more than just those two to win. Can't say I'd see the Knicks doing much damage this year even if they do get Rondo somehow, which makes me wonder if it would be worth it at a price..... then again, with the direction the Knicks are currently going, Melo could bounce and we'd be back to the drawing board with nothing.

[Thugger HBC]

Btw, how the personal relations stand between Rondo and Melo, or even Tyson?! Are they friends or something, so this be not just business matter but also personal?!

I've heard Rondo and Melo mentioned together in some rap songs.

But seriously though they'd do fine imo.

And who's the rapper?! Shump?! the deal goes down then

I think Melo's in a position and an age when he seriously thinking about winning. He's a prideful guy and the fact that he still doesnt have a ring is bothering him, with no doubt! The only title he misses is the NBA champion... and winning it with NYK is even greater accomplishment!

PS: Any possibility for Boston to take Smith over Shump, btw?! If I was an adviser of Angie I would do it. Having Amare, Felton, JR and Crawful on the team makes tanking a lot more easier

Nope....Meek Mill, just some quick lines, had to really be listening to catch them on Dreamchasers 3.

On that other point, that aint happening although that would be the ultimate tank.

[Greenie]

Ray handles the ball and does dumb **** all the time. He did last year, too.

Man don't listen to this guy... The end of last season was the Indiana series and Felton sucked.

Here I'll dime you on the only remaining Lin haters.

The real ones.. Jbreezy, GR, TheGarden, and Greenhughes. Ignore them. <sorry guys and gal.

Im a Lin hater?

No one hate Lin, we hate his fanboys<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<sorry guys

[kane2021]

Rondo is the man for this team. More so than his game its his attitude towards winning. He is a perfect fit for this team and exactly the type of player msg deserves. Thats how I feel and to be honest if we cant get rondo and melo on the team together I would just rather give up on this unit and try again.

I been a knick fan for a loooooooong time. Its been frustrating because we either stink real bad or we are just shy of being the man. If we cannot put together a team to beat the heat and make a serious threat for a title I would rather just end the experiment with this group and think ahead to the next big thing.

[carmelo115]

I don't see this working without taking back Lee and or Wallace who have terrible contracts and may prevent the so called plan to sign Love to New York in 2015.

[Greenie]

Fair enough, but statistically, their is more evidence that they were even then not, unless you want to make the case that Felton is an intangibles player.

Surely you won't make that case, will you?

Last year he fit better. Period. Lin is a scoring guard and so is Felton, however Felton knows to give the ball to Melo and he keeps the TO's low. Linny on the other hand........


I swear Lin is Monte Ellis revised.

Do Not Want with Melo.

Felton averaged like .6 less turnovers a game last year. Not a huge difference.

Monta is a brick machine, Lin plays more efficiently and more under control. He's severely outplaying Ray Felton so far.

If he plays so well and efficiently why does he not start? Don't care about fit. Lin has his short coming as well and I hate that he is painted as some perfect player.

He is better suited as a SG. Now you have you opinion and I have mine. Lin is in the same category with Mayo and Ellis. SG's with some PG skills.

[NOOB77]

Our 2015 plan will be Melo/Rondo and Chandler. We will not have cap space. If that is the case I will trade anyone on our roster outside of Melo and Chandler to get this done. Boston will give us there over paid trash, Maybe next to Melo and Rondo they can be useful role players again. Who knows but I think if the chance is there then you have to make the deal for Rondo.

[Knicks_Fan2]

We will never be lucky enough to get this but best believe Celtics would take Hardaway as well or at least he would be re-routed for some other pick to send to Boston.

[[GR]]

Our 2015 plan will be Melo/Rondo and Chandler. We will not have cap space. If that is the case I will trade anyone on our roster outside of Melo and Chandler to get this done. Boston will give us there over paid trash, Maybe next to Melo and Rondo they can be useful role players again. Who knows but I think if the chance is there then you have to make the deal for Rondo.

Chandler is too one dimensional to be counted on as a major piece to a team, especially at that age

[Mr_Perfect]

Our 2015 plan will be Melo/Rondo and Chandler. We will not have cap space. If that is the case I will trade anyone on our roster outside of Melo and Chandler to get this done. Boston will give us there over paid trash, Maybe next to Melo and Rondo they can be useful role players again. Who knows but I think if the chance is there then you have to make the deal for Rondo.

Chandler is old and injury-riddled and will be even older in 2015. No chance I want him around by then.

[JBreezeNY]

Durant is in his 7th year now and still hasnt won a title... Will Rondo be willing to wait another decade so Parker or Wiggins or whoever they could draft to build a team from zero?! For sure he's a goner. Now or in 2015 via FA that's details then... Our FO should explore all the possibilities to make it 3 or even 4 way so if we are to bring Rondo here not to hurt our chances cap-wise to add our 3rd star in '15 (Gasol/Love)

I need a quick question as far as the cap space goes speaking of '15. How many stars could we afford if Melo takes the Kobemax or if he takes a Dirk deal?

With Rondo here, we would only be able to sign a 3rd big contract with Kobe Max while two others with the Dirk discount... Also would depend a lot on Rondo and Chandler how much they will ask in 2015... the more probable SL by then would be:

Tyson (8M)
Love (18M)
Melo (15M)
THJ (2M)
Rondo (12M)
Total: 55M which is still under the cap (2015/6 projection is around 62M)

But, if we take Wallace and Lee contracts, then we should say bye by to at least one star... But, still it's a risky to wait until 2015... I dont know frankly which way is better

So basically with a Kobemax:

1 star with Melo

Dirk contract:

2 stars with Melo

But of course it all depends on the money Rondo, Love, etc ask for. Since you broke it down we really have three decisions to make.

1. Go all in for 2015 which means praying Melo signs considerably less so we can have a real big 3.

2. Re-Sign Melo whether it's the Kobemax or less & go after Kevin Love

3. Re-sign Melo for less and go after Rondo, if he doesn't want to take less build with Hardaway Jr, Jeremy Tyler, Iman Shumpert, be mediocre for multiple years and actually build through the draft.

For me it's a no brainer you go for #3 on the basis that you still have options for 2016 and beyond. You'll have Rondo + Melo duo along with re-signing Tyson. If you don't have Melo we'll struggle but there will be talent coming in the future. Not to mention the biggest thing we have going for us is the new CBA will punish teams like the Knicks & the Lakers for their "we don't need the draft, players to come us" mentality.

[MaluKing2K]

I would do Amare, Felton, Shumpert, and Aldrich for Rondo, Wallace, Lee, Bogans. Boston unloads all their horrendous contracts, gets a young player in Shumpert, and gets to tank for Wiggins or Parker. Knicks get a legit point guard and star to play with Melo at the price of 2015 free agency. Sign me up.

[NOOB77]

Our 2015 plan will be Melo/Rondo and Chandler. We will not have cap space. If that is the case I will trade anyone on our roster outside of Melo and Chandler to get this done. Boston will give us there over paid trash, Maybe next to Melo and Rondo they can be useful role players again. Who knows but I think if the chance is there then you have to make the deal for Rondo.

Chandler is too one dimensional to be counted on as a major piece to a team, especially at that age

Right but that will be our core until all Bostons crap can get off the books.

[xNewYorkMadex]

There is no way we get Rondo if the trade is just between us and Celtics. There has to be a 3rd team, maybe even a 4th team to get involved. Even then its still a longshot.

I honestly dont care who we trade to get Rondo. Would love to keep Tyson and Bargs and obviously Melo wont be traded. Hopefully there is a team out there who values J.R Smith and they can trade their asset to Boston.

[sol537]

Don't fool yourselves, people. If we get Rondo, it will be with Wallace and Lee and we will send Shump, Hardaway Jr and probably a pick to get it done. Amare of course but they want take Felton.

It's a steel price but I can see it happening. Chandler Bargs Melo and Rondo is a good core. The key will be getting good role players to surround those guys with. JR smith is not that guy.

[JBreezeNY]

And building off my last post trading for Wallace fits in perfectly because while we won't be in the 2015 FA class we can still try and snag somebody in 2016 when Crash's contract expires. Not to mention we get the PG we need and a player that Melo needs. Win/Win, let's get this trade done Mills!

[Mr_Perfect]

Don't fool yourselves, people. If we get Rondo, it will be with Wallace and Lee and we will send Shump, Hardaway Jr and probably a pick to get it done. Amare of course but they want take Felton.

It's a steel price but I can see it happening. Chandler Bargs Melo and Rondo is a good core. The key will be getting good role players to surround those guys with. JR smith is not that guy.

Bargnani should be surrounded by Italian models in Italy. He isn't part of any core here.

[Boik14]

Don't fool yourselves, people. If we get Rondo, it will be with Wallace and Lee and we will send Shump, Hardaway Jr and probably a pick to get it done. Amare of course but they want take Felton.

It's a steel price but I can see it happening. Chandler Bargs Melo and Rondo is a good core. The key will be getting good role players to surround those guys with. JR smith is not that guy.

Do you beat Miami with that core? No. So why are you mortgaging 2015 for a few years of losses in the Conference semi's to Indy or Miami? For once can we have an end game goal that results in a Knicks championship?

[JBreezeNY]

Don't fool yourselves, people. If we get Rondo, it will be with Wallace and Lee and we will send Shump, Hardaway Jr and probably a pick to get it done. Amare of course but they want take Felton.

It's a steel price but I can see it happening. Chandler Bargs Melo and Rondo is a good core. The key will be getting good role players to surround those guys with. JR smith is not that guy.

Do you beat Miami with that core? No. So why are you mortgaging 2015 for a few years of losses in the Conference semi's to Indy or Miami? For once can we have an end game goal that results in a Knicks championship?

What you have planned?