PG: "It's Just Us Here."

[Knicks Byke]

I'm just piggybacking off GONYK's idea, which I think he was citing from someone else, but a Knight and Booker type deal for Melo would be really good. Maybe get a pick if we can, but we let Melo go win somewhere and we put some nice guards around KP. Plus you still have RoLo. That's a strong foundation. Just need to keep making smart moves and we'd be on our way. I might rather that core than a lot of teams who are hyped, like Boston and Milwaukee.

Melo to PHX? Be real

No. A 3-way deal with Melo to LA, Blake to Suns.

I think the people who think Melo would not accept a trade out of NY, almost under any circumstances, are flat wrong about this. He is a good soldier and loves NY, but he wants to win too. That looks impossible here, unless the unthinkable happens and we get a Durant.

LA is a definite, but I don't think any winning team in a decent city would be a definite no from him.

LA is still pretty young to be thinking about contending imo

[Capn'O]

i love the van gundys. they're no bullsh*t, no mind games, no trying to be deep, no ego. they just keep it real always. and when they're at fault, they own up to it. i never heard a coach blame himself more then jeff van gundy.

Jeff, Thibs, Blatt... all on the market. Think about it, Mr. Jackson.

I'm with Abe - I don't think Fish can get very far into next season without drastic improvement.

[Greenie]

Doesn't Melo have a no trade clause? Don't want to inter up the flow of conversation, but Melo's not getting traded. Carry on.

They keep forgetting that part.

Melo is invested in NY....and just not the Knicks. He's not waiving sh*t.

LOL

Agreed unless its to the right location. LA (a place where he lives a lot especially in the offseason). With one of his best friends CP3.

I think he would consider that.

I don't think he would.

[K_ick_God]

People also misunderstand the no-trade clause. It's not to say "I must stay." It's to have leverage over where he goes.

Yes NY is is his first choice. We know that. He forced his way here. But it's not working out. Unless he's totally content to lose, which I don't think about Melo and it's an odd argument coming from people who really think highly of him, then parting of ways can and probably will happen. If there's interest from teams who can send something of value for him -- big if.

But when? Highly unlikely in the coming couple weeks. But this summer seems probable to me barring things we can't reasonably say are likely.

[newyorker4ever]

Whatever Fisher said or did at halftime worked. We battled in the 2nd half and even ended up taking the lead late in the 4th. I'm not mad

I'm cool with you but this is a ******* loser mentality. Not showing up to start the game is a huge sign that we have no leader. Yet you're not mad. FOH

Don't you think that us shooting 27% in the 1st half also had a lot to do with why we were so bad?? It's pretty obvious that it was.

[F N 11]

Whatever Fisher said or did at halftime worked. We battled in the 2nd half and even ended up taking the lead late in the 4th. I'm not mad

I'm cool with you but this is a ******* loser mentality. Not showing up to start the game is a huge sign that we have no leader. Yet you're not mad. FOH

Don't you think that us shooting 27% in the 1st half also had a lot to do with why we were so bad?? It's pretty obvious that it was.

MOAR JUMPSHOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MOARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Dont ever adjust!! Just shoot MOARRRRRRR JUMPSHOTS

[newyorker4ever]

Did KP wear that stupid Black T-shirt under his Jersey? Ever since he's put that T-shirt on his game has gone to ****.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

I don't think blaming his slump he's in on a t-shirt is right. He has hit the rookie wall and it also could be him still recovering from his respiratory illness but mostly the rookie wall.

[Johnny Hoops]

How come everyone talking about Melo's no-trade can't grasp the fact that Melo would bolt if a top-tier team wanted to trade for him. He wants to win a ring (I would think) more than anything. He has everything else.

I don't think it's that simple. On top of leaving the notion of leading the Knicks to something special you are asking a guy to up-root his entire family. NY is a beautiful place when you are making $25M a year, the cost of living is of no consequence and you can already have everything you want in life.

Would he potentially consider a move to up-root his family to Miami/LA --- I suppose potentially but I wouldn't bet on it UNLESS things go drastically south. Add in the fact that he has a +15% trade kicker and even if he wanted to go -- that makes it even more unattractive for teams who might want him and/or for the Knicks who would have to take back additional salaries to move him.

I just think Melo will stay --- but I'd be perfectly happy with him moving on because I see too many signs of old age in his game.

[Jeff Van Gully]

Whatever Fisher said or did at halftime worked. We battled in the 2nd half and even ended up taking the lead late in the 4th. I'm not mad

I'm cool with you but this is a ******* loser mentality. Not showing up to start the game is a huge sign that we have no leader. Yet you're not mad. FOH

Don't you think that us shooting 27% in the 1st half also had a lot to do with why we were so bad?? It's pretty obvious that it was.

The knife just has to cut both ways. You can't discredit for the start and credit for the comeback.

That said, coach needs to have the team ready to give effort. If Fisher is a motivator, then it should just be about missed shots. But I saw Detroit open up the game with jump shot practice. Knicks came out pancake booty flat.

I won't look at the comeback effort in a vacuum though. Sometimes you wake up after you get hit in the mouth. But that first half was one of the sorriest displays of basketball in recent memory. We were sixers bad.


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[IllmaticHandler]

I'm just piggybacking off GONYK's idea, which I think he was citing from someone else, but a Knight and Booker type deal for Melo would be really good. Maybe get a pick if we can, but we let Melo go win somewhere and we put some nice guards around KP. Plus you still have RoLo. That's a strong foundation. Just need to keep making smart moves and we'd be on our way. I might rather that core than a lot of teams who are hyped, like Boston and Milwaukee.

Melo to PHX? Be real

Word. The Suns are not trading booker. PHX **** up with alot of moves they made, but they still have enough young pieces to bounce back. There is no way they are trading that cat. PHX dont need to compete this moment to trade him for a star.

[Red Vines]

I want Melo to win and it won't happen in NY. The idea was to grab a top free agent last summer or this coming summer and that's not happening. Both sides need to be smart about this.

[Johnny Hoops]

Even if we wanted to trade Melo, we will get more value in the offseason. Not even worth shopping him around right now because if word gets out the season will just get worse.

Best thing we can do is just shop the vets around. If we get a good offer for anyone (except KP) then take it. If nothing is there, we can just play out the year.

Just sign another guard so we dont have to watch Sasha anymore. I would rather watch someone young that sucks, then someone old that sucks. Its just painfully embarrassing to watch him out there.

I honestly think the time would be to strike could be at the trade deadline. You might have a really desperate team in the Clippers to get that 3rd piece with CP3 and DJ. Blake hand looks real f*cked up. You make the move for Blake. Then you can keep blake until the offseason and use him to trade for other young pieces and possible draft picks since he has no say where he goes.

Even if Melo approved a deal with the Clippers -- can you honestly believe the Clippers would think they stand a better chance competing against GS this year and the next 3-4 years with a 31-year old Melo vs a 27 year old Blake?

Picture Melo running around trying to guard the GS wings as they buzz around the court.

Maybe if Melo went to the Clippers and the Celtics chipped in some solid young players and the Celtics sent the Knicks a decent player and a couple of picks but Melo straight up for Blake --- Clippers laugh at loud at that trade and they'd have to add in about $8M - $10M in players to make the trade work - wouldn't they with the trade kicker???

[Jeff Van Gully]

How come everyone talking about Melo's no-trade can't grasp the fact that Melo would bolt if a top-tier team wanted to trade for him. He wants to win a ring (I would think) more than anything. He has everything else.

I'd be shocked if Melo didn't at least play out this contract in NY. He isn't asking out and no one is asking to trade him.

If asked, he might want out because it'd be such an affront. He's giving in ways we've always wanted to see. He's not complaining. He's baring with the rebuild. He's mentoring... I can't see Steve Mills or Phil Jackson sitting him down to discuss trade options.

I don't think it's that simple. On top of leaving the notion of leading the Knicks to something special you are asking a guy to up-root his entire family. NY is a beautiful place when you are making $25M a year, the cost of living is of no consequence and you can already have everything you want in life.

Would he potentially consider a move to up-root his family to Miami/LA --- I suppose potentially but I wouldn't bet on it UNLESS things go drastically south. Add in the fact that he has a +15% trade kicker and even if he wanted to go -- that makes it even more unattractive for teams who might want him and/or for the Knicks who would have to take back additional salaries to move him.

I just think Melo will stay --- but I'd be perfectly happy with him moving on because I see too many signs of old age in his game.

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[Johnny Hoops]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/695651362361610240[/tweet]

In the NBA that I know --- the Spurs will find a way to create cap room and Conley will go to San Antonio to join LA and Kawi for the next 5 years.

[K_ick_God]

I don't usually think the conventional wisdom is way off but in this case I do. I think Melo would leave for Miami and LA fast -- fast -- and I think his mind would be open to a lot of places.

It's not a knock on the Knicks or New York -- it's just about him having few years left and the team not being realistic for the playoffs.

We'll see. The folks who think he's unlikely to be persuaded to leave, even to good teams, well I just think that's really dead wrong.

[Johnny Hoops]

I'm cool with you but this is a ******* loser mentality. Not showing up to start the game is a huge sign that we have no leader. Yet you're not mad. FOH

Don't you think that us shooting 27% in the 1st half also had a lot to do with why we were so bad?? It's pretty obvious that it was.

MOAR JUMPSHOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MOARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Dont ever adjust!! Just shoot MOARRRRRRR JUMPSHOTS

I'm no spelling champ, plus don't like to make comments on stuff like this and maybe I'm missing the point but are you meaning to say MORE???

[NOOB77]

This was the first game that I really thought Melo looked slow. Didn't look like he was limping but looked like he was moving really slow. Don't know if the injury is really bad and he is trying to play through it or not. But his lift on his jumper is gone. His legs look gone.

[Deeeez Knicks]

Even if we wanted to trade Melo, we will get more value in the offseason. Not even worth shopping him around right now because if word gets out the season will just get worse.

Best thing we can do is just shop the vets around. If we get a good offer for anyone (except KP) then take it. If nothing is there, we can just play out the year.

Just sign another guard so we dont have to watch Sasha anymore. I would rather watch someone young that sucks, then someone old that sucks. Its just painfully embarrassing to watch him out there.

I honestly think the time would be to strike could be at the trade deadline. You might have a really desperate team in the Clippers to get that 3rd piece with CP3 and DJ. Blake hand looks real f*cked up. You make the move for Blake. Then you can keep blake until the offseason and use him to trade for other young pieces and possible draft picks since he has no say where he goes.

Thats a deal worth exploring. I would probably do it. But it probably wont happen and i dont really see many other deals out there

[god shammgod]

I'm not worried about Melo's age. As he declines, if we develop KP right, we'll still have a player to build around. I just don't want a rush move that mortgages our future flexibility all because we need to justify Melo's contract. Melo's contract is justified because it kept Dolan quiet and now I'm willing to be patient lest we fall into another rush move or quick fix attempt that could trap us for another five years.

if the plan is to just bide our time untill we can build around kp, you might as well start collecting assets now and bottom out. because just like melo, he's gonna need running mates and you're probably not gonna get them in free agency. so you're gonna need to be in the lottery.

No it's not to bide our time until KP is ready; KP's potential is just what allows us to practice actual patience for a change as long as people don't prematurely flip out. The toughest thing to get as a team is a superstar. We've got a guy who can give us that now and when he's done, we'll have a replacement in place. That means we don't need to sacrifice flexibility or rush to build our core. There's absolutely no reason to blow this up right now unless you're impatient. We have cap room, we have developing youth, we have our picks...what more do you want? Does 10 million more in cap space make us a sure fire contender? Nope. Neither do more picks which are still very much a crap shoot. More youth is nice, but we'll get that organically.

We gotta stop looking at this in a black and white "contend now or rebuild immediately" perception. That's been the clumsy way that franchises have crapped out for as long as I can remember. You don't become the Spurs overnight; definitely not the Warriors (and god forbid Green or Klay gets picked sooner...that whole team dynamic shifts). You build with patience and intelligence, when good opportunities arise you take them (ie: you can have Shump but only if you take JR, good deal...or We'll trade down for Bledsoe and a later first but only if you take Jose, no? then kick rocks).

i'm one of the guys who appreciates melo more then most on here. you don't have to sell him or the importance of stars to me. but 1 is not enough. it never has been even if you have the best player in the league. the man is 31, it has to happen relatively soon. we're spending 3 years just to get to the 8th spot. the hope, i guess, is that kp develops enough and melo stays healthy enough that the two of them propel us. because as you say and i agree, it's all about stars, and i don't see another one coming.

[Johnny Hoops]

I don't usually think the conventional wisdom is way off but in this case I do. I think Melo would leave for Miami and LA fast -- fast -- and I think his mind would be open to a lot of places.

It's not a knock on the Knicks or New York -- it's just about him having few years left and the team not being realistic for the playoffs.

We'll see. The folks who think he's unlikely to be persuaded to leave, even to good teams, well I just think that's really dead wrong.

Personally - I hope you are correct.

That really isn't a knock on Melo -- I know that he is and has been a talented player plus I think he's a good guy.

Personally I just think the timing is bad now - the window is gone regardless of who we might bring in this summer and it would be in franchises best interest if Melo allowed us to swap him for some young assets and more CAP space.