MKCATL wrote:Hypothetically can we Sign and Trade Melo in the offseason? I know there were some rule changes regarding S&T's in the new CBA.
It's possible but unlikely because contracts signed under the sign and trade provision are now limited to a max of four years and 4.5% raises. Exactly the same conditions a free agent would have without a sign and trade.
Basically if a free agent wants to leave and the other team has cap room then the player can sign as a free agent, no need to pursue a sign and trade for an additional guaranteed season and higher yearly raises. It's no longer possible under current CBA rules.
The new CBA eliminated the possibility of a player keeping his team hostage and forcing them to accept a sign and trade to a team under the cap in order to receive compensation. Under previous CBA rules, teams used to accept one or two draft picks (+ a trade exception) as compensation for a free agent in a sign and trade (Lebron or Bosh for example). Under previous CBA rules, the player could have his cake and eat it too (playing for the team of his choice and getting the max in terms of number of years and annual raises).
Now, technically a player can still be signed and traded to a team under the cap but there's no incentive for the player or the other team, the only real possibility is a sign and trade to a team over the cap (a team with no cap room or not enough cap room and thus no leverage to force the issue).
For example, if Melo wants to play for a team under the cap like the Lakers or another team, he can simply sign there as a free agent (like Dwight did last year with Houston), no need to pursue a sign and trade.
However, let's say Melo wants to win a championship now at all costs and wants to sign with the Spurs (obviously it's highly unlikely but it's just an example) then the only way he can sign with the Spurs is via sign and trade.
Obviously, as sign and trade transactions are limited to four years and 4.5% raises, Melo would need to take less money and I seriously doubt he will do that. So far, money has always been his top priority, that's why (unlike Lebron, Wade and Bosh) he signed a max rookie extension with Denver and didn't have an opt out clause in 2010, that's why he was looking for an extend and trade transaction and had no interest signing with the Knicks as a free agent after the lockout.
Dolan and the Knicks are probably already in panic mode and will give Melo everything he wants.
Melo will dictate the contract. Melo will be offered a max five year contract with 7.5% raises next summer and he will probably sign it.
Just like he did in Denver, Melo will force a trade if he's truly unhappy and wants to win a championship asap. In the end, i doubt he will. He's probably happy in NY and I don't think he's the kind of guy willing to sacrifice everything in order to win a championship, he's just happy playing basketball. And let's face it, even if there was a trade possibility, the Knicks would probably be fleeced...Knicks management showed they cant be trusted, they have no plan, no direction and no clue.
Sadly, it's already too late. Knicks will live and die with Melo for the rest of the decade. They just need to make the most out of it. Problem is free agent signings and trade transactions show current management have no real plan to win a championship with Melo. They just take it year by year and their only goal seem to be making the post-season. And if they can't then at the trade deadline, they'll just use the same formula (quick fixes). There's a so called 2015 plan but if the Knicks are under 0.500 at the trade deadline then they will probably go for a quick fix and pull the trigger on an ill-advised trade to make the headlines and appease the masses.
Same old, same old, Knicks once again traded for an all star player and never tried to assess if they had enough flexibility and assets moving forward to put a championship caliber team on the floor.
When there's no real plan, no direction, you're going to pay the price for it at some point and that's exactly what Knicks management's experiencing right now. They probably wish they still had the amnesty provision available right now. Steve Mills is in familiar territory, he's been there before with his buddy Isiah Thomas. The only real plan at the helm seem to be : hire Isiah's cronies (Glen Grunwald, Steve Mills) as President/GM...
