Trade Deadline Rumors Thread (Update pg. 24)

[Gsraider]

Well let's look at the teams Carmelo was on. One he played the majority of his time there with either Iverson, JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, Stoudemire and probably some other guys I am forgetting. Who was complaining about him When Billups got there and they went deep in the playoffs? Then look at the coaches, George Karl, who I like but isn't exactly the most demanding coach ever; and D'Antoni, who I don't think I even need to explain. You bring him here with two set-up guys, a tough demanding coach, and a team that needs half court and end-game scoring and I think you may get the most out of him. I agree that he isn't the perfect guy, but what other options do we have any time soon? Dwight, not coming. Deron, not coming and wouldn't help that much anyway. Not going to get any great picks. God am I going to regret wanting us to get Carmelo this bad when the frustration wears off.

Melo played with some pretty good players and has not even remotely lived up to his billing. AI was only with Melo for about 2 seasons before that imploded. Meanwhile, most of Melo's success came when he had a stud and leader beside him in Billups. Living out here in Denver, most of the success Melo had was attributed to Billups. As for Karl, I'm not a huge fan either, but you wouldn't believe how much more the media likes him now and how much more at ease he is without Anthony. D'Antoni is just a joke in general. No argument there either. Whatever the case, Denver tried to bring in players to play with Melo and it had moderate success, but many felt it was due to Billups more than Melo. In NY, they had the two star set up with Amare/Melo and we see how well that has gone and with a coach that I don't like, but is predicated more on offense with defense being optional, so it should play right into Melo's wheelhouse. Then, they went out on got a defensive center in Chandler, and that has worked wonders too.

So again, I understand and hear your point. I just don't think Melo is the guy even if there currently aren't too many other options available. I'd rather wait and hold out hope than be stuck with Anthony for the next 3-4 years.

[ZzAzZ]

Well what do you see as some other options in the near future that would really impact this team? I don't see anything unless we can land Dwight but apparently he already made his decision.

[Foshan]

havent heard anything about hickson or thompson.....if hawes stays healthy..which i know is a big if...would you seriously play either over Nik. Is either an upgrade? i guess getting one is insurance in case Hawes goes down again.

This is completely about insurance, for both this year and next. This year, as it relates to Hawes and for some rebounding/post defense in case Brand gets dinged. Next year because Hawes is a FA, Brand could get amnistied and because I wouldn't exactly refer to L. Allen as a sure thing just yet. Guys like Thompson and Hickson can be had for a song and are young enough and athletic enough that they still have upside. At the same time, they have easy enough contracts that they could be jettisoned next season if they don't pan out or simply aren't worth keeping.

honestly, I'd probably be willing to part with our TPE and a 2nd for any 6'10 type guy who looked like he had more upside then he was showing. Seraphin/Thompson/Hickson/Sanders/Aldrich, all seem like guys worth at least a phone call.

[steveb21]

Anthony? Seriosuly?

He forced his way out of Denver beacuse he wanted to play in New York. You know what? He can rot in New York. I want no part of a cancer like him on this team.

[Sixersftw]

If its the deal ZzazZ was talking about you have to do it just based on value. to get what some people consider a top 10 player (hah!) for basically just Jrue and Lou, who we are going to lose in FA, would be a nice coup.

I hate Melo but this is by far his worst year and more likely an aberration than a trend.

[ZzAzZ]

Finally I can feel some sanity. A lot of people were saying how nice it would be to have a player like Ellis playing next to Iguodala, I don't know how Carmelo (again for the deal I said) would not be twice as good. If you think the deal is impossible that's one thing, but I don't see many other near-future options.

[Foshan]

Eh, I really don't like Melo at all... even a steal of a deal for melo i'd have a hard time swallowing.

[Sixersftw]

Eh, I really don't like Melo at all... even a steal of a deal for melo i'd have a hard time swallowing.

Trust me, I think we all can agree on hating Melo but you can't turn down a picking up a star for nothing (and in the world of stars Jrue is still...nothing). Even if it's merely to move him next summer for a better fit.

Also could things be coming up Magic? They Keep Howard and make a move for Melo. But in the summer we strike. Divide dwights attention between multiple destinations and confuse him like a drunk girl at a frat party. Then we move in, like a creepy stripped polo shirt wearing tool, and take Dwight. Take Dwights drunken frat party girl danish.

Wow that got weird real quick.

[SavageBel]

[Gsraider]

Finally I can feel some sanity. A lot of people were saying how nice it would be to have a player like Ellis playing next to Iguodala, I don't know how Carmelo (again for the deal I said) would not be twice as good. If you think the deal is impossible that's one thing, but I don't see many other near-future options.

Yes, and a lot of other people weren't, sane or otherwise. From a talent perspective, Melo is one of the best in the league and no one is disputing that. I'm not sure that anyone has. In today's NBA, a star is a guy that scores 25 ppg and can hit a shot with the game on the line. If that's the criteria, then Melo is clearly a star. However, I don't even put him in the same stratosphere as guys like LeBron, Kobe and Durant, in large part because Melo plays no defense and seems to flourish only in isolation. You don't find it even remotely curious as to why NY was floundering before Melo got hurt, came roaring back while he was hurt, and is now something like 2-8 since he came back? That's not all D'Antoni for as awful as he is as a coach.

Again though, I am not disagreeing with your premise and my hesitation with Melo has zero to do with what I think of him as a person. I just don't see him as an answer. I wish I could tell you that I have other suggestions, but things pop up unexpectedly every year. I suppose that the offer you set forth would be considered a steal by many, but I don't believe that Melo would provide the answer even if the price tag wasn't thought to be that high.

[Kova]

Fantasy post:

Melo to Orlando
Dwight to Philly
Young/ fill the blank/ 1st pick to New York...

[ZzAzZ]

Finally I can feel some sanity. A lot of people were saying how nice it would be to have a player like Ellis playing next to Iguodala, I don't know how Carmelo (again for the deal I said) would not be twice as good. If you think the deal is impossible that's one thing, but I don't see many other near-future options.

Yes, and a lot of other people weren't, sane or otherwise. From a talent perspective, Melo is one of the best in the league and no one is disputing that. I'm not sure that anyone has. In today's NBA, a star is a guy that scores 25 ppg and can hit a shot with the game on the line. If that's the criteria, then Melo is clearly a star. However, I don't even put him in the same stratosphere as guys like LeBron, Kobe and Durant, in large part because Melo plays no defense and seems to flourish only in isolation. You don't find it even remotely curious as to why NY was floundering before Melo got hurt, came roaring back while he was hurt, and is now something like 2-8 since he came back? That's not all D'Antoni for as awful as he is as a coach.

Again though, I am not disagreeing with your premise and my hesitation with Melo has zero to do with what I think of him as a person. I just don't see him as an answer. I wish I could tell you that I have other suggestions, but things pop up unexpectedly every year. I suppose that the offer you set forth would be considered a steal by many, but I don't believe that Melo would provide the answer even if the price tag wasn't thought to be that high.

The weird thing here is, me and you are basically on the same page aside from the fact that I would want to see him here for the deal I said and you wouldn't. I was one of the people saying NY would be worse with him before the season and when he came back after "Linsanity". I think we both have the same idea of him as a player but I guess I just feel more desparate or am letting the desparation affect my judgement more. I have seen him play motivated defense before though and if Collins got him doing that, we've have a legit shot at the finals I think. That's just wishful thinking on my part though.

[Point-God]

I don't like Melo, but I'd trade two small guards in Jrue and Lou for him. That doesn't work out financially. Thad and Noc would need to be included. Thad right now is looking like a more important player towards winning than Melo. Melo looks out of place around the basket this season, sorta like Brand when he lost his lift.

[Gsraider]

The weird thing here is, me and you are basically on the same page aside from the fact that I would want to see him here for the deal I said and you wouldn't. I was one of the people saying NY would be worse with him before the season and when he came back after "Linsanity". I think we both have the same idea of him as a player but I guess I just feel more desparate or am letting the desparation affect my judgement more. I have seen him play motivated defense before though and if Collins got him doing that, we've have a legit shot at the finals I think. That's just wishful thinking on my part though.

Hey, if the offer you set forth was palatable to NY, your idea provides a potential solution right here and right now. I am offering no current solutions other than to sit back, wait and hope. However, if Philly amnisties Brand next year and can offer a max. contract to someone, that space does not have to be used only for a FA. It can be used to facilitate trades as well. Who knows if Philly can get a star type player with that kind of flexibility, this off-season or next. Thankfully, if you remove Brand via amnesty, this team is very young and that's probably why I'm less desperate than you are. If this team had a bunch of players in their late twenties, early thirties, rather than being littered with guys in their early twenties, I'd probably feel more like you do. Since they are young however, and I'm not a bit Melo fan, I'd be more inclined to wait. And pray.

[KKell2507]

I wouldnt touch Carmelo Anthony with a ten foot pole....

And thats just to get an autograph, much less have him on my favorite team.

For a fan base looking to get out of the first round and get into the ECF and NBA Finals, and then bring up Carmelo's name? What has he ever won? Hes been out of the 1st rd ONE TIME his entire career.

Hes had Andre Miller in his prime, Allen Iverson at the end of his prime, Chauncey Billups in his prime, he now has Amare Stoudamire in his prime, and Tyson Chandler in his prime. Hes also had GREAT complimentary players along the way in Nene, Kenyon Martin, and Jeremy Lin.

Billups won an NBA Finals and went to another with 4 other guys who were good but never did anything before or now after that team was broken up. Iverson went to an NBA finals by himself, but couldnt get out of the first round with carmelo. Amare Stoudamire went to a couple of conference finals with the CURRENT knicks coach as his previous coach. He was also an MVP candidate last year before Carmelo arrived. Tyson Chandler was the anchor behind one of the best defenses in the league last year who won the NBA finals. The last two seasons where Carmelo was traded in the middle of last year, the Knicks are 33-27 without him and 24-29 with him. The Nuggets in the same last two years were 32-25 with him and 35-21 without him.

Cool he can make a shot or two at the end of the game. But hell take 23 shots to get his 25 points during the whole game. What makes you think our young roster could possibly do anything better with him than any of Anthonys previous teams with much more talented players couldnt do? Hes a cancer and I want him nowhere near the Sixers locker room.

[ZzAzZ]

He has won a college championship, I guess that doesn't matter?

And let me preface this with the fact that as I said, I'm far from a Carmelo fan, but that last post is just ridiculous.

[KKell2507]

He has won a college championship, I guess that doesn't matter?

Cool he was the SF of a national championship team 9 years ago. Corey Brewer was the SF of two national championship teams 5 and 6 years ago. whats your point?

[ZzAzZ]

My point is you asked what he has ever won, and I gave you an answer.

[SouthJersey]

Personal feelings aside, I'm taking Melo in a heartbeat for that package. Ironically, it seems the trade value between Evan and Jrue has shifted dramatically. I think any trade would have to include Iguodala.

[ZzAzZ]

I'm not so sure, if he wanted out that bad, and they still wanted to compete this season, they would have to take a lowball offer. And to be honest, I'm not even so sure at this point that it's a lowball offer.