OT: Melo signs with Rockets

[jacoby1us]

Yeah I dont understand the Rockets moves this offseason, if Paul does not get injured you win the series against GS point blank. You had the defending champions on the ground with 8 seconds and counting. The signing of Anthony with his bitter history with D'Antoni is perplexing to say the least.

WTH is going on Morey? Anthony is not the Olympics of Nuggets Anthony. He has let it be known that he still believes he should start and be somewhat of a focal point of your offense. How do you do that with Harden and Chris Paul demanding the rock at all times? This will certainly be interesting to say the least.

are you suggesting Morey overpaying everyone to keep the team together?

CP3: 25M > 35M
Ariza: 8M > 15M
Luc: 2M > 4M
Capela: 2M > 25M

unfortunately you can't keep everyone
he's trying to keep the most important piece first

Well that contract to Paul was just plain stupid. No way Paul would have received that type of contract elsewhere, his age and health are serious problems as his Playoff history has shown he does not have the durability to last for the long-haul. I don't believe this year's Anthony make you better. People tend to live in the glory days, he is older and even more narrow-minded these days.

[letsgorockets]

I don't mind Melo on the minimum, if acts up or causes any grief, cut him. Not biggie, it's some reward and no risk. My question is if Melo was willing to accept the min, why the **** did we let Moute walk when we have the tax MLE still in hand!? I hope Morey has a move in mind, or that just makes no **** sense.

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HOU doesn't have the BAE this year (spent last year on the Tarik Black 2017 experiment), so they need that TP-MLE to tempt their draft picks into signing 3+ year Hinkie specials.

At this point, HOU has their big guns locked up. Now it's all about finding players who will out-perform their contracts. That means taking chances on unproven players who aren't "safe bets" and "known commodities." It wouldn't be smart if they invested playing time to develop players like Melton or Hartenstein and had the investment paid off only to run face-first into the Gilbert Arenas rule and go splat. To offer the likes of Hartenstein or Melton something like double the vet min to tempt them into 3+ year Hinkie specials, HOU needs their TP-MLE.

There is no guarantee that any of them would bite, but HOU couldn't even try if they didn't have their TP-MLE available.

Yeah, I know that's Morey's MO, but we're chasing the best team of all time. That sort of future focused thinking might pay off, but it won't be this year, and every year matters when one of your stars is CP3.

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[MaxRider]

Yeah I dont understand the Rockets moves this offseason, if Paul does not get injured you win the series against GS point blank. You had the defending champions on the ground with 8 seconds and counting. The signing of Anthony with his bitter history with D'Antoni is perplexing to say the least.

WTH is going on Morey? Anthony is not the Olympics of Nuggets Anthony. He has let it be known that he still believes he should start and be somewhat of a focal point of your offense. How do you do that with Harden and Chris Paul demanding the rock at all times? This will certainly be interesting to say the least.

are you suggesting Morey overpaying everyone to keep the team together?

CP3: 25M > 35M
Ariza: 8M > 15M
Luc: 2M > 4M
Capela: 2M > 25M

unfortunately you can't keep everyone
he's trying to keep the most important piece first

Well that contract to Paul was just plain stupid. No way Paul would have received that type of contract elsewhere, his age and health are serious problems as his Playoff history has shown he does not have the durability to last for the long-haul. I don't believe this year's Anthony make you better. People tend to live in the glory days, he is older and even more narrow-minded these days.

are you suggest Morey don't pay him and piss him off so he'll go sign veteran minimum with Lakers?

[og15]

Oh okay, getting him for the minimum certainly helps them as it leaves the MLE available, interesting, Rockets might be able to throw out something pretty interesting again this season.

[Rotten Apple]

people complained that OKC wasn’t using Melo properly , well now we’re gonna know for sure when he’s with CP3 Harden and D’Antoni.

His defence will be trash but I guess that’s the trend now. If rockets fans are lucky Melo will take this as a chance to get back into shape for a new contract

Carmelo Anthony had a better defensive rating than LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.

Check.

His defense last year was nowhere near as bad as the narrative on this board. His main defensive issue was slowness due to age, not effort. He actually showed a ton of effort last year on both sides of the ball - IMO the biggest issue IMO was them wanting/needing him to be an elite scorer and him failing to live up. He had a good scoring game maybe one out of every 6-7 games, which wasn’t going to cut it.

Yup offensively he was just way too inconsistently, it was a lot of things that went into it but just naturally the fit on that side of the ball wasn't there. He'll do better in Houston which is where he should have ended up all along.

Thank you for pointing out his defense btw, that narrative has to stop around here and in the media.

There's a difference between not playing defense and not being a great defender. Melo plays defense, he's just not fast enough to stay in front of certain guys but really every team has those guys.

[lonzo_pelota]

so with his trade kicker and getting bought out with his full salary from ATL and now an additional 2.4million to be the 3rd or 4th option (eric gordon should be 3rd option) how big is melo smiling right now

[ken6199]

Paul is the chairman of NBPA. It's a special position where the chairman taking a paycut himself would lead to other consequences. While it gives you extra influences in certain things around the league and recruiting players, that's the baggage he also comes with. I've been a mad man ever since Paul signed that contract and completely lost respect for that guy, but right now I have learned to accept it and move on.

As to Melo, you can only hope he hit a rock bottom last year in OKC, which means the only way is up. We've seen many examples of mediocre players out performing in MDA's system in Houston, Gordon/Tucker/Moute/Green reviving their careers, and some questionable/unthinkable projects like transforming Harden to a full-time PG and playing Harden/CP together working out like magic. Nothing wrong with hoping the same thing happen to Melo, at least to certain degree.

[Bruteque]

I don't mind Melo on the minimum, if acts up or causes any grief, cut him. Not biggie, it's some reward and no risk. My question is if Melo was willing to accept the min, why the **** did we let Moute walk when we have the tax MLE still in hand!? I hope Morey has a move in mind, or that just makes no **** sense.

Sent from my SM-G920T using RealGM mobile app

HOU doesn't have the BAE this year (spent last year on the Tarik Black 2017 experiment), so they need that TP-MLE to tempt their draft picks into signing 3+ year Hinkie specials.

At this point, HOU has their big guns locked up. Now it's all about finding players who will out-perform their contracts. That means taking chances on unproven players who aren't "safe bets" and "known commodities." It wouldn't be smart if they invested playing time to develop players like Melton or Hartenstein and had the investment paid off only to run face-first into the Gilbert Arenas rule and go splat. To offer the likes of Hartenstein or Melton something like double the vet min to tempt them into 3+ year Hinkie specials, HOU needs their TP-MLE.

There is no guarantee that any of them would bite, but HOU couldn't even try if they didn't have their TP-MLE available.

Yeah, I know that's Morey's MO, but we're chasing the best team of all time. That sort of future focused thinking might pay off, but it won't be this year, and every year matters when one of your stars is CP3.

Sent from my SM-G920T using RealGM mobile app

He could spread out the risk on multiple cheaper players with more upside, or he could take the risk on Mbah a Moute being his early season self instead of his late season steaming pile of garbage. Either way, it's a calculated risk. There was not a "sure thing" option for Morey there.

[jacoby1us]

are you suggesting Morey overpaying everyone to keep the team together?

CP3: 25M > 35M
Ariza: 8M > 15M
Luc: 2M > 4M
Capela: 2M > 25M

unfortunately you can't keep everyone
he's trying to keep the most important piece first

Well that contract to Paul was just plain stupid. No way Paul would have received that type of contract elsewhere, his age and health are serious problems as his Playoff history has shown he does not have the durability to last for the long-haul. I don't believe this year's Anthony make you better. People tend to live in the glory days, he is older and even more narrow-minded these days.

are you suggest Morey don't pay him and piss him off so he'll go sign veteran minimum with Lakers?

$35M to Paul at 33 for 4 years? I just cannot support that, especially if he is struggling every post season health wise.

[letsgorockets]

HOU doesn't have the BAE this year (spent last year on the Tarik Black 2017 experiment), so they need that TP-MLE to tempt their draft picks into signing 3+ year Hinkie specials.

At this point, HOU has their big guns locked up. Now it's all about finding players who will out-perform their contracts. That means taking chances on unproven players who aren't "safe bets" and "known commodities." It wouldn't be smart if they invested playing time to develop players like Melton or Hartenstein and had the investment paid off only to run face-first into the Gilbert Arenas rule and go splat. To offer the likes of Hartenstein or Melton something like double the vet min to tempt them into 3+ year Hinkie specials, HOU needs their TP-MLE.

There is no guarantee that any of them would bite, but HOU couldn't even try if they didn't have their TP-MLE available.

Yeah, I know that's Morey's MO, but we're chasing the best team of all time. That sort of future focused thinking might pay off, but it won't be this year, and every year matters when one of your stars is CP3.

Sent from my SM-G920T using RealGM mobile app

He could spread out the risk on multiple cheaper players with more upside, or he could take the risk on Mbah a Moute being his early season self instead of his late season steaming pile of garbage. Either way, it's a calculated risk. There was not a "sure thing" option for Morey there.

Agreed, but I'd bet on Moute's health over the young guys being ready to contribute at the highest levels by season's end.

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[scrabbarista]

This is fine (if true). Just wish I could save the comments of every panicky/gleeful hater whose team will end up worse than the Rockets next year. As long as Capela returns, and - for next year, at least - he will, we're going to be great.

Everyone I meet in person and all I see online is "the Rockets got worse." What no one ever mentions is that last season we were basically 10 wins better than every team in the league outside of the Bay Area. The rest of the league had a lot more catching up to do than just a Trevor Ariza.

Just chill, everybody.

[CS707]

Can anyone explain what exactly caused Melo objecting to MDA's system to the point of pushing him out in NY and why it's different now? Not being snarky, I'm just curious.

[pr0wler]

He didnt sign yet. But he will. And he's not coming off the bench lol. And I doubt he plays spot up/PnR he gets bored of that and goes back to ISO Melo

D'Antoni isn't a spineless coach like most others. If Melo doesn't fit in with the Rockets, who won 65 games last year, then they simply won't play him.

[Jay 20]

I don't​ like this (meaning it's good for HOU) if he understands his role and does it well. If he does agree to come off that bench to lead the second unit it could be very valuable for them.

They played like 6.5 guys last year in the WCF. They needed some more depth/another go to scorer at time. Melo could be that guy if he wants to be.

[Bruteque]

Well that contract to Paul was just plain stupid. No way Paul would have received that type of contract elsewhere, his age and health are serious problems as his Playoff history has shown he does not have the durability to last for the long-haul. I don't believe this year's Anthony make you better. People tend to live in the glory days, he is older and even more narrow-minded these days.

are you suggest Morey don't pay him and piss him off so he'll go sign veteran minimum with Lakers?

$35M to Paul at 33 for 4 years? I just cannot support that, especially if he is struggling every post season health wise.

If CP3 left, then they were done.

CP3 sets the price on that contract, not Morey. Morey can beg; Morey can implore; Morey can appeal to logic and maybe get a bit less than the absolute max and talk CP3 out of a 5th year. However, at the end of the day, what Morey couldn't do was tell CP3 to **** off, we would rather give up on contention than give you a 5-year max, if that was what CP3 decided he wanted.

It's not really that difficult to understand.

[MoneyTalks41890]

He didnt sign yet. But he will. And he's not coming off the bench lol. And I doubt he plays spot up/PnR he gets bored of that and goes back to ISO Melo

D'Antoni isn't a spineless coach like most others. If Melo doesn't fit in with the Rockets, who won 65 games last year, then they simply won't play him.

Lol ok pal

[jacoby1us]

are you suggest Morey don't pay him and piss him off so he'll go sign veteran minimum with Lakers?

$35M to Paul at 33 for 4 years? I just cannot support that, especially if he is struggling every post season health wise.

If CP3 left, then they were done.

CP3 sets the price on that contract, not Morey. Morey can beg; Morey can implore; Morey can appeal to logic and maybe get a bit less than the absolute max and talk CP3 out of a 5th year. However, at the end of the day, what Morey couldn't do was tell CP3 to **** off, we would rather give up on contention than give you a 5-year max, if that was what CP3 decided he wanted.

It's not really that difficult to understand.

Obviously it is difficult for most to comprehend that CP3 is not durable enough to help lead "ANY" team deep in the post season. Hopefully for Rockets fans this upcoming season he stay healthy and they actually move deeper in the post season. To overpay someone of his age/health concern regardless of his NBPA Chairman status is quite the risk.

[NYKHardKnock]

Melo finally got a point guard... Paul and Melo should thrive. Hopefully he has a catch and shoot role, and when Hardens on the bench he can play a bit of his game

[og15]

Paul is the chairman of NBPA. It's a special position where the chairman taking a paycut himself would lead to other consequences. While it gives you extra influences in certain things around the league and recruiting players, that's the baggage he also comes with. I've been a mad man ever since Paul signed that contract and completely lost respect for that guy, but right now I have learned to accept it and move on.

As to Melo, you can only hope he hit a rock bottom last year in OKC, which means the only way is up. We've seen many examples of mediocre players out performing in MDA's system in Houston, Gordon/Tucker/Moute/Green reviving their careers, and some questionable/unthinkable projects like transforming Harden to a full-time PG and playing Harden/CP together working out like magic. Nothing wrong with hoping the same thing happen to Melo, at least to certain degree.

The one thing I have to disagree with and I've seen people say before is that Mbah was built up by the Rockets. The reality is that many non-Clipper fans just didn't appreciate what he was capable of, especially if you just look at his 6 ppg / 2-3 rpg. He did little different from what he did with the Clippers in 16-17, and the numbers were already very favourable to his defensive impact. He surprised a lot of us Clipper fans with his very good straight line driving ability and ability to attack closeouts and finish and he developed his 3PT shot from year 1 to year 2 as a Clipper.

He took the minimum to play with Paul and get a chance at a championship, but he could have gotten more last summer if that was his primary goal, but like Jabari Parker also said, no one gets paid for defense, unless you have a high profile.

[Mr. E]

I have my reservations; but apparently he's wanted here by James Harden, Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, Daryl Morey & yes, even Mike D'Antoni. I'll defer to those guys for the basketball decisions.