Netaman wrote:The Harris portion of this trade really confuses me. It seems we prefer to trade him over Murphy based on the fact that we could ship Murphy to Denver in place of AK47 and cut out the other 2 teams (while keeping Devin). I would personally prefer to do that and let Hump, Smith, Outlaw, and James vie for time at the PF position in the interim. It seems however that we have chosen the reliable double double with an expiring contract over committing to Devin as the PG of the team long term.
As far as the trade goes I don't love it but Im not going to complain. Carmelo is an elite scorer in this league. He is clutch and he can take over a game. While he hasn't proven to be a "winner" on Kobe's level, he's shown he knows how to win. In a league where there aren't very many elite players, when push comes to shove you have to take your chances when you can get one. Lopez + Melo + TWill will be a pretty solid core. A heady defensive PG would really balance that lineup.
OK...so now tell me how we get one? Yu just gave one away and our top trade chip...and two other valuable ones. Our biggest free agent signing is now a back up. NOW WHAT?
And Melo has proven that he can be the best player on a contending team with 83 mil in payroll...and STILL fall short. You think our roser already maxed out comes close to those Denver teams?
And again...what is the realistic goal here? Maybe I am just old. I can recall how it felt when the Nets "just made" the playoffs in the DC era. It felt great. Then again in the Cassell/KVH/Jason Williams years. AGAIN...FELT GREAT. And that was because I watched them lose for most of a decade in and around that. But then...Thorn. And Kidd. And RJ. And Kmart. And TWO NBA finals. And then VC...and in total...6 years of playoffs...5 of them getting past round 1...or was it four? And since then...two losing seasons. TWO. Following the 6 best years. Maybe there are two many posters here...who dont remember.
Perhaps you need that feeling I had when I was much younger from the DC Nets. That...WE MADE IT!
But not me. I am old. I have seen the promise land. I saw what it means to get to the finals. To be the FAVORITE in several playoff series...and to NOT CHOKE ONCE. To beat the lesser team over and over. I WANT THAT. And if losing a little bit more gives me a better shot at that? Then I can give up the...WE JUST MADE it feeling.
But like I said. I am old. Patience comes with age...but it also means I have strng memories to sustain me. Maybe the younger posters just cant do that? Maybe you just NEED that...WE MADE IT feeling so bad...that you cant deal with tomorrow until it comes.
And I want to be wrong. I want to find out that we can make a major follow up trade. Or that Melo can live up to all his talent and grow even more. That him and Brook and some nice role guys are Kobe and Pau. Although I dont see Odom and Bynum. Sure...I like Troy...and that should help.
But? I also see that Heat team. And I see a Magic and Hawks team that are better. I see other young teams that could pass us with more flexibility going forward.
I guess I just want MORE...and I am willing to wait for it....save my pennies.