[Camelo Thread]**UPDATE MELO PUSHING FOR KNICKS**- Part 4

[Fury]

I don't know why Gallo is surprising people. We knew he could get to the FT line, just needed to drive in more. Dude gets foul calls by just getting touched. What I want him to do is work on his mid range. I think that would take him to the next level. Anyway, this is why I would not give up Gallo. He's a perfect compliment to this team and the type of player that helps you win because he does everything. That's why Carmelo should do the smart thing and join with Amare and Gallo because Gallo can work with star players.

[Knicker23]

I love Gallo but lets not get out of hand here. Melo is a top player in the league / of our generation. A player of his talent comes along in the drafts seldom. He is very much in his prime still. Gallo's play has been tremendous the last few games, and we'll see if he'll be able to keep it up, hopefully he can. But I think putting Melo and Amare together with Felton would be a much more formidable 'big three' than Amare Felton and Gallo. Melo and Amar'e would work fine/great together. Melo is a guy you go to down the stretch when you NEED points, during those crucial few minutes when the team you've been up 15 against the entire game is within 6 and you haven't scored in 4 minutes. He has the ability to single handedly change the way we blow leads when we are up big, make sure we win against the teams were supposed to win against, and give us a great chance to beat the teams we aren't really the favorites to. in fact he'd change the very balance of what teams we are expected to beat and what teams are better than us. Gallo doesn't do these things. He's been clutch the last few games, and I'd love to see that continue, but Melo is an entirely different level of player above Gallo, just as he is the majority of players in this league.

Lets not start talking nonsense about 'maybe Gallo and Amare fit better than Melo and Amare' or 'wellll Gallo may turn out to be a cheaper version of Melo' - no. Gallo will never be Melo. He'll be his own potentially great player, but he isn't going to be Melo.

I see where you're coming from with the play of Gallo the last few games, he very well may have found a certain switch...but i do think he'll 'snap out of it' back down to realistic numbers once we start playing some good teams... we have to think long term here, as well as how championship caliber our team is. we aren't looking for players that'll make us a great 4 or 5th seed, we're looking for a championship contending team.

If Gallo proves he can maintain this level of play he will have moved him into the 'trade others before Gallo' frame of mind, as well as 'push for Melo to go to FA' .. but I just can't think of Danilo Gallanari being untouchable in respect to Melo.. he isn't the Brook Lopez of this team [i think Amare fits that role].

[AllanHoustonFan]

everyone but amare is tradeable at the right price.

[Punk]

A couple observations:

- Melo with 28 and 8 in the win over the Nets. But he was 11-25. Not very efficient. He's a very productive scorer but often on volume. I think that means he's somewhere below a purely great player.

- His comments about the Nets make me think he's not very serious about the Nets. To openly compliment them seems like a dead giveaway. And notice that he said a bunch of nice things but when they asked him if they're a great scorer away from contending he said "I have no idea." He backs off on the big question and does not take the bait. Telling. So he's saying all kinds of nice things about the Nets but cuts the cord by not answering the 'great scorer' question. I'm reading honesty here. He's not going that extra step and *connecting* himself to the compliments. He keeps his distance.

He's pressuring the Knicks (or Bulls) and/or throwing the Nets a bone in a gentlemanly 'You're a great also-ran' kind of way. He wouldn't say that stuff -- consolation prize talk -- unless he is not that interested, if at all interested.

Compare: If he had said that stuff about the Knicks ... well he never would have said that stuff about the Knicks because it's all way too obvious and sensitive ... it's too close to home. I would have read his statements as very disappointing and strange if he had said such nice things about the Knicks. It would be odd that he'd voice his approval -- because this kind of interest is something you don't flaunt if it's real. Because it'd be awkward. Melo's stuff about the Nets sounds like "She's a great girl, just not the one for me."

- If Gallo plays like this for another month, I may be very hesitant to part with him. The long ball and the FT-line knack, as well as the youth/cheapness, could make Gallo a keeper *if* the light has really gone on and what we're seeing is not just an aberration. If he's truly emerging and growing, then a smart 6-11 scorer with swagger, 3-point range and intelligent tricks is really an ideal fit next to Amar'e.

On the other side of the equation, even though Amar'e and Melo play different positions, they are actually quite similar in what they bring to the table as scorers. Good mid-range game, excellent around the hoop, bona fide stars, but not all-around guys who make their teammates better directly. I'm wavering as you can see and some of that is the overlap I'm starting to see, but it's also that Gallo's play is really surprising me. Still want Melo but we should consider a) how great is he as far as efficiency, b) how similar is he to Amar'e when you really analyze it at its core, and can they complement each other on the court, and c) does Gallo fit with Amar'e better if he keeps developing?

Gallo is still not physical in the paint or as consistent as melo. melo can go through a drought for 5 games and finish the season with 30ppg in 77 games.

Fact is, if Gallo continues to improve his game like what we saw on this road trip. That means we can sit back and not be worried about selling the farm for Melo. If he comes, he comes and if he doesn't we still have Gallo who is still 22.

[louieOrr]

Melo and Amare are not redundant on the same team. I think they would probably compliment each other very well. It's never a bad thing to have two elite low post threats in the same lineup because Melo is certainly not limited to an inside game. STAT has an almost unconscious mid range shot as well. I think teams would be ill advised to use a double team with these 2 in the game.
That combo is $$$$$$$$

[louieOrr]

I gotta say Denver really is acting like a clingy soon to be ex gfriend who refuses to let go. They are only hurting themselves. The more games that are played the more their leverage slips away. Melo clearly does not want to stay in Denver...they should just let go already. If we are in the playoff hunt come the trade deadline it will probably be in part because of players like Gallo, Felton & Chandler. If that is the case Chandler is the only one you trade since we will probably not resign him.
I think by the end of December the only deal Denver gets from us should be Chandler and Curry. I think maybe Gallo should be untradeable now though. We cannot let teams rape us anymore. Yes, there is a risk Gallo will not pan out. There is also the risk we trade away an incredible player when it could have been avoided by refusing to let other teams screw us. Denver should @ this point be willing to accept AR Chandler and Curry right now. Or they should just do a deal with another team if Melo really and truly will resign with them instead of holding out for the NYK in free agency.

[ry3303]

carmelo MAY not be redundant if we played alot of isos in the post through him leaving amare at the high post where he can drive to the lane from the pass out of the box.

BUT - we all know melo has a tendency to take terrible shots from the perimeter, do you really think that's gonna change much with dantoni.

hey if we're looking for explosive high volume scorers might as well get monta ellis instead, he'd only cost us 5+Million/ year cheaper! lols

no, what the knicks need is someone who can win games without nec. scoring, like a kidd, like a paul or nash or lebron, etc...

[Falstaffxx]

I love Gallo but lets not get out of hand here. Melo is a top player in the league / of our generation. A player of his talent comes along in the drafts seldom. He is very much in his prime still. Gallo's play has been tremendous the last few games, and we'll see if he'll be able to keep it up, hopefully he can. But I think putting Melo and Amare together with Felton would be a much more formidable 'big three' than Amare Felton and Gallo. Melo and Amar'e would work fine/great together. Melo is a guy you go to down the stretch when you NEED points, during those crucial few minutes when the team you've been up 15 against the entire game is within 6 and you haven't scored in 4 minutes. He has the ability to single handedly change the way we blow leads when we are up big, make sure we win against the teams were supposed to win against, and give us a great chance to beat the teams we aren't really the favorites to. in fact he'd change the very balance of what teams we are expected to beat and what teams are better than us. Gallo doesn't do these things. He's been clutch the last few games, and I'd love to see that continue, but Melo is an entirely different level of player above Gallo, just as he is the majority of players in this league.

Lets not start talking nonsense about 'maybe Gallo and Amare fit better than Melo and Amare' or 'wellll Gallo may turn out to be a cheaper version of Melo' - no. Gallo will never be Melo. He'll be his own potentially great player, but he isn't going to be Melo.

I see where you're coming from with the play of Gallo the last few games, he very well may have found a certain switch...but i do think he'll 'snap out of it' back down to realistic numbers once we start playing some good teams... we have to think long term here, as well as how championship caliber our team is. we aren't looking for players that'll make us a great 4 or 5th seed, we're looking for a championship contending team.

If Gallo proves he can maintain this level of play he will have moved him into the 'trade others before Gallo' frame of mind, as well as 'push for Melo to go to FA' .. but I just can't think of Danilo Gallanari being untouchable in respect to Melo.. he isn't the Brook Lopez of this team [i think Amare fits that role].

I agree with what you're saying about Melo's value to this team vs. Gallo's value. But keep in mind we may be able to get Melo without giving up Gallo. Then we're in even better shape. Donnie may know something about Melo's intentions etc that we don't. If he thinks he can get Melo without giving up Gallo or some other valuable combination of players, he'll do it.

[NYman15]

I completely agree with th last post but let's not start this speculation that Donnie knows something that we don't we already did this with lebron and we all know how that turned out but I do trust Donnie I believe in what his plan is. We all agree melo wants ny and ny wants melo but with guys Iike gallo and chandler and td and fields and mozgov and ar our prospects are becoming more likable to everyone so again I believe in Donnie and what he is doing

[Falstaffxx]

I completely agree with th last post but let's not start this speculation that Donnie knows something that we don't we already did this with lebron and we all know how that turned out but I do trust Donnie I believe in what his plan is. We all agree melo wants ny and ny wants melo but with guys Iike gallo and chandler and td and fields and mozgov and ar our prospects are becoming more likable to everyone so again I believe in Donnie and what he is doing

I have no idea whether or not Donnie knows something. But he may. It doesn't have anything to do with Lebron.

[NYman15]

Your right I'm just saying let's not get our hopes up like lebron or feel like it is a done deal I do believe melo has a good chance to come but I'm just saying don't be too confident till it's done

[Knicker23]

I agree with what you're saying about Melo's value to this team vs. Gallo's value. But keep in mind we may be able to get Melo without giving up Gallo. Then we're in even better shape. Donnie may know something about Melo's intentions etc that we don't. If he thinks he can get Melo without giving up Gallo or some other valuable combination of players, he'll do it.

I agree, Gallo's play over the last few games has def improved his stock as a guy we'd rather hold onto out of our players.. if he can prove he can play consistently like this or reasonably near every game I think it makes waiting for Melo in FA a lot easier.. or giving up a few others other than Gallo that much more attractive.. [to us...who knows how Denver feels / if they even care how Gallos playing]

The way he's playing makes a Felton / Amare / Melo / Gallo line up look pretty damn good.. not even considering what other pg we have in mind in the future... so long as Melo and Gallo make sense together

[The Rebel]

I am sick and tired of hicks trashing our roster, I hope we don't trade for Melo. Either he comes as a FA or not at all. These clowns are happy with Al F'n Harrington and have the cojones to trash guys like Gallo and Chandler. Donnie don't give these guys chit.Melo loves NY and if he signs elsewhere I don't think he or his wife want any part of the backlash when he comes here. Wait and see what happens when the nutless one comes to NY.

I guess you may be right, those of us in Colorado may be hicks. But you should look at the guys running your team, Walsh and D'antoni both got their starts in this hick town, of course neither one of them could cut it, and were run out of town by us hicks. both times the team dramatically improved once they were gone, so exactly what does that make them?

[AllanHoustonFan]

Bad news: The lockout is "99 percent" certain at this point in time

Melo is definitely going to look for a trade ASAP if things don't turn around

[Punk]

Bad news: The lockout is "99 percent" certain at this point in time

Melo is definitely going to look for a trade ASAP if things don't turn around

Lol Until David Stern says it himself, there is no 99 percent. There is a 99 percent chance that i will die by watching to much porn...yet I haven't...

[K_ick_God]

Bad news: The lockout is "99 percent" certain at this point in time

Melo is definitely going to look for a trade ASAP if things don't turn around

Depends actually -- the league's hard line could really help us because if they are looking to reduce all contracts, no matter whether they're signed or not, then Melo would get no protection or advantage from signing now.

He could be stuck on the Nets (for instance) with the same contract he would have to play for the Knicks.

[towelie]

The lockout isn't what worries Carmelo. Whether he gets an extension or not, if the lockout happens, he doesn't get paid. No players get paid during the lockout.

It's only the possibility of a lower max salary in the new CBA that has him worried.

[GotItNow]

I completely agree with th last post but let's not start this speculation that Donnie knows something that we don't we already did this with lebron and we all know how that turned out but I do trust Donnie I believe in what his plan is. We all agree melo wants ny and ny wants melo but with guys Iike gallo and chandler and td and fields and mozgov and ar our prospects are becoming more likable to everyone so again I believe in Donnie and what he is doing

+1 and add the Houston trade to that I think. I gave him the benefit of the doubt there thinking if there was a better trade available for the taking he would have surely done it. I still think that, but I'm not quite so trusting as before. STEP IT UP OLD MAN!!! lol

[GotItNow]

I am sick and tired of hicks trashing our roster, I hope we don't trade for Melo. Either he comes as a FA or not at all. These clowns are happy with Al F'n Harrington and have the cojones to trash guys like Gallo and Chandler. Donnie don't give these guys chit.Melo loves NY and if he signs elsewhere I don't think he or his wife want any part of the backlash when he comes here. Wait and see what happens when the nutless one comes to NY.

I guess you may be right, those of us in Colorado may be hicks. But you should look at the guys running your team, Walsh and D'antoni both got their starts in this hick town, of course neither one of them could cut it, and were run out of town by us hicks. both times the team dramatically improved once they were gone, so exactly what does that make them?

LMAO that's just a NY thing I grew up on Long Island and when I went to school in Manhattan my frat brothers called me country boy.

I've lived in a lot of places and while I'll always hold NY dear to my heart small town people have a charm about them. So I wish you well.

Fly over states always fascinated me.

[AllanHoustonFan]

I am sick and tired of hicks trashing our roster, I hope we don't trade for Melo. Either he comes as a FA or not at all. These clowns are happy with Al F'n Harrington and have the cojones to trash guys like Gallo and Chandler. Donnie don't give these guys chit.Melo loves NY and if he signs elsewhere I don't think he or his wife want any part of the backlash when he comes here. Wait and see what happens when the nutless one comes to NY.

I guess you may be right, those of us in Colorado may be hicks. But you should look at the guys running your team, Walsh and D'antoni both got their starts in this hick town, of course neither one of them could cut it, and were run out of town by us hicks. both times the team dramatically improved once they were gone, so exactly what does that make them?

LMAO that's just a NY thing I grew up on Long Island and when I went to school in Manhattan my frat brothers called me country boy.

I've lived in a lot of places and while I'll always hold NY dear to my heart small town people have a charm about them. So I wish you well.

+1. I go to SUNY Albany and all I do is call the locals hicks