ESPN Chat with Chris Sheridan

[snyknick86]

Andy (Denver, CO)


Does Melo really think the Knicks will challenge the Heat during the years to come in Eastern Conference? If he is truly committed to winning a championship (rather than a lifestyle choice), he should compete in the post-Kobe Western Conference.
Chris Sheridan
(2:03 PM)


If the Knicks added Melo, at the right price in a trade or as a free agent next summer, they'd compete with Miami through 2015, maybe longer. Both Amar'e and Melo would be under contract through then. Plus he'd get to live in New York, which is where he want to be.

Gregg (NY)


Any chance the Knicks can pull a Lakers and get a steal for Carmelo like LA did with Pau Gasol? And only give up one from this group of three: Chandler, Gallo and Fields?
Chris Sheridan
(2:06 PM)


As I've been tweeting, and as I said in today's writers roundup, I think their last best offer would have to be Gallinari, Fields, Curry and a No. 1 via Randolph. But I don't think they're offering Fields right now. Bill Walker? Yes. But not Fields or Chandler. If they keep playing well, there's no need for them to put Fields into their offer. That's why it could be a game of chicken right up until Feb. 24.

Andrew (Brooklyn)


Are all other teams out? Say the Lakers put together a package for him, is Melo really going to say "I'm not interested?"
Chris Sheridan
(2:10 PM)


The Nuggets need to make this a rebuilding trade, which is why they were willing to do the earlier deal for Favors and two No. 1s. The Lakers aren't giving them Pau Gasol. The Nuggets aren't taking on Bynum's contract, especially given his current medical condition.

Bob (New York)


Do you think there's any truth to the Mayo to Knicks rumor? Seems like that would only require more gutting of the team, in addition to what we'd have to do to get Melo. Why not just focus on Melo?
Chris Sheridan
(2:14 PM)


It's plausible that the Mayo rumors are somehow part of the whole Knicks-Nuggets equation. If NY could get Mayo and move him along as part of a three-team deal, that might be the player the Nuggets would want to have alongside Gallinari on the wings.

JB (PDX)


So, assuming the "Knicks-only" scenario is true, what happens if Denver holds Melo past the deadline? Will the Knicks have enough cap space during the off-season to sign Melo outright?
Chris Sheridan
(2:17 PM)


I am glad you brought this up, JB, because it gets interesting. ...
Chris Sheridan
(2:20 PM)


Carmelo is under contract through next season, but he has an opt-out (actually an ETO, basically the same thing). So Carmelo is not considered an expiring contract, and he remains tradeable right up until June 30 if the Nuggets hang onto him past the deadline. Also, the extension that's sitting on the table is good through June 30, too. This is a piece of leverage the Nuggets hold over the Knicks, because NY needs to make the trade by Feb. 24 in order to include Eddy Curry's expiring contract in the deal. And you need the Curry money to make the salaries match.

Brian (Phoenix, AZ)


Give me the odds of the Carmelo Anthony trade happening, 50% ? 70% ?
Chris Sheridan
(2:25 PM)


75 percent.

larry (nyc)


Chris, with the Knicks on a serious hot streak, does it change their mentality with regards to Melo? Do they still think they really need him to get to that next level if it means giving up pieces who have been catalysts for this win streak?
Chris Sheridan
(2:32 PM)


They're not fooling themselves into believing they are an elite team as currently constructed. They have a nice winning streak going, but their recent wins against Washington, Minnesota and Toronto all went down to the final minute. Any of those games could have gone either way, and those are not strong teams.

Danny (Bronx, NY)


What is the Knicks plan B if they don't get melo?? I'm hearing Iggy rumors...any truth to it??
Chris Sheridan
(2:43 PM)


If they don't get him in a trade, they get him as an unrestricted free agent without giving up anything off their current roster. That's Plan B, and it's a good Plan B.

Erik ((NYC))


Why is the thinking that all of sudden Melo is incapable of playing in D'Antoni's system, when all he did was flourish under his style of play in the Olympics? I think Melo is more diverse of a player than people are giving him credit for.
Chris Sheridan
(2:48 PM)


Melo was the MVP of the 2006 Team USA in Japan (only American to make first-team all-tournament), and he and DWade were the two most clutch players for Team USA at the Beijing Olympics. So you make a very valid point Erik. Also, D'Antoni and Coach K used Melo at the 4 in Beijing. D'Antoni would use him there in NY, too, with Amare at the 5, if he didn't want to start Turiaf. Right now, D'Antoni is more comfortable with Stoudemire starting at the 5 with Turiaf coming of the bench.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/ ... s-sheridan

[BowlRips]

Intro:

Good afternoon from New York. All things Melo are open to discussion, of course. From the volume of comments on yesterday's story and e-mails I am receiving, let's just say there's quite a bit of interest in this topic. Those doubting the accuracy of my story are wrong. New Jersey is out. He won't sign there. Period. Same with Chicago. Questions?

Question:

Give me the odds of the Carmelo Anthony trade happening, 50% ? 70% ?

Answer:

75 percent.

Question:

So, assuming the "Knicks-only" scenario is true, what happens if Denver holds Melo past the deadline? Will the Knicks have enough cap space during the off-season to sign Melo outright?

Answer:

Carmelo is under contract through next season, but he has an opt-out (actually an ETO, basically the same thing). So Carmelo is not considered an expiring contract, and he remains tradeable right up until June 30 if the Nuggets hang onto him past the deadline. Also, the extension that's sitting on the table is good through June 30, too. This is a piece of leverage the Nuggets hold over the Knicks, because NY needs to make the trade by Feb. 24 in order to include Eddy Curry's expiring contract in the deal. And you need the Curry money to make the salaries match.

Question:

What is the Knicks plan B if they don't get melo?? I'm hearing Iggy rumors...any truth to it??

Answer:

If they don't get him in a trade, they get him as an unrestricted free agent without giving up anything off their current roster. That's Plan B, and it's a good Plan B

Question:

Plan A (incl. Fields) is too costly. Plan A (w/o Fields) is better...i say Fields is the deal breaker.

Answer:

I have a hard time coming to grips with the thought that Landry Fields could be a deal-breaker. Yes, the Knicks love him. But they got him at No. 39, and they'll have a first-round pick next summer (the lesser of theirs or the Rockets') with which they can go out and try to replace him. And that draft pick will be on the rookie scale, whereas Fields is not.

Question:

So with Plan B, Denver gets nothing out of this, right? Why would Denver allow it to even get to that point?

Answer:

Denver will not lose him for nothing like Toronto did with Bosh and Cleveland did with LeBron. That's part of why I put the likelihood at 75 percent.

Pretty strong words by Sheridan.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/35988

I expect this to go to February and i hope the Knicks will have a record way above .500 so the Knicks will have a few games to "gell". Hope we dont give up the farm though.

Sheridan totally dismisses idea from Asshola and Berman that Carmelo is still considering other teams.

Just hope we dont give up the farm.

Anthony Randolph, Toney Douglas, Azuibuike, 2015 First Rounder

[Flaming Mo]

All speculation...

[god shammgod]

i didn't know about the june 30th trade possibility. that's interesting.

[DishAndSwish]

Except Sheridan is inaccurate when he says the Knicks can sign Melo without giving up anything off their current roster.

[Newyorknick94]

thank god these stupid rumors about melo most likely goin to the nets or the bulls are really annoying lol

[Capn'O]

Question:

So, assuming the "Knicks-only" scenario is true, what happens if Denver holds Melo past the deadline? Will the Knicks have enough cap space during the off-season to sign Melo outright?

Answer:

Carmelo is under contract through next season, but he has an opt-out (actually an ETO, basically the same thing). So Carmelo is not considered an expiring contract, and he remains tradeable right up until June 30 if the Nuggets hang onto him past the deadline. Also, the extension that's sitting on the table is good through June 30, too. This is a piece of leverage the Nuggets hold over the Knicks, because NY needs to make the trade by Feb. 24 in order to include Eddy Curry's expiring contract in the deal. And you need the Curry money to make the salaries match.

This is actually a useful piece of logistics toward understanding the current dance.

I still hope Walsh can hold out for the _right_ deal in this. Bring in a few teams and if we have to give up major assets get a piece or to back that will fill a role we need.

[BLACKFEET 2010]

i didn't know about the june 30th trade possibility. that's interesting.

I'm guessing that's like when guys get traded during the playoffs..like Reggie Evans did a few years back.

[roy10]

What kind of model does Sheridan use to calculate the 75% odds? these guys are clowns.

My feeling is that Melo plays out the season in Denver.

[god shammgod]

it's hard to think he's not really sure about thus when he's so willing to be definite about it. the last person who was like that with a rumor was sas about lebron to miami and he was right.

[towelie]

i didn't know about the june 30th trade possibility. that's interesting.

I'm pretty sure that's wrong, as this is what Larry Coon's FAQ has to say about it:

When the trading deadline has passed. Teams are free to make trades again once their season has ended, but cannot trade players whose contracts are ending or could end due to an option or ETO.

So as far as I understand it, Carmelo can't be traded in June unless he exercises his option before June 30th, which essentially takes him out of 2011 FA and postpones it to 2012.

[Nyc Hugo]

Question:

What is the Knicks plan B if they don't get melo?? I'm hearing Iggy rumors...any truth to it??

Answer:

If they don't get him in a trade, they get him as an unrestricted free agent without giving up anything off their current roster. That's Plan B, and it's a good Plan B

Of signing the extension this season, Anthony said, "Whatever decision I make, that is going to be the first thing that gets done."

So would we be able to sign him as a FA or not??

[god shammgod]

i didn't know about the june 30th trade possibility. that's interesting.

I'm pretty sure that's wrong, as this is what Larry Coon's FAQ has to say about it:

When the trading deadline has passed. Teams are free to make trades again once their season has ended, but cannot trade players whose contracts are ending or could end due to an option or ETO.

So as far as I understand it, Carmelo can't be traded in June unless he exercises his option before June 30th, which essentially takes him out of 2011 FA and postpones it to 2012.

that makes more sense. it's funny how these guys never know the rules.

[BigUgly]

That June 30th thing is interesting but if it goes that far with him on Denver Mr Anthony will have his partys in NYC booked like Lebron did in Miami with the cabannas. I just wonder when is the lockout going to go in effect. We will have to wait until January for siginings like 1999

[HEZI]

What date does Currys contract officially expire?

[towelie]

i didn't know about the june 30th trade possibility. that's interesting.

I'm pretty sure that's wrong, as this is what Larry Coon's FAQ has to say about it:

When the trading deadline has passed. Teams are free to make trades again once their season has ended, but cannot trade players whose contracts are ending or could end due to an option or ETO.

So as far as I understand it, Carmelo can't be traded in June unless he exercises his option before June 30th, which essentially takes him out of 2011 FA and postpones it to 2012.

that makes more sense. it's funny how these guys never know the rules.

Considering Sheridan is also dead wrong on us losing no one of significance if we wait to sign Melo, I wouldn't be surprised if he was wrong about this too.

I also hate how he's downplaying the accomplishments of Fields cause he's a 2nd round pick, and "we can just find another replacement next year with our 1st round pick." Players like Fields are very difficult to find, and we got ourselves a steal. We shouldn't give him up as if he were just a throw-in like Lampe.

[HarthorneWingo]

Except Sheridan is inaccurate when he says the Knicks can sign Melo without giving up anything off their current roster.

How so? If he opts out, we get him without giving up any players, right?

[magnumt]

Great stuff by Sherdian.

[GONYK]

Except Sheridan is inaccurate when he says the Knicks can sign Melo without giving up anything off their current roster.

How so? If he opts out, we get him without giving up any players, right?

We will have to renounce Wilson and move Turiaf

[HarthorneWingo]

Except Sheridan is inaccurate when he says the Knicks can sign Melo without giving up anything off their current roster.

How so? If he opts out, we get him without giving up any players, right?

We will have to renounce Wilson and move Turiaf

.... in order to fit Melo's contract within our salary cap? I read something about then re-signing Chandler after the fact; is that true?

Help me out here, bro.