vincecarter4pres wrote:You know, watching this game I just want to say a couple things.
Maybe I've been a little hard on expectations of next year and the future of this team if we get Melo, simply on regular season record.
We all tend to be knee jerk and maybe I have been to, but only regular season wise.
Maybe this team can win 50 or so games after this trade next season.
Maybe Brook can turn back into that beast.
But, I just want to reiterate, that does not change my opinion, that this team would not be a true contender by any means and would still be a Chris Paul away from it. No question about it. No small bandaid fixes or MLE signings would turn this team into a real contender, we will always be a star away.
But, I've been wildin' a little lately with all the speculation and I refuse to change my stance, but just remember, my goal is never to try and stop you from voicing your opinion or believing what you will, or especially from rooting for this team, having faith and being optimistic, I simply want to put facts out there, voice my own opinion and put things in perspective.
I'm sorry if it feels differently or if you have personally felt insulted, I don't mean to piss on your parade, I just have bigger aspirations for this team and maybe it's because of so many years following such a shunned on and disrespected franchise coupled with being spoiled by such an epic and emotionally attached team as the J Kidd era, even if we were the Buffalo Bills of the NBA for that time period, I expect more, or feel entitled to have the privilege to be in that mix again.
Viva el Nets!
I think this is pretty much spot on towards how most fans feel. Chris Paul should be the ultimate goal no matter what happens with Melo. To me here's the million dollar question I struggle with - What is the best way to get him?
1- Keep all of our assets, hope that Favors/Brook/our top 5 pick grow together quicker. Hope the timing of Brooklyn works in our advantage. Make some smart moves with non-core pieces (Harris etc.) - and try to get Paul by offering the best possible package and convincing him to come here.
or
2- Do the Melo deal knowing we're in the driver seat and spend the next 2 years shedding non-essential players' salaries (Outlaw, Rip, whoever else comes back) to make it happen. (basically do what the Knix did the past 2 years).
Admittedly I'm swinging towards #2 purely out of the fact that basketball will at least be more fun over the next year. Route one would require Billy King to make a lot of savy moves I'm not confident he can make. Maybe I'm crazy but I think next year if Rip has 1 year + a big buyout left and he is playing well - he'll be tradable. I definitely think he'll be tradeable in the 2012 offseason with only 1 year left on his deal.
As for Outlaw we need to pray there is a 1 time buyout clause this offseason.
