VOTE: Melo's Deputy

[ecuhus1981]

Alright, I know that Melo talk has died down (for now), but I still think that the Nets will be in the running for Anthony's services before the February trade deadline. It seems that Lopez won't be a part of any deal, and our FO is doing its best not to include Kris Humphries in offers (a smart move IMO, as he would have WAY more value to us than anyone else if we trade Favors). We know that Denver wants to move Billups, and Devin has long been a part of the outgoing package. SO, assuming we have a new Billups-Anthony-Humphries-Lopez core, there's really only one starting position left to upgrade, SG.

A move for one of the SGs on the market could help entice Melo to push for a trade to us. Here is my personal list of seemingly available SGs, along with essential information to make an informed decision. I know some of you wouldn't add a SG at all, but let's assume that you HAD to pick one in order to convince Anthony, and that our FO was dead-set on reeling in Carmelo. You tell me who you would go after, and why:

BRANDON ROY
Age / Height / Weight: 26 / 6'6” / 211
Contract in '11-'12 / '12-'13 / '13-'14 / ’14-‘15 (in millions): $14.9 / $16.4 / $17.8 / $19.9 (team option)
Other Information: 3-time All-Star – when healthy, a consensus top-20 player - advanced skill set, and one of the most difficult to scout in the league - recently underwent cartilage surgery on both knees - hopes to return this season, but Portland wants him to wait - contract is insured and the policy IS transferable – paid like the franchise player has been, but injuries may force him to become a 3rd option

ANDRE IGUODALA
Age / Height / Weight: 26 / 6’6” / 207
Contract in '11-'12 / '12-'13 / '13-'14 / '14-'15 (in millions): $12.2 / $13.5 / $14.7 / $15.9 (player option)
Other Information: top-10 SG, top-40 player – utility wing with above-average court vision and exceptional athleticism – solid rebounder as well – not a scorer - defends well, especially when scoring burden is not on his shoulders

KEVIN MARTIN
Age / Height / Weight: 27 / 6’7” / 195
Contract in '11-'12 / '12-'13 / '13-'14 (in millions): $11.1 / $12.0 / $12.9
Other Information: top-10 SG, top-40 player – known as an elite scorer, but does so in different ways than Melo – average at best in almost every other facet – has a reputation as a weak defender – Houston may not be ready to let go of him, and might not want to help another team land Melo (the apple of their eye as well)

STEPHEN JACKSON
Age / Height / Weight: 32 / 6’8” / 218
Contract in '11-'12 / '12-'13 / '13-'14 (in millions): $8.5 / $9.3 / $10.1
Other Information: won a ring with the Spurs in 2003 – do-it-all playmaking wing – doesn’t do anything very efficiently, though - known as a quality defender, but is exiting his prime in that facet as well – mercurial personality, can galvanize a locker room or divide it

RIP HAMILTON
Age / Height / Weight: 32 / 6’7” / 193
Contract in '11-'12 / '12-'13 / '13-'14 (in millions): $12.7 / $12.7 / $12.7
Other Information: 3-time All-Star – won a ring with the Pistons in 2004– earned a reputation as a tireless off-the-ball offensive talent - slowing down, but can still execute in the half court - in the midst of his worst season since his rookie year – – has not meshed with their new core, or Coach Kuester could return to form in a new environment, but statistical regression at his age is concerning

[SteveNets15]

I'll keep it gangsta go wit my dude STEPHEN JACKSON!!!!!

[Lamak]

None of em. Hamilton and Jackson are too old for my liking. Roy will never be the same player and is on the decline. Iguodala would be a good pickup, but he's a 2nd option just like Lopez as of now. I don't think we need two of those.

[Netaman]

Under this premise, and assuming we would have to get one of these guys, I choose AI. As a 3rd/4th option he would be in a perfect role. He showed this Summer on Team USA that when he focuses on being a stoic defender he is very effective. He would round out that lineup very nicely although I think he would likely blow the doors off any potential DWill/Cp3 dream.

[vincecarter4pres]

None of the above.

[ecuhus1981]

None of the above.

Cheater! Follow the premise! :

Not surprisingly, Iguodala is leading in the polls so far. Andre would be a great fit in between Chauncey and Melo, no doubt. They have good rapport from the World Games, and on a team with Anthony and Lopez as the primary weapons, he could relax into a role more suited to his strengths. All things being equal, he'd be the smart choice. Too bad things aren't all equal, and I should have mentioned this in the OP: these 5 players vary in value, and how much we would have to pay to get one of them is a big factor to consider.

The big question is, what does Iggy cost? Three of the other four guys on this list are on teams that are not currently in the playoff picture. Jackson and Hamilton could probably be pried away from their respective teams for little more than expirings, and although K-Mart was acquired by the Rockets less than a year ago, they might be tempted to go into a full rebuild and sell off their assets. The Blazers are sitting at 8th in the West now, and with a solid SG duo (Matthews/Fernandez) in place, and other long-term needs yet to address, Portland could be getting ready to move their franchise player in Roy.

For the most part, POR fans that have replied to one my T&T board threads seem OK with Harris, Outlaw, Petro and the '12 GSW 1st for Roy, Miller and Babbitt. Miller, an quality veteran expiring with prior history on the Nuggets, and Babbitt, a rookie combo forward with a knack for scoring, could be spun to DEN.

Meanwhile, PHI fans have flatly refused taking on either Devin or Travis in an Iguodala deal, citing their already unmanageable depth at those positions (they're not thrilled about Johan, either.) Really, they want one of two things: for us to give them Favors (never, not even if we weren't trading him for Melo), or taking on Brand as well, for pure '11 expirings (Murphy/Vujacic) and the GSW 1st. Now, I've said many times that I like Brand, and I wouldn't mind absorbing the 3 years and $51mil left on his deal, under the right circumstances. But our '11-'12 starting lineup would cost $66mil (and a $7mil backup named Travis Outlaw), with Lopez harrumphing for an extension. That team had better be DARN good, because there wouldn't be many options to tweak it later. Not to mention, we'd still have to come up with the spare assets to give to DEN that they wouldn't be getting in the form of Miller/Babbitt, like Morrow/James. Finally, we can't feasibly pursue max 2012 FAs to replace Billups (like Chris Paul and Deron Williams) with Anthony, Brand, Iguodala and Outlaw ($63mil in guaranteed '12-'13 salary for just those four guys!) on our books.

Call me crazy (and I know you will, vc4p!), but I find Roy (and what he would cost us) to be LESS of a risk than Iggy and everything that would come with it. If you couldn't already tell, my vote goes to Brandon Roy.

[vincecarter4pres]

Iggy would be a terrible fit next to Chaunce and Melo.

He's really a small forward, he's bad in the half court and he can't shoot for ****.

The spacing would be terrible and he only really excels in transition and with the ball in his hands.

Iggy should be paid about 5 to 7 mill less a year and should be a 30mpg 6xth man utility type or a 4th option on a run and gun team.

[ecuhus1981]

^

You can't say he'd be a terrible fit; that's just not true. I agree he's really a point forward on the offensive end, but he can guard the opposition's best perimeter player, whether it's a PG, SG or a SF. That'd be huge. His point forward skills would be allowed to flourish with a PG like Chauncey, who's effective off the ball. And Melo is essentially a SG on offense, so having a SF-in-a-SG's-body like Iggy would work there as well.

Everyone is overpaid in the NBA, and if he's good enough to lead his team into the playoff picture, you can't completely knock his ability as more than a 4th option. I'm not going to argue with you, as you can tell that Iguodala is not my first choice among these guys. Unless it means you are liking the idea of Roy more... :p

[Preludepunk27]

Personally, I'd be ok with AI in theory, but I'm against it completely due to this fact:

Someone mentioned he would be a nice 3rd/4th scoring option, but yes you HAVE TO take into account his contract. I'm not paying that kind of salary for a guy considered our 3rd/4th option unless he is a legitimate leader or basically an all star. AI, as much as some people love him, is just slightly above Devin in my opinion. Putting him next to Melo hypothetically makes my cringe too. I'd rather have a true SG next to Melo. But also, how the hell are we going to get Melo (either by trade or FA), nab an above average PG if Devin isn't here, extend Brook, and fill the roster with some stronger rotation guys (that are more then vet min players past their prime)?

Bottom line: Adding AI DESTROYS that worse than Rip would in the rumored deal from earlier this month. If just can't be done. Whether we traded for Melo and gutted our roster or nabbed him in free agency, we'd be screwed.

Through the trade for both players we'd essentially gut our roster and have half our cap used on 2 guys. If Brook is still around at that point, our cap would be almost all used up, and you think we'd be able to STILL fill out our rotation with strong playes. In that instance, kiss CP3 or Deron goodbye because we just can't afford it. The same would happen if we got Melo in FA, only we'd lose any young talent we have because we'd go to cap hell when extending them. Yes Prohky has cash, but if anything goes wrong, we're screwed thanks to AI's contract.

I'm not even going to get into the fact the new CBA is gonna be nuts most likely and hurt this idea even more.

I would think about Stephen Jackson, but I would prefer not to trade ANY assett for him really. Not even Murphy's expiring.

All players discussed in this thread is just mismanagement of roster space and our cap in my opinion.

[ecuhus1981]

All players discussed in this thread is just mismanagement of roster space and our cap in my opinion.

True, but the point remains that it may be necessary in order for us to assemble a contender. If Anthony said, "if you don't get a legit starting SG, I won't sing the extension", would you honestly walk away from the Melo deal?

[vincecarter4pres]

How is it not true that Iggy would be a terrible fit?

He needs the ball in his hands to be effective, is mediocre at best in the half court, is a terrible shooter and he's really a small forward.

And Melo a shooting guard in a small forward's body? I'd love to hear the explanation on this one.

[Preludepunk27]

All players discussed in this thread is just mismanagement of roster space and our cap in my opinion.

True, but the point remains that it may be necessary in order for us to assemble a contender. If Anthony said, "if you don't get a legit starting SG, I won't sing the extension", would you honestly walk away from the Melo deal?

I understand what you're saying, but you don't make a move JUST for the sake of making a move. None of those guys fit the bill. Just because they have name recognition doesn't mean it'll work. I'm not going into cap hell, probably even worse than originally thought when the new CBA comes in, along with trading away solid assets just to get that done.

I personally wish there was a guy like Kerry Kittles in the league right now that could be had. Kerry stretched the floor, had 3pt range, a strong wing defender, was a solid passer and was efficient without the need of the ball in his hands. Rip is close to it but is a much weaker defender and is a little too old for my taste. I wish OJ Mayo was like 6'6" because to me, he fits the bill the closest to what I'm looking for.

But again, even if Melo said that, none of those guys would be on my list. Making a rash move like that is not the way to build a contender.

[NyCeEvO]

^^What he said.

[John Starks]

Keep dreaming that you will get Melo. He only wants the Knicks. Stop this and just build with your draft picks. Why keep false hope alive?

Warned: RealGM Forum Policy, Forum Rule C
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- Rich Rane

[vincecarter4pres]

Keep dreaming that you will get Melo. He only wants the Knicks. Stop this and just build with your draft picks. Why keep false hope alive?

Warned: RealGM Forum Policy, Forum Rule C
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- Rich Rane

My money's on the under.

[ecuhus1981]

vc4p, let me try to reason with you on the Roy vs. Iguodala thing. I KNOW, you don't want either, but if this franchise had to choose one, it should be Roy, and here's the main reason why: money. Specifically, the difference in the asking price between these two swingmen seems to be Outlaw + Brand. POR is willing to absorb TrOut, while PHI won't. Meanwhile, PHI demands we take Brand off of their hands. That represents $25mil in '12 salary, when we're hoping to add to our core with a franchise PG. That's not possible if we acquire Iggy. It's a stretch with Roy, but it's at least possible.

[ecuhus1981]

Exhibit A

[Shark]

Could I chose Melo as Melo's deputy?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q041NE-foN0[/youtube]