OT: Nets & Nuggets Reach Agreement On Trade;Now Its Up To CA

[ImSlower]

I want this trade to happen very much. And solely because I'm so damned tired of hearing about Carmelo Anthony. Plus I'd prefer him in Brooklyn, just so that it's less likely of a superstar trio in MSG.

[ELCIDz]

Cliff Levingston thinks Melo's ego is big enough to take this deal. He might ideally want to play at MSG but he'll be close enough in Brooklyn and pretty much have his own franchise in NY within a year and a half along with an owner that'll kiss the ground he walks on.

What would be funny though is when they don't start winning a whole lot of games. That resulting team isn't any better than the Knicks really, who are a .500 team. Unless they could get Paul or Williams in 2012 (or Howard somehow) then they'll never be a serious threat. The dirty little secret is that Lopez is a rich man's Eddy Curry. Per 36 this year, he's got 20 points on 47.5% shooting, 6 boards, 1.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 2.5 turnovers. Eddy Curry in his second year (straight out of high school no less) put up 19.5 points on 58.5% shooting, 8 boards, 0.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 3.1 turnovers per 36. Having Melo take offensive pressure off will help his efficiency but it won't help on the glass or defensively.

Lopez' rebounding has gone WAY down in 3 years. His points are up but his FG% is down and turnovers up. Seems to getting markedly worse but shooting more.

Lopez reminds me of early Lamarcus Aldridge.

[KingoftheCastle]

Melo is just so goddamn overrated, he isn't the savior to any franchise. Can't wait to see this crash in burn wherever it goes.

[kyrv]

Melo is just so goddamn overrated, he isn't the savior to any franchise. Can't wait to see this crash in burn wherever it goes.

He makes them better.

In my years following sports I've never heard someone say "player X is the savior" but I've heard people point out that "player x is not the savior" thousands, and I mean thousands, of times.

Who said he was the savior?

[johnnyvann840]

If by "credible" you mean 41-41 and a 1st round exit at best.

Is that not better than being 17-40 with no hope of making the playoffs? If Melo makes them 20+ wins better, that's a significant improvement.

I'm not saying Melo makes them a contender, but he gives them credibility. The Nets would have cap space in 2012. All he would have to do is wait out 1 1/2 more seasons with a Billups/Melo/Lopez core, and they would have enough space to bring in Deron Williams, Chris Paul or Dwight Howard. The Nets wouldn't have any long-term deals on the team besides him and Travis Outlaw (eh).

Melo will sell tickets and a ton of jerseys and create a lot of hype for the big Brooklyn project.

[dice]

4 1st round picks? And giving up Harris and Favors? XD.

Please, please do this. This will destroy the Nets franchise once they find out how overrated Melo really is.

a little research tells me the houston pick next year is lotto protected. so that ain't worth much. the GSW pick is top 6 protected next 2 years and top 7 protected in 2014, after which it evaporates into a couple of 2nd rounders. so that thing's worth around a #13 pick

using my patented draft pick chart:

GSW 2012 #13 pick - 6 points
hou 2012 mid-late round pick - 4 points
nets 2011 (assuming unprotected) - 12 points (equivalent of #6 pick)
laker 2011 - late first round - 3 points
favors - ???

that's 25 points + favors

from my chart, #1 overall pick = 38 points, #2 = 24, #3 = 20, #4 = 17, #5 = 14, #6 = 12, #7 = 10

so assuming favors is still worth a top 10 pick and the nets' own 2010 pick is unprotected, the nets are essentially giving up the equivalent of a #1 overall pick for melo and his bloated cap-devouring contract. ouch

[Red Larrivee]

You make it sound like the Nets are trading all of this for Zach Randolph. This is a 17-40 team on the verge of acquiring one of the 10-12 best players in the league IN HIS PRIME. How is there any downside to it?

[dice]

You make it sound like the Nets are trading all of this for Zach Randolph. This is a 17-40 team on the verge of acquiring one of the 10-12 best players in the league IN HIS PRIME. How is there any downside to it?

you have to way overpay him (under the current CBA, no less) and the NBA has a salary cap

[Red Larrivee]

So they have to overpay to get one of the best offensive players in the game, in his prime. Essentially four first round picks and Derrick Favors. That's fair value.

[illiance]

You make it sound like the Nets are trading all of this for Zach Randolph. This is a 17-40 team on the verge of acquiring one of the 10-12 best players in the league IN HIS PRIME. How is there any downside to it?

What exactly has Melo done? His advanced stats back up that he isn't a game changer as the clear cut best player on a team. They are gutting the entire team but Lopez for him. From a basketball stand-point it makes little sense but I see the need since they need to get some of the NY market when they move.

[dice]

So they have to overpay to get one of the best offensive players in the game, in his prime.

i don't think you understand the concept of overpaying. you don't overpay michael jordan in his prime

[Red Larrivee]

What exactly has Melo done? His advanced stats back up that he isn't a game changer as the clear cut best player on a team.

Eye test confirms that he's one of the best offensive players in the game.

They are gutting the entire team but Lopez for him.

The Nets are 17-40 folks. 17-40. How is gutting a 17-40 team a bad move?

From a basketball stand-point it makes little sense but I see the need since they need to get some of the NY market when they move.

From a basketball stand-point it makes perfect sense.

i don't think you understand the concept of overpaying. you don't overpay michael jordan in his prime

Yes you do.

[Jordan45822]

You make it sound like the Nets are trading all of this for Zach Randolph. This is a 17-40 team on the verge of acquiring one of the 10-12 best players in the league IN HIS PRIME. How is there any downside to it?

No defense "star" dude

[dougthonus]

(1) Meets with the Nyets, says he'll consider it.

(2) Meets with Dolan, says he'll sign extension with Nyets unless the Knicks step up and do what Denver is demanding.

(3) Knicks go on ahead and do that since they can't afford not to.

I don't think Dolan is that dumb though.

Time for another list:

(1) Yes he is, and then some.

(2) The Knicks simply can't go back to their fanbase and say "We couldn't give up Fields and Gallo" while Melo suits up in Brooklyn.

(3) Amare is not a sufficient draw for other elite talent to want to come to the Knicks.

Knicks should be able to keep max cap room open in 2012. At that point, Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are UFAs. I doubt very much they'd get shut out there.

[dice]

From a basketball stand-point it makes little sense but I see the need since they need to get some of the NY market when they move.

and if they still stink they won't get much of the NY market. particularly when they've now unburdened their sole competitor for that market! the knicks will use their capspace over the summer and become a very, very good team next year

[Red Larrivee]

No defense "star" dude

It's more than possible to be considered a star if you don't defend.

[DanTown8587]

4 1st round picks? And giving up Harris and Favors? XD.

Please, please do this. This will destroy the Nets franchise once they find out how overrated Melo really is.

a little research tells me the houston pick next year is lotto protected. so that ain't worth much. the GSW pick is top 6 protected next 2 years and top 7 protected in 2014, after which it evaporates into a couple of 2nd rounders. so that thing's worth around a #13 pick

using my patented draft pick chart:

GSW 2012 #13 pick - 6 points
hou 2012 mid-late round pick - 4 points
nets 2011 (assuming unprotected) - 12 points (equivalent of #6 pick)
laker 2011 - late first round - 3 points
favors - ???

that's 25 points + favors

from my chart, #1 overall pick = 38 points, #2 = 24, #3 = 20, #4 = 17, #5 = 14, #6 = 12, #7 = 10

so assuming favors is still worth a top 10 pick and the nets' own 2010 pick is unprotected, the nets are essentially giving up the equivalent of a #1 overall pick for melo and his bloated cap-devouring contract. ouch

You know why your own system of adding value to draft picks is wrong for the NBA? You only play five guys. So there are years where #2 and #7 are no different and years #5 and #6 have vast differences. For example, in 2003 if you had a top 5 pick, you had a 4 of 5 chance in drafting a player who would be top 20 in the league. That's worth #6 and #7 and #8. You have to look at this in terms of who NJ is taking off the court and placing on it.

The top eight in minutes for NJ are
Lopez
Outlaw
Harris
Humphries
Morrow
Farmar
Favors
Vujacic

Guessing after the trade it goes to
Anthony (better than anyone previously listed)
Billups (better than anyone previously listed)
Lopez
Humphries
Morrow
Outlaw
Farmar
Vujacic

So basically, the Nets traded their #3 and #7 in terms of minutes players and got back two better players. Why is this a bad deal? They improved a team winning 30% of it's games by giving up two players who aren't playing that well and a lottery pick and some future picks that could be rotation players.

[dice]

i don't think you understand the concept of overpaying. you don't overpay michael jordan in his prime

Yes you do.

don't think there's much convincing you at this point. you're essentially saying that as long as your team is bad and some player is really good there's no limit to how much he can ask you for. that's shortsighted and it hurts both your franchise and your basketball team in the long term

[Red Larrivee]

don't think there's much convincing you at this point. you're essentially saying that as long as your team is bad and some player is really good there's no limit to how much he can ask you for. at the detriment of your team

So Carmelo isn't worth the 4/84 (including his opt out option)? He's 26 years old, averaging 26/8, but he's not worth 4/84?

[Jordan45822]

http://twitter.com/#!/alanhahn/status/38682867672416256

From AP: Carmelo Anthony says “no meeting at all” is scheduled with the New Jersey Nets. #fb

http://twitter.com/#!/NetsDaily

Melo tells writers no meeting skedded with Nets, adds: "If I was to meet with that guy to be honest I really don't know what I would say."

Didn't I watch this movie before?