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

[Cliff Levingston]

I doubt it. D=antoni has never cared for defense. And neither has melo or amare. I doubt this trade changes that....esp when Chandler is your best individual defender. You guys may have a better team but not better defensivly. probably alot worst. But that doesnt mean you wont win. Yall may suprise someone in round one. Just not us.

At least in the starting lineup, they'd have the right kinds of guys around Melo/Amare: Turiaf, Fields and Billups. Douglas is a good defender as well coming off the bench.

This deal would definitely make them more dangerous; they just need time to build up the bench a bit. Still, Cliff Levingston isn't the biggest fan of Amare and Carmelo but there's not doubting how talented and dangerous they are.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

I doubt it. D=antoni has never cared for defense. And neither has melo or amare. I doubt this trade changes that....esp when Chandler is your best individual defender. You guys may have a better team but not better defensivly. probably alot worst. But that doesnt mean you wont win. Yall may suprise someone in round one. Just not us.

At least in the starting lineup, they'd have the right kinds of guys around Melo/Amare: Turiaf, Fields and Billups. Douglas is a good defender as well coming off the bench.

This deal would definitely make them more dangerous; they just need time to build up the bench a bit. Still, Cliff Levingston isn't the biggest fan of Amare and Carmelo but there's not doubting how talented and dangerous they are.

Turiaf is a terrible defender and rebounder. He gets accolades for 'hustle' but it rarely results in any tangible benefits.

So essentially they'll have two big guards who can defend other big guards, and then a turnstile behind them.

[Dieselbound&Down]

The good thing that might come out of this trade is that D'antoni will be held to higher standards. So if this team still has no consistent defensive scheme, he will be gone...

I'd hate to be in 'Antoni's shoes. I mean, Dolan is reknowned for being overly demanding and hard on Knicks hires and for having an extremely short leash. That reputation is almost as strong as 'Antoni's reputation for tweaking his schemes and using defense as a measuring stick for how often players see the floor. I'm sure the coach is pressuring Knicks brass to keep Moz in NY because he knows how critical Moz's rim defending is to the Knicks making a deep playoff run this year.

Sorry for being harsh, still haven't gotten all my pent up Knick bashing out of my system from the Isiah years.

[organix85]

Here's what I really don't get. Denver wants two 1st round picks over Gali and the russian C and Wilson is going to make 8-10 mil next year as a FA IMO.

Why wouldn't they want to deal with the Bulls and get ours and Charlotte's 1st and Deng instead. I think Deng at his price is way better then Wilson at what he is going to make as a FA.

Bulls could give them Deng, Gibson, JJ, Char 1st, our 1st and Phx 2nd round pick and take back Balkman and Melo....

Yeah they still have Billups but if you're keeping Karl, why not give him a team that can still compete? Billups-Afflalo-Deng-Gibson still competes plus you have Nene, and Smith to add future picks and players to complete the roster.


I guess Melo just really wants NY only because I think a Bulls deal is better then the Knicks

I think the problem here is that they may not even resign Chandler. Deng doesn't give them the option of changing their mind. Also, they'll get better picks with the Nets if I remember correctly. I kind of remember the last report (assuming they get Mozgov) having them with 3 picks. I guess you could argue that Taj is worth one of those picks though.

[Shootdabull]

It's about the frustration with Denv constantly asking for more....
First it was Chandler, Curry and pick.
Then Gallo was added, then Billups Felton swap was added, then AR was added, now they want Moz, then they don't want Gallo but Moz and Fields instead... Not to mention we have to take two useless scrubs as the "fillers". And at the end it's where do you draw the line and say enough?

Do you really think it is denver constantly asking for more. It seems to me more like Denver said this is what we want and NY started offering up up Chandler, Curry and pick. Which is an easy no from there point of view. I think most of the offers from NY were on the low end, and now they have reached the point that Denver is interested. I think the knicks are going to come out ahead on this one as it harder to find a players of mello's ability, even if you end up giving a little more than you wanted.

[nitetrain8603]

I don't know why people think low of Denver's FO. No matter what, it seems like they're going to make out like bandits and get something they want. Either Melo stays, or they get a vast overpayment and probably the biggest in NBA history.

[Red Larrivee]

I said it before in another thread, but Melo/Amar'e on paper reminds me of the Melo/Iverson tandem years back in Denver. Remember when everyone thought they would make the Nuggets a top contender not just in the West, but the league?

-Two of the league's best offensive players, putting up between 25-28 a game. Who can stop them?
-Two players who historically and currently aren't defensively motivated.
-Uptempo system that doesn't encourage defense? Check.

Denver went 45-37 in Iverson's first season with Melo. Melo averaged 28.9ppg, Iverson averaged 24.8ppg. Melo had a 33.1% usage, while Iverson had a 27.1%. Next season Iverson averages 26.4ppg, while Melo averaged 25.7. Melo with a 30.2% usage, Iverson with a 26.7. They were in the Top 10 in the league in scoring both seasons individually, but their team deense was horrible.

Both seasons they were eliminated in the first round while only winning 1 game out of 8 against the Lakers and Spurs.

Melo/Amar'e might have an easier time since the East isn't as deep as the West when it comes to competitive teams. But at the top, the East does have the best defensive teams in the league in Boston, Miami, Chicago and Orlando. Atlanta's no slouch either.

Still, there's no reason for the Knicks not to get Melo. With them the Knicks should be a Top 4-5 team in the East for a while. But if they really think their team is going to win a ring with their two best players uninterested in defense and a head coach who's living by jumpers while sacrificing rebounding and defense, then in short: they're screwed.

[kyrv]

Red, come on, everyone didn't think that. Melo/Iverson seemed like a train wreck waiting to happen. A host of ESPN idiots (is that redundant) thought it would work, it was a tremendous huge long shot of long shots to work.

I don't think it's fair or accurate to compare Iverson to Amare, as far as results might be, Amare is not a ball dominant inefficient chucking guard. He's a super efficient scoring big.

I think the Knicks will be better post trade. At least long term, if not short term.

[Red Larrivee]

A lot of people thought pairing Iverson in his last prime years with Melo would result in contention. There was a really positive vibe from around the league post trade. I only remember reading and hearing a smal volume of people who thought it was redundant and would end in the trainwreck it did.

I'm not comparing Amar'e and Iverson's production, because clearly Amar'e's more efficient and has an advantage as an athletic 6'10 big man. I'm comparing them as two offensively driven players who don't defend, being paired with another player in that same mold on a team that doesn't specialize in defense.

The Knicks will be better after the trade, that's a given. Top 4-5 team in the East every season as I said, and I definitely wouldn't want to see them in the first round with Billups/Melo/Amar'e. But Melo/Amar'e won't win a ring together unless one or both of these things happen:

1. D'Antoni is fired.
2. They become interested in defense.

[ELCIDz]

A lot of people thought pairing Iverson in his last prime years with Melo would result in contention. There was a really positive vibe from around the league post trade. I only remember reading and hearing a smal volume of people who thought it was redundant and would end in the trainwreck it did.

I'm not comparing Amar'e and Iverson's production, because clearly Amar'e's more efficient and has an advantage as an athletic 6'10 big man. I'm comparing them as two offensively driven players who don't defend, being paired with another player in that same mold on a team that doesn't specialize in defense.

The Knicks will be better after the trade, that's a given. Top 4-5 team in the East every season as I said, and I definitely wouldn't want to see them in the first round with Billups/Melo/Amar'e. But Melo/Amar'e won't win a ring together unless one or both of these things happen:

1. D'Antoni is fired.
2. They become interested in defense.

Totally agreed. This will put them on par with ATL and maybe ORL but not more than that.

[kyrv]

I agree they are incredibly unlikely to win a ring, and that it's not the optimum pairing.

I think it could make the Knicks better, and is better than other deals out there.

And I hope they have to give up some depth, including Fields.

This could make it easier to attract a third guy, the money would be tricky though, and I don't think they are a title concern now, so pretty much I guess I agree with your assessment.

[Red Larrivee]

I don't buy into the whole three star thing. Too many factors like the new CBA, Landry Fields being a free agent and both Melo/Amar'e making max money. Magilla explained it some pages back. Whoever it is would have to take a huge paycut going into the prime of their career.

All the rumors saying these guys know where they're going already, couldn't be more bull.

[Jordan45822]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=y ... buzz022111

George Karl wants the Knicks deal

Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri wants the Nets deal

[Red Larrivee]

Does it matter who wants what deal if Melo isn't going to sign an extension with the Nets?

[Jordan45822]

Does it matter who wants what deal if Melo isn't going to sign an extension with the Nets?

He'll eventually cave if Knicks don't pull through with Denver.

[Red Larrivee]

Possibly, but the Nuggets, Knicks and Nets are holding up a lot right now. They shouldn't take this to the deadline.

[Dr Genius]

George Karl is an incompetent clown with a big ego.

This is the same man who has been trying to run Melo out of town for the past 3 years.

[Jordan45822]

Possibly, but the Nuggets, Knicks and Nets are holding up a lot right now. They shouldn't take this to the deadline.

I think Denver will end this by tomorrow ( Wednesday latest). They still want time to trade JR< Nene, and Martin. And if they are lucky Harrington.

[Jordan45822]

KBerg_CBS Ken Berger
Blazers and Nets continue to discuss Andre Miller-Devin Harris swap, sources say. Deal includes other pieces but not Rudy Fernandez.

at least NJ is not waiting this out and have something if no deal with Denver.

[Red Larrivee]

The Carmelo Anthony trade saga is nearly over.

Indications are that a trade is imminent with the New York Knicks, with only minor details to be worked out before an agreement is reached, a league source said.

Anthony was not at the Nuggets' practice as they resumed workouts following the All-Star break.

Also, the New York Times quoted a source close to Anthony's agent, Leon Rose, as saying: "We're about to dot the i's and cross the t's."

Read more: Carmelo Anthony trade to the Knicks appears imminent - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_17 ... z1EeJJmhxa
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