Melo Thread 19: It's Spidey Austin..it was Spidey all along.

[Tenchi Ryu]

Damn, that would be jacked if Miami is encouraging Bosh to leave. Well, that's what happens when you kneel just to win rings.

[musiqsoulchild]

We are playing it real smart right now.

1) We have lined up Mirotic + McD + Bairstow without impacting a single cent of CapSpace. Only capholds.
2) We have Boozer lined up for either an amnesty or a trade

Why is this crucial?

If no Melo, then we can quickly lineup our Plan B. If Melo, then we have the exact right assets to add with exceptions (Mirotic) and the rookie scale (McD and Bairstow).

Also notice how quiet things have been on the Kirk and DJ front? I bet you we already have verbal agreements in place with one of them/both.

We are not letting the situation get ahead of us...instead we are proceeding as if we have no cap space...this is the right thing to do at this juncture.

Not quite true in that trading up for McD, rather than stashing a Euro and taking another wing (e.g. Hood) would have cost less in salary & not brought Anthony Randolph's 1.8 million onto the roster, which also needs to be moved. But the Bulls *really* liked McD, and we'll see if that is justified later.

Its not a cap-maximization plan. It never has been. We have cleared cap enough to snag Melo....but going for max cap space has never been our goal....see Dunleavy and Taj as evidence.

I am certain that this off-season Gar-Pax's one agenda is: Add efficient scoring and offensive firepower.

Thats why we shouldn't have stashed the pick. The #11 pick is the cheapest asset we could get that can accomplish part of that agenda. Randolph is the cost of that plan. Part of executing the agenda is also why Dunleavy was not traded. He fits the bill of efficient scoring....and if Melo doesn't come over here, we need to retain all such scorers. DJ is also part of this.

[MGB8]

If I were PJ, I wouldn't do a sign-and-trade, regardless if I would get nothing if Anthony leaves. He gets out from under the luxury tax and the amount of money he would have available next year would be awesome. He could get his pick of free agents and have the space to absorb all kinds of contracts if he wished. Plus, he would end up with a pretty good pick next year in what looks like another loaded draft.

A sign and trade wouldn't likely impact how much the Knicks pay next year - they'd have all that room anyways because they'd be taking on aTPE or exprings or, at worst, small contracts.

And the Knicks aren't likely getting out of the LT. They saved a couple million on the Chandler/Felton deal, but are still more or less at the Tax without a full roster. I guess they could use none of their exceptions this year and role with just signing the 2nd rounders, which would put them over the cap but not in the Tax... but does Phil really want to have that kind of roster for the year?

Not only that, but given that the Bulls can send non guaranteeds, etc. (the TPE), a sign and trade might not increase salary, or even could reduce the Knicks payroll. So I don't know that those first round picks would cause the Knicks to go into the tax.

[Indomitable]

Honestly, we have no control on Melo.

What I really hope Gar and Pax are doing is getting REAL contingency options lined up for a 2nd creator in case Melo doesn't choose the Bulls.

Stephenson, crazy and all, is the best player out there. You could look into trades for Waiters, maybe Jeff Green (can score off the dribble fairly well), even OJ Mayo (didn't work in Miwuakee but has the skill set that Chicago needs, and should be "cheap" to pry away from the Bucks), even Eric Gordon (bleh - injury).

I don't love Hayward or Parsons, but at least look into them, too. And young players who have flashed creation abilities like Nick Young, Alec Burks, maybe Grieviz Vasquez.

Bottom line, the Bulls offense can't be so reliant on Rose (or Nate, or DJ) to create from the PG spot, and while doing things through Noah is a nice changeup, that should be the 3rd option, not the alternative. If Rose is healthy, then with Jimmy, Noah and Taj, along with the depth the Bulls have, and hoping Mirotic is something, the Bulls could still be in the race. But ONLY if the Bulls have another serious offensive player who can take the pressure off Rose and void the 'shut down Rose' defensive tactic. If Paxson and Foreman fail to get that guy, then they are wasting at least another year of their luck with Rose and Noah... fire them.

i agree

[Neusch23]

has charles barkely weighed in on what he would tell Melo? I love how charles is so straight forward. Barkely changed teams, made a lot of money, but still never got that ring.

Curious what he would say?

[Tenchi Ryu]

Sounds like Carmelo is too worried about the money. We should just move on. Like I said last night, the Bulls can still be championship contenders next year. Sign a wing and solidify the bench.

how does it make sense to move on? We'd be taking ourselves out of the contention instead of letting Melo do it

Exactly, nobody is going anywhere. The only thing on anyone's mind right now is Melo, Bron and Bosh, the second tier free agents aren't getting touched til those three make their decisions.

[RedBulls23]

I think Melo's interest in LA could be real. I mean he could be leveraging for a sign and trade to Chicago, but he could also be very content on going to LA if Phil tries and calls his bluff.

While LA isn't a place where he will win anything anytime soon (they certainly won't be a contender next year), it's a better situations for him than New York at least playing wise. Also, it's a better situation for his wife.

So he may very well prefer a sign and trade to Chicago, but I think he would be perfectly content with going to LA if push comes to shove.

All in all, the leverage has always been in Melo's hands. Anyone that ever said New York had any leverage were probably homer Knicks fans.

Why do you think NY's ability to offer $129 million for 5 years (an extra 32 million over everybody else and a guaranteed extra year, no matter what happens) in a place he and his family like being, where he already has a home, as not having leverage?.

EDIT TO ADD: And, yes, I know he's a free agent and can go anywhere he wants and sign for whatever amount of money he wants.

You just answered your own question.

[MoneyMitch]

If LeBron goes back to Cleveland then Wiggins/Bennett/Thompson/Waiters will be moved

[QMGSaint]

So can someone give us a "Previously on Melo #19".

Just got home from work.

[Jimmy Forums]

Ah, morning. To RealGM!

[Jimmy Forums]

The Spiderman phase must've run it's course...

[iamdvsj]

Let's speak some truths.

The only people in the NBA who can afford to pass up on NBA contract are Kobe and LeBron. You can add Dwayne Wade, Blake Griffin and CP3 as fringe. Everybody else? You're not getting a better check.

You can say a lot about Carmelo Anthony. Media spokesperson is not one of them. Justified or not...he has the media perception of a glorified Dominique Wilkins w/o the dunks.

Lakers and Knicks.

Let's get ready to welcome MVPau to the team.

[blumeany]

So can someone give us a "Previously on Melo #19".

Just got home from work.

All is quiet. ESPN is pushing NY and LA as the destinations. No one has officially ruled out Chicago. Decision is to be made today or not today depending on the report.

[TheStig]

Damn, that would be jacked if Miami is encouraging Bosh to leave. Well, that's what happens when you kneel just to win rings.

The sad part is that Wade should be the one they beg to leave. They'd have no quality big if Bosh left. Imagine Bron, Melo and Bosh. That's scary.

[kurtatx]

If LeBron goes back to Cleveland then Wiggins/Bennett/Thompson/Waiters will be moved

Can't see them moving Wiggins. Can't figure out who would take Bennett. They other guys though would probably move.

[blumeany]

Let's speak some truths.

The only people in the NBA who can afford to pass up on NBA contract are Kobe and LeBron. You can add Dwayne Wade, Blake Griffin and CP3 as fringe. Everybody else? You're not getting a better check.

You can say a lot about Carmelo Anthony. Media spokesperson is not one of them. Justified or not...he has the media perception of a glorified Dominique Wilkins w/o the dunks.

Lakers and Knicks.

Let's get ready to welcome MVPau to the team.

Nope. The only good news in regards to Melo not coming to Chicago would be that Pau would likely go to NY or LA with him.

[PMONSTER]

Damn, that would be jacked if Miami is encouraging Bosh to leave. Well, that's what happens when you kneel just to win rings.

LOYALTY

[greenl]

Nope. The only good news in regards to Melo not coming to Chicago would be that Pau would likely go to NY or LA with him.

I can't see Pau going to the NYK for peanuts- not when he has so many other suitors.

[Tenchi Ryu]

The Spiderman phase must've run it's course...

Yea, panic has entered back. Negative ass SAS ain't making any better.

[Hangtime84]

Some if 2 of the big 3 go back to their home states what happens to wade?

If only bosh leaves and I can see Melo going to Miami