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

[cubd8]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/486200363293618177[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/486200494621458433[/tweet]

I don't get this logic. If the Bulls weren't making calls, and letting agents know they have interest, they wouldn't be doing their jobs. Does Stein expect Chicago (and others) to do absolutely nothing while waiting for Carmelo? I can imagine reading his article if Anthony stays in NY/LAL about how the Bulls were left flat footed are now depending on two rookies to improve their team.

[Groucho]

Maybe we can include Lonnie Baxter in the sign and trade with Philly?

[Jordan45822]

@sam_amick: At USAT: My column on the Lakers' fascinating & widely-criticized strategy that may somehow be working with 'Melo - usatoday.com/story/sports/n…

@sam_amick: Quick disclaimer: I would still peg the Knicks as the frontrunners here in 'Melo Mania. Decision may not be coming today, but we shall see.

[SteelerSpartan]

why aren't we moving on if all this has been true about Melo.....How dafuq does Leon Rose,Thibs and the Bulls even get a meeting with Melo if those are his priorities??

[Land Rover]

Not buying the SAS story, I mean why the hell would Rose just "happen to be working out" at the United Center at the same time Melo was scheduled to be in town instead of the Berto or the new place or any other place other than the UC?

[boozapalooza]

SAS just addressed the Bulls. Said theyre falling out of contention cause they cant clear the max money like they oroginally thought they could. Also hurt them that Rose was not involvedin the receuiting and just ran into Melo coincedentally. SAS says NY is at 70%. Thinks were completely out of it and have no chance cause of the money. SAS says hes told the most we can get Melo is 80 mil, and it isnt enough for him. Damn, lets hope SAS is wrong. Appears that option Ralph brought up with trading Taj to clear max isnt an option.

The Bulls could offer Melo the max via S&T.

Also, he won't come to Chicago for $80M, but he'll go to Miami bow-down to LBJ and take less than $80M?!

I know man, I think SAS is reputable and has a lot of connections but I cant understand what hes talking about. If we cant afford Melo how can Miami? He didnt bring up the S&T with us, presumably because Melo has to choose us for that to happen and he just doesnt see it happening.

[the ultimates]

This is stupid. The local media is trying to put Melo's flakiness on Rose and posters are still trying to blame the front office.

[Hans Embiid]

Based on his power rankings I always knew Stein is a 2nd Nick Friedell. A Bulls hater.

[MrFortune3]

I hate you all so much for making me discuss comics and adapted comic movies in this Melo thread.

How sad is it that this Spiderman talk is all completely on topic?

If Melo goes to LA, this meme will forever shame him

I know right. I did not expect the Spider-Man talk to continue but it is legitimately on topic.
Normally this would be a nerds dream to talk about sports, comics and who's better but this is just nerve racking due to Melo supposedly being close to a decision.

[IndianPlaya17]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPN_Numbers/status/486202117439623168[/tweet]

[bad knees]

@ESPNSteinLine: To this point, still no firm indication from Melo or his camp telling Bulls, Rockets or Mavs that they're out of the running. However ...

@ESPNSteinLine: Seeing how Bulls, Rockets and Mavs are all engaged with other free agents sure suggests they buy premise Melo is down to Knicks and Lakers

We were already engaged with those guys beforehand. We have been on them since we started chasing Melo.
The lack of logic behind this is insane.

Lakers are linked to Stephenson chasing. Knicks met with Pau. Absurd reporting.

[pb-ceo]

I say we start the recruiting pitch to Jabari right now so that come 4 years, it's only a formality at that point to meet with him.


Jabari is the next big target we need to set our sights on.

Rose got this:

the Bulls FO has scheduled a meeting with Jabari Parker in 4 years. Now they just need to find a way to keep it a secret from Derrick.

[Hardfoul]

SAS just addressed the Bulls. Said theyre falling out of contention cause they cant clear the max money like they oroginally thought they could. Also hurt them that Rose was not involvedin the receuiting and just ran into Melo coincedentally. SAS says NY is at 70%. Thinks were completely out of it and have no chance cause of the money. SAS says hes told the most we can get Melo is 80 mil, and it isnt enough for him. Damn, lets hope SAS is wrong. Appears that option Ralph brought up with trading Taj to clear max isnt an option.

So on the one hand SAS says we can only get to $18.75 mil starting, but on the other hand is saying that NY can move Stat by throwing in Shump, who pretty much sucks? The Rose thing is complete made up bs that SAS is running with. If Rose was not willing to participate, don't ya think that Garpax would have made damn well sure there wasn't some chance encounter? What a bunch of crap.

It is obvious to me that there are no leaks in Melo's camp. Otherwise these guys wouldn't be all over the place throwing up crap like this.

[MoneyMitch]

This may get dragged because of LeBron

[Rerisen]

SAS just addressed the Bulls. Said theyre falling out of contention cause they cant clear the max money like they oroginally thought they could. Also hurt them that Rose was not involvedin the receuiting and just ran into Melo coincedentally. SAS says NY is at 70%. Thinks were completely out of it and have no chance cause of the money. SAS says hes told the most we can get Melo is 80 mil, and it isnt enough for him. Damn, lets hope SAS is wrong. Appears that option Ralph brought up with trading Taj to clear max isnt an option.

80m sounds like the moving everyone but Taj plan.

And Melo wanted Taj here, we just couldn't cough up enough money.

[TheGOATRises007]

I refuse to believe some of the crap these reporters are spouting and that Melo was IMPRESSED BY A MOVIE from the Lakers. Like wtf.

I hope this get resolved soon. Honestly can't take another week of this.

[Hans Embiid]

@ESPNSteinLine: To this point, still no firm indication from Melo or his camp telling Bulls, Rockets or Mavs that they're out of the running. However ...

@ESPNSteinLine: Seeing how Bulls, Rockets and Mavs are all engaged with other free agents sure suggests they buy premise Melo is down to Knicks and Lakers

We were already engaged with those guys beforehand. We have been on them since we started chasing Melo.
The lack of logic behind this is insane.

Lakers are linked to Stephenson chasing. Knicks met with Pau. Absurd reporting.

It looks like ESPN doesn't want to have a 7th championship in Chicago.

[MrFortune3]

Not buying the SAS story, I mean why the hell would Rose just "happen to be working out" at the United Center at the same time Melo was scheduled to be in town instead of the Berto or the new place or any other place other than the UC?

Quite simple really. Rose doesn't want to recruit, the Bulls say **** it and keep him out of the loop, they have Taj and Noah keep it from Rose and they all show up when Rose is conveniently going through his workout.
The Bulls use Rose like a meat market display and recruit Melo while Rose is none the wiser.

Of course, the epic level of both creativity and deception required for this to occur would be far beyond that with Gar and John are capable of.
So in all likelihood Rose finally relented and helped recruit because it was best for business.

[Groucho]

Maybe he blindsides us all and ends up with the Magic?

[MoneyMitch]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/chrisbrouttard/status/486204531592921088[/tweet]