FREE AGENT/Trade/Transaction Idea thread

[sportscrazy]

to be honest i dont want LMA. Of course he is a great player, but I dont think he'd be the best fit with melo and he's already 29 years old. Would rather target Monroe and a rim protector or try to trade calderon and target some of the solid ball handlers in this FA class including Dragic (unlikely), Knight (unlikely), Ellis, Lin.

I don't want Aldridge either. I don''t think he makes us championship good, I don't even think Aldridge/Melo beats the Cavs for the East. So Melo and Aldridge start losing a step towards the end of their huge contracts and we didn't even see a NBA Finals appearance out of it in my opinion. That's not worth it. I would rather do the long-term thing and get Monroe, whose MAX contract is $4 Million less than Aldridge in the first year and gives us cap space to address other needs.

The Knicks biggest mistakes in my opinion were made last off-season when we could have held out for a Timofey Mozgov kind of package for Tyson Chandler (2 first round picks) and the Bulls were ready to give us Carlos Boozer (expiring), Mike Dunleavy (expiring), Jimmy Butler (expiring RFA) and Nikola Mirotic in a 'Melo sign and trade. However, just because we made a mistake in committing to Anthony, doesn't necessarily mean we have to build a team that can be top five in the East, but not even get to the Finals just so we don't "waste Carmelo Anthony's prime". I would rather build a young team around 'Melo so we are prepared for life post-Melo which should coincide with life post-LeBron for the Cavs. That's a better window for a championship I think.

[IAmTheBest]

to be honest i dont want LMA. Of course he is a great player, but I dont think he'd be the best fit with melo and he's already 29 years old. Would rather target Monroe and a rim protector or try to trade calderon and target some of the solid ball handlers in this FA class including Dragic (unlikely), Knight (unlikely), Ellis, Lin.

I don't want Aldridge either. I don''t think he makes us championship good, I don't even think Aldridge/Melo beats the Cavs for the East. So Melo and Aldridge start losing a step towards the end of their huge contracts and we didn't even see a NBA Finals appearance out of it in my opinion. That's not worth it. I would rather do the long-term thing and get Monroe, whose MAX contract is $4 Million less than Aldridge in the first year and gives us cap space to address other needs.

The Knicks biggest mistakes in my opinion were made last off-season when we could have held out for a Timofey Mozgov kind of package for Tyson Chandler (2 first round picks) and the Bulls were ready to give us Carlos Boozer (expiring), Mike Dunleavy (expiring), Jimmy Butler (expiring RFA) and Nikola Mirotic in a 'Melo sign and trade. However, just because we made a mistake in committing to Anthony, doesn't necessarily mean we have to build a team that can be top five in the East, but not even get to the Finals just so we don't "waste Carmelo Anthony's prime". I would rather build a young team around 'Melo so we are prepared for life post-Melo which should coincide with life post-LeBron for the Cavs. That's a better window for a championship I think.

Agree 100%

Melo + LMA + mediocre-average players does not make a championship team. I have no interested in merely having a competitive team. We need to build for a championship no matter what it takes.

I was a huge proponent of trading melo to the bulls for the same reason you were. My idea was trading Melo for Boozer + Mirotic + both their first round picks. This wouldve landed us with the following going into next season:

Grant
Galloway
Early/Thanasis
Mirotic
Okafor or Towns/Nurkic

We wouldve had Okafor or Towns because we woulve had no Melo to carry the team to a few wins.

That is excellent going into the future.

It is much better than the awkward situation we're in now. Very rarely does a team as bad as ours have a player as good as Melo on it. We are kind of stuck in limbo.

[LJ4pointplay]

Do we think the Warriors do Calderon for David Lee? Assuming we strike out on the better FAs, this kind of deal intrigues me because it makes us better next season and also gives us more flexibility under the cap going forward (as Lee expires after this season).

Just back of the napkin, so someone please correct me if I am wrong:

-we have 27M in cap space.. trading Calderon for Lee would leave us with around 19M leftover. Maybe we try to land Joe Johnson with this space (since he is expiring also)... Johnson costs about 24 or 25 M I believe. If the trade is into cap space, does the 125% rule + 100k still apply? If so, that gets us pretty close to Joe's salary but we would still need to add a little more somehow.

Maybe there is a better/more realistic target than Joe, but my thought process is I rather keep our flexibility going forward if we are going to settle for second/third tier guys and the best way to do that is probably via trade.

[IAmTheBest]

Do we think the Warriors do Calderon for David Lee? Assuming we strike out on the better FAs, this kind of deal intrigues me because it makes us better next season and also gives us more flexibility under the cap going forward (as Lee expires after this season).

Just back of the napkin, so someone please correct me if I am wrong:

-we have 27M in cap space.. trading Calderon for Lee would leave us with around 19M leftover. Maybe we try to land Joe Johnson with this space (since he is expiring also)... Johnson costs about 24 or 25 M I believe. If the trade is into cap space, does the 125% rule + 100k still apply? If so, that gets us pretty close to Joe's salary but we would still need to add a little more somehow.

Maybe there is a better/more realistic target than Joe, but my thought process is I rather keep our flexibility going forward if we are going to settle for second/third tier guys and the best way to do that is probably via trade.

Dude your proposals are horrible lol

**** lee i'd rather have calderon than lee lol

Lee cannot play defense. He wont work well with Melo.

And then you want to add Johnson on top of this, who is like a poor man's melo...

We need to target rim protectors first and foremost

[LJ4pointplay]

Do we think the Warriors do Calderon for David Lee? Assuming we strike out on the better FAs, this kind of deal intrigues me because it makes us better next season and also gives us more flexibility under the cap going forward (as Lee expires after this season).

Just back of the napkin, so someone please correct me if I am wrong:

-we have 27M in cap space.. trading Calderon for Lee would leave us with around 19M leftover. Maybe we try to land Joe Johnson with this space (since he is expiring also)... Johnson costs about 24 or 25 M I believe. If the trade is into cap space, does the 125% rule + 100k still apply? If so, that gets us pretty close to Joe's salary but we would still need to add a little more somehow.

Maybe there is a better/more realistic target than Joe, but my thought process is I rather keep our flexibility going forward if we are going to settle for second/third tier guys and the best way to do that is probably via trade.

Dude your proposals are horrible lol

**** lee i'd rather have calderon than lee lol

Lee cannot play defense. He wont work well with Melo.

And then you want to add Johnson on top of this, who is like a poor man's melo...

We need to target rim protectors first and foremost

the point is that both of those players make us better next year than we currently are, and gives us more flexibility next off season than we currently have. It's not ideal, but a back up plan that I prefer to overpaying guys long term.

[IAmTheBest]

Do we think the Warriors do Calderon for David Lee? Assuming we strike out on the better FAs, this kind of deal intrigues me because it makes us better next season and also gives us more flexibility under the cap going forward (as Lee expires after this season).

Just back of the napkin, so someone please correct me if I am wrong:

-we have 27M in cap space.. trading Calderon for Lee would leave us with around 19M leftover. Maybe we try to land Joe Johnson with this space (since he is expiring also)... Johnson costs about 24 or 25 M I believe. If the trade is into cap space, does the 125% rule + 100k still apply? If so, that gets us pretty close to Joe's salary but we would still need to add a little more somehow.

Maybe there is a better/more realistic target than Joe, but my thought process is I rather keep our flexibility going forward if we are going to settle for second/third tier guys and the best way to do that is probably via trade.

Dude your proposals are horrible lol

**** lee i'd rather have calderon than lee lol

Lee cannot play defense. He wont work well with Melo.

And then you want to add Johnson on top of this, who is like a poor man's melo...

We need to target rim protectors first and foremost

the point is that both of those players make us better next year than we currently are, and gives us more flexibility next off season than we currently have. It's not ideal, but a back up plan that I prefer to overpaying guys long term.

I'd rather start porzingis to get him more experience than take on david lee and watch lee-melo-johnson lead us to 25 wins

[LJ4pointplay]

I'd rather start porzingis to get him more experience than take on david lee and watch lee-melo-johnson lead us to 25 wins

1. David Lee and Joe Johnson both make positive impacts on the court.
2. David Lee and Melo fit absolutely fine together.
3. David Lee would not stand in the way of Zinger's playing time. Rookie big men, almost as a universal rule, are not able to stay on the floor longer than 25mpg.
4. We still play in the east, Joe, Lee, and Melo would make the playoffs if all three were healthy all year.
5. None of the above matters. I don't care about specific players. My point is I rather trade for guys who are expiring and have warts than sign slightly better players/fits to long term/overpaid deals. I don't care if it's Joe and David specifically or other players, but Joe and David are the obvious examples.

[el13adnino]

I'd rather start porzingis to get him more experience than take on david lee and watch lee-melo-johnson lead us to 25 wins

1. David Lee and Joe Johnson both make positive impacts on the court.
2. David Lee and Melo fit absolutely fine together.
3. David Lee would not stand in the way of Zinger's playing time. Rookie big men, almost as a universal rule, are not able to stay on the floor longer than 25mpg.
4. We still play in the east, Joe, Lee, and Melo would make the playoffs if all three were healthy all year.
5. None of the above matters. I don't care about specific players. My point is I rather trade for guys who are expiring and have warts than sign slightly better players/fits to long term/overpaid deals. I don't care if it's Joe and David specifically or other players, but Joe and David are the obvious examples.

[IAmTheBest]

I'd rather start porzingis to get him more experience than take on david lee and watch lee-melo-johnson lead us to 25 wins

1. David Lee and Joe Johnson both make positive impacts on the court.
2. David Lee and Melo fit absolutely fine together.
3. David Lee would not stand in the way of Zinger's playing time. Rookie big men, almost as a universal rule, are not able to stay on the floor longer than 25mpg.
4. We still play in the east, Joe, Lee, and Melo would make the playoffs if all three were healthy all year.
5. None of the above matters. I don't care about specific players. My point is I rather trade for guys who are expiring and have warts than sign slightly better players/fits to long term/overpaid deals. I don't care if it's Joe and David specifically or other players, but Joe and David are the obvious examples.

David Lee and Melo are terrible defensive forwards and are ball dominant on offense. They dont fit well.

I see what youre saying about the expirings though. I really would rather just target middle of the road players like Kouftas or whatever that backup center on the grizzlies is called. I'd rather sign monroe to a max too since he's young and will be a solid guy when melo is gone

If we strike out on literally everybody i'm down with your plan as the worst case scenario backup

[lloydj]

I'd rather start porzingis to get him more experience than take on david lee and watch lee-melo-johnson lead us to 25 wins

1. David Lee and Joe Johnson both make positive impacts on the court.
2. David Lee and Melo fit absolutely fine together.
3. David Lee would not stand in the way of Zinger's playing time. Rookie big men, almost as a universal rule, are not able to stay on the floor longer than 25mpg.
4. We still play in the east, Joe, Lee, and Melo would make the playoffs if all three were healthy all year.
5. None of the above matters. I don't care about specific players. My point is I rather trade for guys who are expiring and have warts than sign slightly better players/fits to long term/overpaid deals. I don't care if it's Joe and David specifically or other players, but Joe and David are the obvious examples.

David Lee and Melo are terrible defensive forwards and are ball dominant on offense. They dont fit well.

I see what youre saying about the expirings though. I really would rather just target middle of the road players like Kouftas or whatever that backup center on the grizzlies is called. I'd rather sign monroe to a max too since he's young and will be a solid guy when melo is gone

If we strike out on literally everybody i'm down with your plan as the worst case scenario backup

If the Knicks strike out on a big free agent, would a temporary solution suffice.

Knicks trade:
Caldron

Golden State Trades:

David Lee
Marreese Speights
Shaun Livingston
Festus Ezeli
2016 First Rounder

Golden State player, all on 1 year contracts.

Sign Alan Anderson for 2.5 million.

[siar617]

Do we have any trade exemptions left

[And100]

Do we have any trade exemptions left

Trade exemptions are NOT cap exemptions. They count against the cap, Meaning in order to create cap space, you have to renounce them.

So yes, the Knicks do, but as of 12am ET this evening, they becomes utterly redundant and superflous to the cap space the KNicks will have at their disposal.

[SARGO127]

If we strike out, I'm fine with absorbing Lee and JJs contracts.

[mpharris36]

If we strike out, I'm fine with absorbing Lee and JJs contracts.

it makes zero sense though. We would just be putting a band aid on a wound.

Bringing in two guys with expiring deals just makes us slightly better this year but does nothing for us in the future. And before someone says well we will have all that cap space to spend. Again JJ and Lee will be gone and we will be left with the exact same roster just a year older.

If we strike out on the big FA's it makes more sense to go after young cheap options on multi year deals. Attack the Kyle O'Quinn market, or the KJ McDaniels market, or the Corey Joseph Market. Maybe the Al-faruq-Aminu market.

You could probably get all 4 guys around 15-20 million. You would still leave a max spot open next year with the cap going up plus you have added 4-5 quality pieces that will be here long term. That is what we need. Long term pieces to entice other FA's that we are building.

JJ and Lee aren't going to promote signing FA's.

[HarthorneWingo]

Do we think the Warriors do Calderon for David Lee? Assuming we strike out on the better FAs, this kind of deal intrigues me because it makes us better next season and also gives us more flexibility under the cap going forward (as Lee expires after this season).

Just back of the napkin, so someone please correct me if I am wrong:

-we have 27M in cap space.. trading Calderon for Lee would leave us with around 19M leftover. Maybe we try to land Joe Johnson with this space (since he is expiring also)... Johnson costs about 24 or 25 M I believe. If the trade is into cap space, does the 125% rule + 100k still apply? If so, that gets us pretty close to Joe's salary but we would still need to add a little more somehow.

Maybe there is a better/more realistic target than Joe, but my thought process is I rather keep our flexibility going forward if we are going to settle for second/third tier guys and the best way to do that is probably via trade.

Dude your proposals are horrible lol

**** lee i'd rather have calderon than lee lol

Lee cannot play defense. He wont work well with Melo.

And then you want to add Johnson on top of this, who is like a poor man's melo...

We need to target rim protectors first and foremost

I understand the defense part, but "won't work well with Melo" (I assume you meant offensively)? How do you justify saying that (I assume you meant offensively)?

[RealNy]

I like that the Knicks are the last team to get a visit from Aldridge. That means they get to have the last word with him....always beneficial


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[moocow007]

Waiting for Wojina to say that the FA's weren't impressed with Phil Jackson and the Knicks presentation with one reason being Jackson using a cane.

[bringinhinkie]

I'd rather start porzingis to get him more experience than take on david lee and watch lee-melo-johnson lead us to 25 wins

1. David Lee and Joe Johnson both make positive impacts on the court.
2. David Lee and Melo fit absolutely fine together.
3. David Lee would not stand in the way of Zinger's playing time. Rookie big men, almost as a universal rule, are not able to stay on the floor longer than 25mpg.
4. We still play in the east, Joe, Lee, and Melo would make the playoffs if all three were healthy all year.
5. None of the above matters. I don't care about specific players. My point is I rather trade for guys who are expiring and have warts than sign slightly better players/fits to long term/overpaid deals. I don't care if it's Joe and David specifically or other players, but Joe and David are the obvious examples.

David Lee and Melo are terrible defensive forwards and are ball dominant on offense. They dont fit well.

I see what youre saying about the expirings though. I really would rather just target middle of the road players like Kouftas or whatever that backup center on the grizzlies is called. I'd rather sign monroe to a max too since he's young and will be a solid guy when melo is gone

If we strike out on literally everybody i'm down with your plan as the worst case scenario backup

david lee is not ball dominant.. he is a savvy veteran coming from a winner and an expiring contract.. you'd be on some sh*t to not deal calderon for him.. and btw, calderon is the one that would block young talent from minutes (LG/Grant), not Lee

[Ray Williams]

Calderon did some good things with Dallas, and they look like they'll be needing a PG. How about sending him back for a re-signed Al-Farouq Aminu?

[And100]

I have no interested in merely having a competitive team. We need to build for a championship no matter what it takes.

Two problems.

1. You're a fan of an organization that is interested in having a competitive team. That isn't changing.

2.) There is no sure way to "build" for a championship. If it was that easy, everyone would do it.

What is the definition of that anyway? Sign the players that *I* like. Draft the players that *I* like?