GONYK wrote:KnicksGod wrote:GONYK wrote:
They have a scrappy roster and a bunch of assets that nobody wanted last go around in a market nobody really wants to play in.
They are theoretically in a good place, but have not been successful in actualizing it in any way.
I would rather have 2 stars, cap space, and our pick in a big market than no stars, picks, and cap space in a middle market.
All depends on who you're hoping to get and what the cost is. If we get Durant, all is good. Keep Melo to the end and go for it now. If it's Conley and Batum, then I think you (meaning Phil) needs to be aware that you're going for a good team now -- good but not good enough -- that could seriously jeopardize the chance to build a great team around KP.
Just know what the cost-benefit is. I won't go nuts and stop rooting for a team that will be much improved. But applying calm logic, I think it'll be the kind of move that (barring luck) gives you less chance to reboot around KP in a way that is really successful. It will jeopardize your KP chances. Make it impossible to win with him later? Nope. Because a lot of this is luck and highly unpredictable.
But what Boston did by pivoting away from the Big 3 is give themselves more chances to succeed and build a great team, than if they had held onto the Big 3. More pathways to success.
With Melo's Max merging into KP's Max for cap purposes, I think it's even more urgent for us to consider pivoting than it was for Boston.
BTW has Boston's plan succeeded in some huge way? Absolutely not. I'd be the first one to say their picks are overrated and their roster is not that great. I'd be the first one saying the Knicks are closer to them than people think. And with KP, we have the single best prospect which matters a lot in the NBA. But, applying logic without emotion, they are clearly ahead of us. Right? So their plan is working to some extent. Just not a big success yet. But in the horse race, they're doing pretty well with their pivot early on.
If we don't pivot to a KP plan, there better be a really good reason for it -- either Melo refuses to go or the roster we do build has a very good chance of succeeding and going deep into the playoffs. Otherwise it makes little sense to me. Its another double-down gamble that will probably produce poor long-term results.
You're making it seem like Boston made some bold moves. After we put the nail in their coffin, they offloaded a pair of near-40 yr olds who were on the brink of retirement at premium value. Not much courage in that. It's a no-brainer at that point.
I'm sure we would have "pivoted" away from Amare as well if someone offered us a bunch of 1st rounders for him.
If someone wants to offer us a bunch of lotto picks and youth for Melo, I'm all ears. That offer isn't coming though.
That's fair. Boston got offered a no-brainer deal. Well except for the fact that they did cash in some ability to win now. Some teams would have kept them together, sort of the way Kobe has stayed.
But the issue I have with what you're saying is that it has to be a great deal or no deal. Melo can eventually cause us issues with building around KP. That has a cost, and so getting a late 1st and some young player might be a lot better than losing the value of KP's rookie deal.
I'm not anti-Melo but he is late prime and he has a big contract that merges into KP's.
You guys might be right though -- maybe his value is not there in a trade. With his knee. But he's playing and producing. Knee can't be too bad. As far as Melo saying no to any deal, or to any deal but 1 or 2 teams, I just really disagree. He doesn't love NY enough to stay despite no playoff basketball.
