Official Melo Trade Thread: WOJ BOMB UPDATE PG 21: Will Waive NTC for HOU and CLE

[Billy Goat]

The Knicks are a LONG, LONG, LONG way away from getting better. Shots? How many offensive players do they have? Do you really want these inexperienced young players chucking up shots (cause they are going to have to...believe it or not...someone has to actually shoot)? Do you really want to teams to start throwing their defenses at Porzingis (why do you think he was so against Anthony being dumped) and Ntilikina? Anthony as a buffer actually is valid...yeah yeah but you hate him vigorously. Bringing Anthony back with Jackson fouling things with his mouth was insane. Jackson is gone. So while they should still look to move Anthony there is no reason to jump at dumping him.

yes, I do. Anyone but Melo taking shots would be an improvement. How many more seasons of Melo being the leading shot taker do you need to see that its never going to work?

Work for what? Taking a crap team and making them good? He's not Lebron James already for freaking goodness sake. How many other players in this league would be able to take the mostly crap players that's been on this team with him and win anything?

Blame the teammates again

[NBA Fan 1234]

The NTC eliminates any value. I think the idea that Phil hurt his trade value is laughable...also Phil being fired icnreasing it is equally laughable. His value is his value, which is nothing with the NTC.

? You just said that the NTC eliminates any value and then right aafter that say that the idea Phil hurt his trade value is laughable? Did Phil Jackson give him that NTC or was it the Easter Bunny?

Phil talking poorly about his game didnt change his value was what I was referring to. Phil giving him that contract alone was a fireable offense.

You must not understand the concept of leverage if you truly think this.

[JohnStarksTheDunk]

Taking away shots from the younger players is a distraction. The Knicks are going to be god awful next year...the only way to improve is by getting the younger guys minutes and shots. Bringing back Carmelo again is insane. Absolutley insane.

If you want to trade him and maximize the return, you need to make a convincing front that you are willing to keep him. If anything was gained from firing Phil, it's the opportunity to publically reset the Melo situation, redefining his trade value and how the Knicks value him.

The NTC eliminates any value. I think the idea that Phil hurt his trade value is laughable...also Phil being fired icnreasing it is equally laughable. His value is his value, which is nothing with the NTC.

If his value remains zero, then you simply plan to keep him. If that doesn't increase offers or make Melo more willing to consider other teams and help facilitate a trade, then you let him play out the season here and then opt out and sign with Houston.

[moocow007]

Dolan already came out and said that Thomas isn't an option.

[Billy Goat]

If you want to trade him and maximize the return, you need to make a convincing front that you are willing to keep him. If anything was gained from firing Phil, it's the opportunity to publically reset the Melo situation, redefining his trade value and how the Knicks value him.

The NTC eliminates any value. I think the idea that Phil hurt his trade value is laughable...also Phil being fired icnreasing it is equally laughable. His value is his value, which is nothing with the NTC.

If his value remains zero, then you simply plan to keep him. If that doesn't increase offers or make Melo more willing to consider other teams and help facilitate a trade, then you let him play out the season here and then opt out and sign with Houston.

What if he opts in? Can you buy him out then? Or are we just going to cater to this guy forever?

[Capn'O]

unless you find a team that at least kind of wants ryan anderson, there is no trade. i don't know such a team exists.

Congratulations! We are that team. If we keep Jeff around and let him coach his offense, that is. He'll be our "super" stretch sub for the bigs.

[Billy Goat]

? You just said that the NTC eliminates any value and then right aafter that say that the idea Phil hurt his trade value is laughable? Did Phil Jackson give him that NTC or was it the Easter Bunny?

Phil talking poorly about his game didnt change his value was what I was referring to. Phil giving him that contract alone was a fireable offense.

You must not understand the concept of leverage if you truly think this.

Sure I do. The NTC eliminated leverage. Phil saying the obvious about Melo's game isnt a secret amongst the league....

[NBA Fan 1234]

Phil talking poorly about his game didnt change his value was what I was referring to. Phil giving him that contract alone was a fireable offense.

You must not understand the concept of leverage if you truly think this.

Sure I do. The NTC eliminated leverage. Phil saying the obvious about Melo's game isnt a secret amongst the league....

The NTC eliminates leverage, but undermining the player you are trying to get rid of by saying how bad he is (either through Twitter, Rosen, or saying he'll accept **** for him) devalues what you can get for him even more.

[god shammgod]

rockets were asking teams to take his entire team into cap space. Of course that requires picks to do. But I'm not talking about re-routing him for cap space. Bring back a better fitting player or two.

why give up a cheaper contract, or 2, you don't want for a more expensive one you don't want. that's even harder to get rid of. it doesn't make sense. portland, your example, wants to free up money. this doesn't help them.

Because I would take back picks in both trade

Melo to HOU
Ryan Anderson to Portland
Moe Harkless and Meyers Leonard to the KNicks

also Portland and HOU both send us a 1st future 1st round pick.

HOU gets Melo
PORT saves $$$ and gets a better fitting player
Knicks get a good solid young player and 2 future first round picks.

they don't save enough to give up a pick. they're basically in the same position as before but with a harder to contract to move.

[JohnStarksTheDunk]

The NTC eliminates any value. I think the idea that Phil hurt his trade value is laughable...also Phil being fired icnreasing it is equally laughable. His value is his value, which is nothing with the NTC.

If his value remains zero, then you simply plan to keep him. If that doesn't increase offers or make Melo more willing to consider other teams and help facilitate a trade, then you let him play out the season here and then opt out and sign with Houston.

What if he opts in? Can you buy him out then? Or are we just going to cater to this guy forever?

If next off-season he doesn't opt out, then you reassess your options. WIth only one year remaining, his value is likely to change and if not, then a buyout is more palatable as a last resort.

Knicks have their 1st round pick next year (for now), so if we continue to lose we still get a chance at adding another piece for the rebuild. Plus, with Hornacek having the freedom to run his own offense and coach his way, it's possible that Melo will be less of a distraction for the team anyway.

[mpharris36]

they don't save enough to give up a pick. they're basically in the same position as before but with a harder to contract to move.

anderson is a better player than Harkless and meyers leonard.. They would be giving up a pick to improve there roster. While getting rid of leonards deal. All have 3 more years on them.

[god shammgod]

unless you find a team that at least kind of wants ryan anderson, there is no trade. i don't know such a team exists.

Congratulations! We are that team. If we keep Jeff around and let him coach his offense, that is. He'll be our "super" stretch sub for the bigs.

everyone knows horny aint lasting more than another year. he knows it. the people in msg know it. everyone. you're going to add all the salary for a pick at the end of the 1st round ? nah. just let him play the year out and walk.

[F N 11]

It has to be a trade point blank period. If not Melo play the year out and Opt out with your buddies after this season. Your choice.

Yeah agreed. He wants out he needs to bend.

I mean all your buddies have the opportunity to be a free agent next year. Banana boat gang can come together. Take the trade and receive the kicker. I believe he's trying to get all the money so he can go to another team make more money then sign another contract when he's a free agent. i mean thats the smart way to maximize the bread. It will take discounts to form a banana boat team. I heard the Clippers could have 70 m's in cap space.

[JohnStarksTheDunk]

You must not understand the concept of leverage if you truly think this.

Sure I do. The NTC eliminated leverage. Phil saying the obvious about Melo's game isnt a secret amongst the league....

The NTC eliminates leverage, but undermining the player you are trying to get rid of by saying how bad he is (either through Twitter, Rosen, or saying he'll accept **** for him) devalues what you can get for him even more.

For me, it was less about teams actually lowering their opinion of Melo as a player based on Phil's comments (they've seen him play for years, they know what he can do and who he is), and more about them knowing how little value Phil placed on him. If you know the other guy is willing to give him away for nothing, then you have no incentive to offer anything of value. Phil's mistake was showing his hand.

[god shammgod]

they don't save enough to give up a pick. they're basically in the same position as before but with a harder to contract to move.

anderson is a better player than Harkless and meyers leonard.. They would be giving up a pick to improve there roster. While getting rid of leonards deal. All have 3 more years on them.

you want this to happen so you're rationalizing it. it's a bad deal for them. when they dream about freeing up money to find someone upfront to play with their guards, the dream is not to give up a pick for ryan anderson.

[mpharris36]

they don't save enough to give up a pick. they're basically in the same position as before but with a harder to contract to move.

anderson is a better player than Harkless and meyers leonard.. They would be giving up a pick to improve there roster. While getting rid of leonards deal. All have 3 more years on them.

you want this to happen so you're rationalizing it. it's a bad deal for them. when they dream about freeing up money to find someone upfront to play with their guards, the dream is not to give up a pick for ryan anderson.

its giving a pick to get rid of meyers leonard and improve the roster in the mean time. They don't have a starting PF...They would get one with this trade.

[JohnStarksTheDunk]

It has to be a trade point blank period. If not Melo play the year out and Opt out with your buddies after this season. Your choice.

Yeah agreed. He wants out he needs to bend.

Exactly. The combination of Phil's firing and the CP3 trade ought to change our bargaining position.

[red96]

Mike D'Antoni if Melo is brought to Houston.

Its been reported by Rockets sources that they are open to an Melo, D'antoni reunion. Hope it get's done.

[god shammgod]

i don't think it's a question of bending. i think the places he want to go don't have the right pieces to make it worth it to us. he's not going to go to sacramento or somewhere like that for the year. why ? he'll just play out the year here.

[Capn'O]

unless you find a team that at least kind of wants ryan anderson, there is no trade. i don't know such a team exists.

Congratulations! We are that team. If we keep Jeff around and let him coach his offense, that is. He'll be our "super" stretch sub for the bigs.

everyone knows horny aint lasting more than another year. he knows it. the people in msg know it. everyone. you're going to add all the salary for a pick at the end of the 1st round ? nah. just let him play the year out and walk.

I think they could offer some extra cap space this year by way of a TPE. You know. So we can sign Jeff Teague.