thebuzzardman wrote:I'm not going to rehash the Melo trade. Anyway you slice it, Knicks were taking back someone who made 15 million plus and probably had some issues. Kanter seems like the sort of level of guy who would come back - not expiring, decent player, sort of overpaid. The upside he's not on the team any longer than Melo would have been. Other than Miss Cleo level stuff of when either opts in or out. It's easy to say all this and that about eating contracts etc. Who knows if such things were on offer. I'd say, on the face of it, it seems like a logical kind of trade for Melo that reasonably competent teams would make. Sure it could be better, but it always felt like "yeah, that's about what a Melo with NTC would look like"
I'm not really a Kanter fan, just facing facts. There are the deals I would like, and then reality. Kanter seems like a reality piece back. I'll be glad when he expires or is willing to play for 8 million a year as a backup. Or KOQ for that same price. Both decent, semi flawed backup C's.
I also said I'm not sold on Perry either way. He's been ok with cheap deals for cast off kind of guys who've been ok. That's solid. Mudiay trade doesn't look good right now but I understand it in theory. Even if I judge it now as bad, his track record is still "ok". It's also still early yet. Ok could turn "good" and just as easily (and likely, on the Knicks) turn bad.
If the Knicks Front Office came out and said, "We'll eat at least 1/2 of Melo's contract..." the Knicks would have received sweetened deals everywhere from Houston, LA, and OKC.
Why?
Cap Space is EVERYTHING in the NBA. As Knick fans, we all know...ONE bad contract sets you back 3-4 yrs BUT....BUT...For the elite teams who are competing to dethrone Golden State it IS in their mind, adding an equalizer with MORE space to improve the team.
The Knicks wouldn't have to accept a $18M contract with an option next season because they are eating a contract, thus don't have the cap space. Keep in mind, that's expiring with cap space next season. Kanter is going to take that option because no one is that stupid.
I don't blame Scott Perry for this mess. It's a mess he inherited. However the Knicks were stupid to hire someone so late...and paid the price.