thebuzzardman wrote:Chanel Bomber wrote:GONYK wrote:
That would give the Knicks 2 of the top 5 players in the league, with an additional max slot to build the team with another top 15 player or add some depth.
It's nowhere near the Melo trade.
I think there's a scenario where this ends in a way that's similar to the Melo trade.
Amar'e was an aging All-NBA player with health concerns. But he was considered one of the best players in the league at the time. Not on KD's level obviously, but he was All-NBA second team when he signed with the Knicks. He was younger than KD too.
I think we forget how good Melo was. AD is more efficient obviously, but on the other hand he doesn't have Melo's playmaking skills. I don't view AD as a top 5 player in the league. He doesn't have the consistent impact that Curry, Harden, KD, LeBron, Kawhi and I would argue Jokic, Lillard and Embiid have. I honestly believe you're setting yourself up for disappointment if you think AD's a top 5 player. I'm not sure how he fits with Durant either. Sure they fit, but they won't make each other better at all.
Also the Knicks also had capspace after stretching Billups back then, and used it on Tyson Chandler who was a major free agent signing.
I respectfully think you're underestimating the risk behind the KD-AD strategy. I could pay dividends but it could also backfire worse than the Amar'e/Melo/Chandler moves. Especially when you consider KD's volatile character.
While there is a possibility, compare AD to Amare and KD to Melo.
AD is a far better all around player with less health concerns than Amare had, while Melo is the better comp with KD. KD seems to be a somewhat better facilitator, not that he's LeBron or Pippen or Bird or anything. And he seems to be more efficient and a less dependent on being set up by a PG. Not that Melo wasn't a big time scorer.
And if we assume Kyrie is coming, it solves the PG issue that neither Melo or Amare had, except for a year of old Kidd. AD is a better passer than Amare was, where Amare was just a finisher.
To be clear, I agree that they would be a lot better than Melo/Amar'e (at least in the short term). These two simply could not play together. I just don't see championship like some of our fellow Knicks fans do, let alone a dynasty.