gunsnewing wrote:You need a defensive stopper at SF next to Melo. Jeff Green would work. I'm ok with that if we dodge teams like Indiana who just have too much size up frontThis is the reason tweeters don't win championships. Guys who are to slow to guard SF's and too small to guard PFs
Trading Melo is not the end of the world. We can work on building a more conventional championship caliber team
Problem is our owner is a cornhole and satisfied with just making the playoffs
totally agree with Gun's on this and possibly even a SG/SF that is skilled and versatile like Lance Stephenson as well or a TOP tier PG
It doesn't look like we have any intent on trading him
Let's look at Melo's options, weighing in on contract *length and amount*, contending *next year and the future*, a BIG MARKET *for endorsements*, and a team with talent/versatile players with a HEAD COACH that has the credentials, NONE of us know which ones are more important, only thing NYK has over other teams is the extra year with more money, a big market for endorsements , with Dolan supporting his business as he has with his new sneakers promotions,
Like in Denver, he says one thing, but reports say another, like see sawing back and forth, with LALA, his wife, and "Melo's sources" saying something else
How much can we actually take word for word? I am sure CAA is behind most of this but are they doing what Melo wants them to do?
Is Melo looking to build hype, much like he did while he forced his way out of Denver? He doesn't seem to have interest in a small market team, thus the early rumors with the LA teams when we were on a losing streak
After realizing that there are not many BIG market teams that are willing/capable to pay him THIS SUMMER anything close to what NYK can pay him, then LALA's opinions with him saying he wants to stay in NYK
Is he looking to build hype to see what contracts and teams would be available for him to get the most money possible and contend, while signing as a FA or in trades?
Or is he just looking to get that extra 30m guaranteed contract from Dolan, while staying in a LARGE MARKET TEAM (therefore the rumors of LA Clippers and/Laker's were likely true)
1- I want to test Free Agency and has been backing up those comments for the most part
2- then also says he doesn't want to leave NYK and he loves playing for in MSG
3- Also said what James, Wade, and Bosh did was smart and currently WINNING a title is his goal
In my opinion, if we are ready to pay him a MAX extension, I think we will never contend for the time he is here
If winning is really that important to Melo and he wants to stay in NYK, why not NOT opt out, have an under table discussion with Dolan giving him other opportunities to make money while he retires in NYK, in 2015 take LESS MONEY about 10-12m for a 5year deal but a player option for the 2nd and 3rd year, and then RECRUIT players like Lebron did
In order to recruit quality players, he must leave the NYK's with cap space in order to sign for talent rather than opting out and doing what is in the best interest of his family
My question is, WHY DOES he have to take less to stay in NYK, while he can sign with another team, and compete next year which we likely won't be able to do (though would be a pay cut with a contending team)
Let's be honest, Lebron will be EVERYONE team's first choice, if they can choose between Lebron or Melo
So no offense to Melo, but any team with cap room would much rather pay Lebron whatever they can than Melo if they could only sign one player
Teams in the 15m + to less than 20m but would be "contenders", these teams still have the ability to trade some of their contracts if they want to pay an ALL STAR more
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Bulls *Derrick Rose's health but they have the DEFENSE and solid 2 way players in Noah *which is much better than Chandler in every aspect especially in athleticism and offense*, Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler, Dunleavy, the development of Tony Snell, and draft rights of Miro Mirotec
Detroit *adding on to a young trio with Jennings, Josh Smith, Drummond, and whatever they trade Greg Monroe for*
Washington John Wall, Nene, Beal, development of Otto Porter with Gortat and Trevor Ariza as UFAs
Questionables, some with good records
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Toronto
Atlanta (if they trade some players)
Cleveland, have the talent on paper but havent seem to been able to get it work
(Texas big 3 with less tax)
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Dallas, they have only about 25m in guaranteed contracts although Dirk is a UFA *which could take less money at this point of his career especially if it mean Lebron and another stars would be heading there) With Monta Ellis, Calderon and many good prospect G's with Larkin, Mekal, and Ledo, some younger role players like Brandon Wright, Crowder, and UFA's Dirk, Marion, Vince Carter, and Dejuan Blairre with TEAM OPTION for Dalembert, I can see the veterans taking less $$$ for a chance to build a contending team
Houston (if they can trade Lin and Asik for salary relief) Harden, Lebron or Melo, Parsons, Terrence Jones, D12, and Beverely (Norris Cole role) having Harden, Lebron, Parsons all play point/forward, they also have the vet min complimentary shooters that would thrive with this players and can sign upgrade their PG position and they are SET
SA (IF Tim Duncan retires or opts out of his contract to get much less in order to get a Lebron or Melo at a contract that would be in the range of 18m) to go with
Parker, TD, Ginboili, Splitter, and some solid young backup Guards and BIGS
There are many small market teams that have the ability to pay Melo but I will only list the ones that have a decent record and/or have the ability to sign Lebron and Melo or multiple players THIS SUMMER
Let's be honest, any team that signs Lebron by himself instantly becomes contenders but if they have the ability to add even more talent with Lebron and draft picks in this deep draft, they have a very bright future, Lebron and Melo added to a core of versatile YOUNG players would be very deadly
1- Suns (they have plenty of assets, cap room, and a core of young players already) with Bledsoe who would be somewhere between a younger Wade and Norris Cole (would fit in with Lebron's DEFENSE, in addition to have Dragic, and a stretch 4/5 in Frye *player option*, Morris brothers, Plumlee/Len, Gereld Green, and MANY PICKS owned
2- Orlando, doesn't have as much cap room as some of these other teams BUT they already have a bunch of young talent in addition to multiple draft picks coming up
Tobias Harris, Affalo, Olindipo, Vuvuvic, Markless, Andrew Nicholson, and Doran Lamb *Jameer Nelson TEAM OPTION likely not picked up if they go for a big name*, with vets Glen Davis and Jason Maxiell (player option)
They can easily trade Affalo for cap space and assets if they want to,
The warm weather and LESS tax would also place a factor
In order to sign both Lebron and Melo or another player, they would likely need to get rid of some of their contracts which would not very very hard with the young talent and assets they have
3- Philly, has the LEAST amount of guaranteed contracts for next year, while still owning the bird rights to Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes as complimentary players, with MCW, Noel, Thad Young (a solid player in my opinion in the 10m range that could be kept or easily traded for cap relief), and the development of Arnett Moultrie and Tony Wroten
4- Utah, they have 2 young PF/C's in Kanter and Favors, in addition to the young players of Gordan Hayward, Rudy Gobert, and a athletic F in Jeremy Evans
2/3/2014 2:14 AM