I know we all know this, but unless he forces the hand to his supposedly preferred location, he's just pissing down our back and telling us it's raining. His willingness to go the Jersey tells me the Knicks aren't his preferred anything. To get the most endorsement $$$ he'll have to wait until the Nets move to NY. And as has been stated, the Nets? Really? Oh, yeah they've got better or more attractive talent talent that combined for how many wins? Yeah, if I'm the Nuggets I screaming "get me the prime players on that team so we can build on our 53 wins! NOW!!!"

Again, we all know this, but...Gallo and Chandler more than make up for Melo's stats and they both seem to be improving and Curry's contract provides relieve for next season. I'd hate to lose either guy let alone both and maybe it will be a mixed blessing if Anthony decides to go elsewhere. It's just really up to him. He holds ALL of the cards and can force his hand if he really wants to be a Knick. Maybe he's just a decent guy and doesn't want to come off like an a-hole. I think everyone's rethinking how they handle free agency and trade requests in light of the James "decision" BS.

I think he could give the Nuggets until the All-Star break so they can see how the Knicks do and evaluate what will be their current skill level and value around the league. This could work in or against the favor of the Nuggets or the Knicks.

Sorry, I'm rambling. I'm starting to get sick (health wise, not just sick of Melo-drama). Maybe you all are right. The Knicks should just stand pat. Either they get Melo as a free agent or focus on getting Paul instead. It's a good team on paper, the best one they've had in years. It sounds like all the guys want to play together and play well. There's passion and fire there. Maybe we've got a team that can be as high as a fourth seed. Whenever I read any of the press outside of NY, and even half of that, I can't help but think the Knicks are being underestimated. Amare was too much of a risk, the Knicks don't have any desirable young talent, etc. Maybe they're just snakes in can.

Remember all the drama about how low the cap was going to be this year? Guess what.. it went up. It went up because the revenue went up. The Boston/Lakers finals were big for ratings. Stern has all his overseas projects, bla bla bla... aside from a couple struggling franchises the NBA is doing quite well. There is always the threat of a lockout or strike before bargaining starts. Its part of the process, and maybe there will be one. Who knows.

Its always the same in all sports. Owners and GMS need protection from themselves.

If Melo wants to come he can wait until he's a FA next year, and if he wants to come the Knicks will create room for him somewhere some how.

Nalod wrote:If the NEts want to trade Favors, Harris and a No.1 pick, then let them. Lopez is no super star. If they have cap room in two years to get CP3, well thats two years down the road. We need to keep our space open and keep doing what we are doing.

Winning teams don't usually have 28 ppg players and go Deep every year. Cavs with Lebron taught us that. They can win in the regular season, sell lots of tickets, make lots of money but not go deep conistantly. Jordan and the Phil Jax way of using role players (nice to have a side kick like Pip!) was an exception. Clyde the Glide, Dominque Wilkens, Iverson, etc can make a one and done run, but not win it all.

My point, better to have emerging young talent. IM not convinced Melo is the superstar you bet the ranch on. I don't mind giving him a big contract, but not trading assets away. Keep those assets as we will need them on the court or for a final trade to put it all together!

Nets wanna pony up for him and play two years in New Jersey with him, then so be it. One way or another Nets will be formatble rivals in two years no matter what.

- If the Nets trade Favors, Harris, and a No.1 pick for Melo that would be a great deal for them because they'd still have cap space.

- We haven't made the playoffs in a decade. Getting to the playoffs consistently would be great for us. Plus when you are a consistent playoff team a move can make you a contender.

- Gallo and Randolph are far from a sure thing. Lets not act like we are trading away Garnett and Nowitski. Signing Amare really put the heat on us to produce. Amare's knees aren't going to last forever.

I'd like to see Randolph and Gallo develop into stars here but that isn't going to happen with Amare here. I would like to see an all in move like Boston did. Al Jefferson is a beast and Jeff Green is solid but Boston competing in the playoffs for the last 3 years seems to be worth it.

Did David Robinson, Wade or Shaq win scoring titles and NBA titles the same year?

Nalod wrote:
Winning vs true contenders. Kobe/Jordan had Phil Jax. Winning teams that make appearances in finals but lose don't count in my book.

We could go that route.

Did David Robinson, Wade or Shaq win scoring titles and NBA titles the same year?

The best players in the league usually win the titles. Do you project Randolph and Golla being top 5 players?

AnubisADL wrote:

Nalod wrote:
Winning vs true contenders. Kobe/Jordan had Phil Jax. Winning teams that make appearances in finals but lose don't count in my book.

We could go that route.

Did David Robinson, Wade or Shaq win scoring titles and NBA titles the same year?

The best players in the league usually win the titles. Do you project Randolph and Golla being top 5 players?

is that what it comes down to? Who is better between the 3 of Melo, AR, Gallo? Cause we all know Melo is better at this point. So who cares.

It's about what is best long term for team.

crzymdups wrote:As far as Melo and scoring: In Denver's best season, 08-09, when they advanced to the WCF, Melo averaged 22ppg on 44% shooting, some of the lowest numbers of his career.

I think he does have more in common with Tracy McGrady and someone like Glenn Robinson - great scorers, but it's questionable whether they do enough in other areas to really win it all. If you're at SF, you have to be a playmaker and a defender. Look at Paul Pierce and Scottie Pippen - two of the best small forwards in the last 20 years and some of the only guys to be MAJOR cogs on championship team from the SF position.

I think Tracy's problem is he that he did too much, especially early in his career, and it wore his body down. His career averages are still about 21.5 points, 6 rebs and 5 assists. Those are well-round numbers.
The Glenn Robinson comparison kinda scares me with Melo. Melo is better, but I can see the similarities in their games. I'd still roll the dice tho. You need superstars to win now, especially with the juggernaut in Miamia.

BigDaddyG wrote:

crzymdups wrote:As far as Melo and scoring: In Denver's best season, 08-09, when they advanced to the WCF, Melo averaged 22ppg on 44% shooting, some of the lowest numbers of his career.

I think he does have more in common with Tracy McGrady and someone like Glenn Robinson - great scorers, but it's questionable whether they do enough in other areas to really win it all. If you're at SF, you have to be a playmaker and a defender. Look at Paul Pierce and Scottie Pippen - two of the best small forwards in the last 20 years and some of the only guys to be MAJOR cogs on championship team from the SF position.

I think Tracy's problem is he that he did too much, especially early in his career, and it wore his body down. His career averages are still about 21.5 points, 6 rebs and 5 assists. Those are well-round numbers.
The Glenn Robinson comparison kinda scares me with Melo. Melo is better, but I can see the similarities in their games. I'd still roll the dice tho. You need superstars to win now, especially with the juggernaut in Miamia.

No way can you beat Miami with what we would have to give up for Melo. The way to win is to keep what we have and add where we find it to be necessary. We need to build a different type of team that is centered around size defense and depth.

EwingsGlass wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

Nalod wrote:
Winning vs true contenders. Kobe/Jordan had Phil Jax. Winning teams that make appearances in finals but lose don't count in my book.

We could go that route.

Did David Robinson, Wade or Shaq win scoring titles and NBA titles the same year?

The best players in the league usually win the titles. Do you project Randolph and Golla being top 5 players?

The best teams win titles. You need the star player and the star player needs a supporting cast. Even then nothing is guaranteed. Look at the Sonics in the 90s (losing to the Bulls)-- Kemp and Payton, where are they without Detlef Shrempf and Sam Perkins? If you have the ability to add Melo without losing assets and next year you have assets to get the third star (Chris Paul) or keep a combination of high end players like Gallo and Randolph, why starphuck yourself right now for third place in the East? Anything can happen, but Felton, Melo and Amare probably don't beat the Heat, Celtics or Magic in a playoff series.

You have to pay for guarantees. Trading for Carmelo GUARANTEES we get him. If he signs somewhere else and Gallo and Randolph dont pan out we are stuck in mediocrity for the foreseeable future with Amare killing our cap.

We keep getting burned by waiting for guys to fall into our lap.

Melo and Amare would be the 2nd best SF and PF in the East. I think we could hang with the Celtics and Magic for sure.

martin wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

Nalod wrote:
Winning vs true contenders. Kobe/Jordan had Phil Jax. Winning teams that make appearances in finals but lose don't count in my book.

We could go that route.

Did David Robinson, Wade or Shaq win scoring titles and NBA titles the same year?

The best players in the league usually win the titles. Do you project Randolph and Golla being top 5 players?

The best teams win titles. You need the star player and the star player needs a supporting cast. Even then nothing is guaranteed. Look at the Sonics in the 90s (losing to the Bulls)-- Kemp and Payton, where are they without Detlef Shrempf and Sam Perkins? If you have the ability to add Melo without losing assets and next year you have assets to get the third star (Chris Paul) or keep a combination of high end players like Gallo and Randolph, why starphuck yourself right now for third place in the East? Anything can happen, but Felton, Melo and Amare probably don't beat the Heat, Celtics or Magic in a playoff series.

You have to pay for guarantees. Trading for Carmelo GUARANTEES we get him. If he signs somewhere else and Gallo and Randolph dont pan out we are stuck in mediocrity for the foreseeable future with Amare killing our cap.

We keep getting burned by waiting for guys to fall into our lap.

Melo and Amare would be the 2nd best SF and PF in the East. I think we could hang with the Celtics and Magic for sure.

Your building a team for the second round, everyone else wants championship team.

You think that is a 2nd round team I think that team can get to the finals. The bottom line is we both agree that team at worse a top 4 team in the east.

Randolph and Gallo can still easily not reach their potential and we'd be stuck in mediocrity. If you factor in Gallo's and Randolph's injury history the future is a little less bright. I dont know anyone who's back has gotten better by gaining weight and getting older. I also dont know anyone who's had less ankle issues after gaining weight and getting older.

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