Its clear the best path is via free agency.

Its pretty apparent Melo is not all in about New Jersey and his camp seems divided about that teams prospects.

So how should donnie proceed?

My take is Donnie should be showing some love and drag it out longer and longer.

Why? Because the better the knicks play the higher our players are of value, but also harder to trade. It gives up options. ALso the longer it drags the more Detroit, or even the Nets become frustrated with the process and what its doing to their teams. Karl can't keep his team from being distracted. Avery Johnson has to be even more annoying which can't help any scenario.

So by prolonging the situation the chances of disruption are greater. Having stress on the Nets Gm, coach and owner only makes them look worse. If Melo wants what he wants (knicks) and Leon Rose and the World Wide Wes is telling him otherwise, that too makes them look less credble.

Another small factor is his friends (kobe) kobe tells him to just be happy. Kobe has handled his affairs pretty well even after his problem a few years ago. I can't vouch for the quality of his marriage but they are still married. In todays NBA, thats pretty special especially after they got married so young. His other bud Lebron can't be sending words of wisdom. We also don't know what level of person Melo has become as he grows up. Is he more Iverson or more Kobe? Good with his money? Has he divorced himself from gangster video friends? What kind of person would he be in NY? This is a big investment. WE have seen Amear step up with a level of maturity and strong sense of identity in NY. Not everyone can handle it.

Melo has handled his public persona pretty well this year despite the **** storm he has created.

We don't know if he is willing to take less money or not but by delaying the scenario he actually is playing it very smart keeping the nets at bay. Nets should make a deadline but whats the point? They have gone too far and been too public. Knicks are likely more in this but are playing it very cool and out of the public.

What should Donnie do here?

Does Dolan have any influence?

MDA is never going to show anything but love for his roster but would he prefer to Melo over other options and does he have a say?

If he is not all in does he demand an extension? Same for Walsh, certainly he deserves his option to be picked up!

Could Donnie all a long trying not intent on making a trade but either make the nets over pay or create a Free agent opportunity for us over the summer?

There is a plan. Wonder what it really is and what our approach is.

tkf wrote:good post nalod.. but the waiting game is best.. as you said, the more the knicks wait, and the better we play, the better position we are in regardless.. the problem is, melo just needs to come out publicly and say. I am not signing with the nets or any other team, (than the knicks) that I am traded to....

Don't think that's going to happen because he probably doesn't
want the public backlash that Lebron is suffering through.

Killa4luv wrote:Waiting game is the best for the KNicks. Denver wants to creater hysteria, and have these lopsided deals made public so they can say: "look what we can get for him, you have to give us the same." The problem is, they can't get that for him or the deal would be done already.

In the end they will rent him out, if a team is willing to do that, or they will deal with us. It would be irresponsible of them to get nothing and it would hurt their franchise. Make a decent offer, one youngin (probably CHandler who will make some money) 2 picks, CUrry. Thats plenty. what is the alternative? to let him walk and get nothing? Denver really has no cards to play unless a team is willing to rent, and we haven't seen that yet.

Word. He's coming as a FA or via trade at the deadline. I hope he will be a rental for a contender (who hopefully don't sell him on staying) that loses in the first round. I don't want to trade for him. Donnie Walnuts will find a way to clear enough cap space to sign Melo AND Chandler, and we'll use our Bird rights on Gallo or trade him for a big we covet (e.g., Gasol, Jordan, Varejao, Nene) assuming Moz never develops or grows too slowly.

Rookie wrote:interesting...from Hahn:

Source with knowledge of CAA plans says the top priority is to get Melo what he wants: NYK WITH extension. But if can't, Nets are Plan 1b.
12 minutes ago via ÜberTwitter

He wants Knicks WITH extension AND a roster that can compete for a chip. That may not be feasible. So the question becomes, which does Melo prefer:

• Knicks WITH extension, but gutted roster
• Knicks via FA, but with a cohesive roster ready to contend

I know what I would choose. How many millions does it take for an athlete to feel paid? I know that winning a chip in NYC would fulfill the dream of almost every NBA player who ever lived. Melo should just do th right thing and join Stat to start their run.

Moonangie wrote:He wants Knicks WITH extension AND a roster that can compete for a chip. That may not be feasible. So the question becomes, which does Melo prefer:

• Knicks WITH extension, but gutted roster
• Knicks via FA, but with a cohesive roster ready to contend

I know what I would choose. How many millions does it take for an athlete to feel paid? I know that winning a chip in NYC would fulfill the dream of almost every NBA player who ever lived. Melo should just do th right thing and join Stat to start their run.

Nor sure the latter is really possible either. Knicks would have to clear a significant amount of space (about $10m) to sign 'melo as a free agent and be able to hang onto Chandler.

Even assuming you can dump Mozgoz and Randolph for no salary back, you're still less than 2/3rds of the way there ($6.3m combined).

So he wants His money first. Thats his choice. Its easy for us to say he should take less cuz its not our money. What is less? 5-10-15 mil? Thats not a pay cut, thats some serious cheddar!

Those endorsements are nice but they do require work. You have to do things. Shoot commercials takes time, photo shoots, personal appearences all take time. He can do that on top of his extension.

What does anyone think of Dolans take? Dude is all about the starphuch and has to want this.

If Chandler stays healthy can what is his real upside? same for Gallo? Add a bonafide big to the mix and it could be all their.

Rainman gonna need an extension too next year.

Nalod is undecided.

Uptown wrote:

Moonangie wrote:

Rookie wrote:interesting...from Hahn:

Source with knowledge of CAA plans says the top priority is to get Melo what he wants: NYK WITH extension. But if can't, Nets are Plan 1b.
12 minutes ago via ÜberTwitter

He wants Knicks WITH extension AND a roster that can compete for a chip. That may not be feasible. So the question becomes, which does Melo prefer:

• Knicks WITH extension, but gutted roster
• Knicks via FA, but with a cohesive roster ready to contend

I know what I would choose. How many millions does it take for an athlete to feel paid? I know that winning a chip in NYC would fulfill the dream of almost every NBA player who ever lived. Melo should just do th right thing and join Stat to start their run.

If you've been reading and listening to Melos quotes, it seems pretty clear that he wants his money now and doesn't want to go the free agency route. Maybe I'm reading it wrong but thats the vibe I get.

A salary is just one way of making money. If Melo had say his own TV channel wouldn't his wife go Oooooh La La La...?

Killa4luv wrote:Waiting game is the best for the KNicks. Denver wants to creater hysteria, and have these lopsided deals made public so they can say: "look what we can get for him, you have to give us the same." The problem is, they can't get that for him or the deal would be done already.

In the end they will rent him out, if a team is willing to do that, or they will deal with us. It would be irresponsible of them to get nothing and it would hurt their franchise. Make a decent offer, one youngin (probably CHandler who will make some money) 2 picks, CUrry. Thats plenty. what is the alternative? to let him walk and get nothing? Denver really has no cards to play unless a team is willing to rent, and we haven't seen that yet.

I agree. I would offer Chandler, Curry, and a future pick or two and tell denver to take or leave it. Denver is overplaying its hand. If NJ is willing to give them Favors, Harris, and 2 first round picks for Melo and Billups, I would jump at that deal 10 times out of 10. You can then flip Harris into another asset and potential have a solid PF prospect and 3 picks in the next draft, with New Jersey's pick likely being a high lottery pick.