I'm not a fan of Phil though, but I'm hoping he can turn things around at MSG and bring at least one ring. So I'm trying to buy in. Will you, the collective or singular, buy in if Phil deems paying Melo max as part of fulfilling that plan?

OR are you (again collective or singular) gonna bitch and moan for the next five years with annoying whining after every lose and "I told you so's" if at the end of the latest iteration there is no chip?

As a glutton for punishment, I'm going to go along for the ride, despite my deep disdain for Dolan...just as I have for the past 15 years of futility.

Bonn1997 wrote:He also might give Melo a contract but still plan to trade him.

So fans can always have a silver lining.

grillco wrote:I like Melo and don't see him as part of the problem with the Knicks. I'd also like him to go the Duncan route and take less to help the team, but to be clear and fair we must remember that Duncan did it to maintain he team. He wanted to make sure Parker and Manu were happy while providing a little more flexibility for Pop to bring in the best role players to fit their system. Melo doesn't have anything close to that. Anything he takes with the Knicks is a larger theoretical gamble than any other team as NYK has to take the biggest steps to get to championship contention.

I'm not a fan of Phil though, but I'm hoping he can turn things around at MSG and bring at least one ring. So I'm trying to buy in. Will you, the collective or singular, buy in if Phil deems paying Melo max as part of fulfilling that plan?

OR are you (again collective or singular) gonna bitch and moan for the next five years with annoying whining after every lose and "I told you so's" if at the end of the latest iteration there is no chip?

As a glutton for punishment, I'm going to go along for the ride, despite my deep disdain for Dolan...just as I have for the past 15 years of futility.

So when Duncan was a year older than Melo he made $100mm + over the years he was 31-35.

Grillco... you nailed it. This is all about "feelings" all the way around.

Phil wants it to "feel" like Melo signed under Phil's terms, not Melos.
The fans wants to "feel" like Melo took less to be here making him their guy, or sacrificing to be in NY, or whatever
Melo wants everyone to know that all these other teams want him, and when he goes back to the Knicks its because he "feels" like it.

Feelings... nothing more than feelings....

I've been a fan for 40 years. That doesn't change because of one player's money. Remember Ewing's balloon payments? I really don't care if you do.

I'm hoping Melo takes less money; I really don't see the benefit of playing in Rose-lessland, or going from NYC to Houston (does anyone truly believe Melo gives a sheet about the Chinese market?) LA and Miami are not even pipe dreams.

What would the Somber/hater contingent do on here if he decides to play for PJax's money? LOL

Bonn1997 wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:It would make me deeply skeptical but this one signing alone completely destroy my hope.
That said, you know that regardless of what happens with any player at any point, most people will say "I told you so" or will find a way to claim they weren't wrong if they were. That's just how message boards work.

not really. Some of us hope to be wrong. Others bookmark threads. Most just want the Knicks to win. Others want them to lose because they arent winning "their" way.

Yeah, I agree that a few don't fit the description I wrote. I'll give you credit for accurate modesty since you didn't specifically put yourself in that group.

I think that Phil manages the top tier talent well. Thats why he brings Melo back. I also think after that happens he makes good moves like the Dallas trade. Nothing earth shattering, just smart moves to maximize everything we have on the roster. Next year we will be back to winning 50+ and its all kumbayaya huggie huggie drinky drinky lets go get some beans...

fishmike wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:It would make me deeply skeptical but this one signing alone completely destroy my hope.
That said, you know that regardless of what happens with any player at any point, most people will say "I told you so" or will find a way to claim they weren't wrong if they were. That's just how message boards work.

not really. Some of us hope to be wrong. Others bookmark threads. Most just want the Knicks to win. Others want them to lose because they arent winning "their" way.

Yeah, I've been on the hope to be wrong bandwagon since Ewing was sent away and Layden was given the keys. I actually think Walsh was really doing some good things and trying to build the team right, but Dolan pulled the rug out from under him. And since the Melo trade I've not been into any of the team's moves. Yet with each one I want to be wrong. I want the Knicks to win despite ownership and bloated payroll.

As alluded to in my initial post, I don't care for Phil and think signing him is as big a gamble as Dolan has taken. That said, I want to be wrong. I want Phil's vision, whatever it may be, to be one he is allowed to fulfill and then I want it to result in a ring. And I want it on the same level that I wanted Riley to stop calling Starks' number in game seven in '94. So we will see what happens.

Again, I want to enjoy the ride. Yet I know that there will be a few more gray hairs thanks to the Knicks, and that's a price I'm winning to pay. Anyway, I've got no problem being wrong, but it is endlessly annoying to hear the same damned song from the same damned people all the time, be it here or elsewhere. You're spot on Bonn, it being the nature of boards, but it's still annoying.

fishmike wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:Wouldn't fault the man for trying to get paid and playing where he wants to, for himself and his family. Its probably his last chance at this big a deal. Only thing is, if Melo does take the max I don't want to hear him complaining that we don't have a strong enough roster to contend. Should have thought of that before signing on the dotted line. I'm hopeful that while it will be a big deal, it won't be the max.

I bet its 5/$100. More than any other team offers. Straight up $20mm a year every year.

Also many think the cap will explode after the NBA re-does their TV deal. Remember its a revenue based number.

Whatever the numbers are I hope it allows us to field a contender. Im more optimistic with Jackson on board. I don't believe he will make some of the same WTF moves as his predecessors.

I can't see how melo would goto the bulls, houston, or any other team and think your odds are better with out evaluating the entire picture.

But i really don't care one way or the other, I want a roster full of guys who want to pass and play for each other, in a system that matches the roster. I'll take a High IQ team over a talented team any day of the week.