crzymdups wrote:I think at this point you hold it in your back pocket to use at some point in the season if someone good shakes loose.

Is there a good resource for all the free agents who haven't signed yet? I've lost track.

smackeddog wrote:I would give it to Melo

smackeddog wrote:I would give it to Melo

Hilarious!

Finestrg wrote:Once Ledo's back on board, gimmie Ndour and Elliot Williams -- all 3 are minimum level signings (hopefully Elliot Williams doesn't decide to play hardball now because Phil will tell him to go scratch too and I want him. A vet minimum offer is fair for a player trying to get back in the league). Keep the room exception open from here on in. If we don't need to use it this year, that'll be $2.8mm in savings toward next summer's FA. I have a funny feeling they might be thinking along those lines (I think Shved was worth the room exception or a good portion of it but they didn't want to give it to him). They've probably run some numbers and might think that not using the room exception on a player is more beneficial.

I'd also be interested in trying to work out a trade for Ty Lawson while his value is low. If we could get this guy for Calderon and Early...for an above average PG in his prime that averages 15+ & 10, that's a steal. It's worth adding the extra $3+mm in salary per year over what Calderon's making. If it didn't work out, Lawson only has 2 more seasons left, then he comes off the books. Lawson's a good player that would help us win more games and make us look that much more attractive going into next summer's FA. One more good solid piece to add around Melo. And by going 2 for 1, we open up an extra spot for Ndour, who looks like a better player than Early anyway. Then we'd still have the 2 extra spots open for the guard and legit backup C that we could definitely use (Elliot Wiiliams and Galdikas). Done and done.

how would we trade for Lawson? People keep saying this but I have no idea how that is possible being that he is making 12 million per.

mreinman wrote:

Finestrg wrote:Once Ledo's back on board, gimmie Ndour and Elliot Williams -- all 3 are minimum level signings (hopefully Elliot Williams doesn't decide to play hardball now because Phil will tell him to go scratch too and I want him. A vet minimum offer is fair for a player trying to get back in the league). Keep the room exception open from here on in. If we don't need to use it this year, that'll be $2.8mm in savings toward next summer's FA. I have a funny feeling they might be thinking along those lines (I think Shved was worth the room exception or a good portion of it but they didn't want to give it to him). They've probably run some numbers and might think that not using the room exception on a player is more beneficial.

I'd also be interested in trying to work out a trade for Ty Lawson while his value is low. If we could get this guy for Calderon and Early...for an above average PG in his prime that averages 15+ & 10, that's a steal. It's worth adding the extra $3+mm in salary per year over what Calderon's making. If it didn't work out, Lawson only has 2 more seasons left, then he comes off the books. Lawson's a good player that would help us win more games and make us look that much more attractive going into next summer's FA. One more good solid piece to add around Melo. And by going 2 for 1, we open up an extra spot for Ndour, who looks like a better player than Early anyway. Then we'd still have the 2 extra spots open for the guard and legit backup C that we could definitely use (Elliot Wiiliams and Galdikas). Done and done.

how would we trade for Lawson? People keep saying this but I have no idea how that is possible being that he is making 12 million per.

Ran it through Realgm's trade checker and it works. NBA trades don't need to be dollar for dollar.

http://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/6606365

StarksEwing1 wrote:

Knicks1969 wrote:Why are some of you so in love with Lawson's game? He is a ball dominant guard who does not fit on our scheme. We only need one ball dominant dude on the roster, and he was just given a $125 million contract

yeah never been a fan. Some wanted to trade our pick for him, that would have been a disaster

The idea at the time was to flip Calderon for Lawson and 1st round picks (4 for 7). It was never Lawson for pick 4.

Knicks1969 wrote:Why are some of you so in love with Lawson's game? He is a ball dominant guard who does not fit on our scheme. We only need one ball dominant dude on the roster, and he was just given a $125 million contract

The man averaged almost 10 assists a game last year. How is that "ball dominant"? If you mean he's a guy who will have the ball in his hands for part of the shot clock trying to orchestrate a play and a guy who could go get himself a shot when things break down--OK, I guess he's ball dominant but I'd rather have him out there over Langston Galloway who couldn't do half the things Lawson can do on the court. Ask yourself this -- is he any more ball dominant than Jerian Grant? I don't think so. Widely misunderstood fact--the reason Phil's Bull and Laker teams didn't have a 'ball dominant' PG is because with Michael and Kobe, you didn't need a guy like that--those two were the best players in the sport at the time Phil had each one, much more versatile players than Melo. Those guys could do it all--no need for a top PG. Melo's not nearly in that class of player. He's gonna need as much help as he can get, much more than those two needed in their prime. help beyond simple role players... Phil never needed a player like that when he coached. It was a huge luxury for him... On this team with Melo, a completely different player than Michael/Kobe, I'd argue he now does... Lawson's a talented PG that can get anywhere he wants to at will, beat anyone off the dribble whenever he wants, would be another reliable secondary scorer to go along with Afflalo, can shoot the 3 pretty well and he dishes the rock. He'd also make our team look that much more attractive for next year's FAs, he'd help us win more games this year (assisting us in giving Toronto the weakest pick possibly in next summer's draft) and he'd give Melo another more-than-decent vet player to play with and try to win with, one that he's played with before like Afflalo. If it didn't work out, he's only got 2 more full season's on the books just like Calderon, then we could turn the page. And if we could go 2 for 1 (Calderon and Early for Lawson -- they're not cutting this guy over a DWI charge--if we want him we'll have to trade for him and I bet we wouldn't be the only ones out there interested in him), we could open up an extra roster spot for Ndour and still have 2 left over for players like Elliot Williams and Galdikas, 2 needs imo. What's not to like exactly?