We have all the leverage in this situation.

At most, we should only give up Gallo or Chandler + AR, and that's only cause trading for Melo now allows us to resign Chandler in the offseason, keep Turiaf, and use our MLE and bi-annual exception to fill further holes. If we wait to sign Melo, we lose Chandler, Turiaf, and use of the MLE/bi-annual exception.

As much as I like Gallo, upgrading from him to Melo, without losing any other significant rotation player would be hands down the best deal Donnie could make.

ramtour420 wrote:

Childs2Dudley wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

chislic wrote:source confirmed:

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/26392070

ESPNNewYork.com reported after the Knicks beat Anthony's Nuggets 129-125 that Anthony has told Denver officials that he will only sign a three-year, $65 million extension if he is traded to New York. Two people familiar with the Nuggets' internal discussions with Anthony disputed the part about Anthony having informed the Nuggets of his exclusive preference for a trade to the Knicks. But one of those people, who has direct knowledge of Anthony's position, confirmed to CBSSports.com that if Anthony is traded, the Knicks are the only potential suitor with whom he'd agree to re-sign.

Reminds me of Lebron talking to Gallinari at the after the game at Madison Square Garden.

So Carmelo has to wait until today to tell Denver officials this? Not buying it.

How on God's green Earth does any of this remind you of LeBron talking to Gallinari?

Sometimes I wonder if you just say negative stuff to keep up your schtick.

Yeah, Anub lost me there also. Knicks were better today. What aren't you buying?

People were reading tea leaves about why Lebron talked to Gallo after the game. It obviously had nothing to do with his decision. Just like Denver losing tonight wouldnt suddenly sway Carmelo to DEMAND NY right now.

Now I read that as soon as Denver lost to the Knicks then Carmelo informs them he wants NY. Um so Carmelo's representatives didnt inform Denver management of this before the season? Doubtful.

Carmelo has access to Denver Officials 24/7 guys. Lets use some common sense. He doesn't need to wait until he is in NY to inform them he will only sign an extension to NY.

Advantages of trade:
MLE
Keep Chandler
Dump Curry's worthless ass from the end of the bench

Sounds good. It would be a very bitter pill to swallow if we lost Gallo though.

If we could somehow pull a Curry, Azubuke, Douglas, Moz, Picks, Cash

nyvector16 wrote:nice thinking... I forgot all about the MLE.
It might be a wiser decision to trade rather than sign outright.

Advantages of trade:
MLE
Keep Chandler
Dump Curry's worthless ass from the end of the bench

Sounds good. It would be a very bitter pill to swallow if we lost Gallo though.

If we could somehow pull a Curry, Azubuke, Douglas, Moz, Picks, Cash

there's also the LLE we could use as well if we went that route... i'm still not sure if that signing Wilson using his Bird Rights idea is allowed under the CBA, but like i said if it's feasible, then that is our best course of action by far of any i've heard during all these debates... we trade for Melo using Gallo, AR & Curry's expiring, it allows us to do this:

- re-sign Wilson this summer using his Bird Rights
- use the MLE to sign a defensive C to shore up our frontcourt
- use the LLE to re-sign Shawne Williams

unless i'm off here (& someone correct me if i am), all 3 of these moves we would NOT be able to do if we waited til the summer to sign Melo as a FA (we'd also have to renounce Wilson C as well)... we'd end up with this in 2011 after all those moves:

C - free agent C (MLE) / Turiaf / Mozgov
PF - Amare / Wilson
SF - Melo / Williams (LLE)
SG - Fields / Rautins
PG - Felton / Douglas

i can't imagine a more ideal scenario to play out than that... giving up Gallo would be a shame but to put that team together it's well worth it in my view... & AR is no big loss as he doesn't even have a role on this team as it is.

scoshin wrote:

TMS wrote:

nyvector16 wrote:nice thinking... I forgot all about the MLE.
It might be a wiser decision to trade rather than sign outright.

Advantages of trade:
MLE
Keep Chandler
Dump Curry's worthless ass from the end of the bench

Sounds good. It would be a very bitter pill to swallow if we lost Gallo though.

If we could somehow pull a Curry, Azubuke, Douglas, Moz, Picks, Cash

there's also the LLE we could use as well if we went that route... i'm still not sure if that signing Wilson using his Bird Rights idea is allowed under the CBA, but like i said if it's feasible, then that is our best course of action by far of any i've heard during all these debates... we trade for Melo using Gallo, AR & Curry's expiring, it allows us to do this:

- re-sign Wilson this summer using his Bird Rights
- use the MLE to sign a defensive C to shore up our frontcourt
- use the LLE to re-sign Shawne Williams

unless i'm off here (& someone correct me if i am), all 3 of these moves we would NOT be able to do if we waited til the summer to sign Melo as a FA (we'd also have to renounce Wilson C as well)... we'd end up with this in 2011 after all those moves:

C - free agent C (MLE) / Turiaf / Mozgov
PF - Amare / Wilson
SF - Melo / Williams (LLE)
SG - Fields / Rautins
PG - Felton / Douglas

i can't imagine a more ideal scenario to play out than that... giving up Gallo would be a shame but to put that team together it's well worth it in my view... & AR is no big loss as he doesn't even have a role on this team as it is.

It is. The whole point of Bird Rights is to resign your own FA's regardless of cap. If we trade for Melo now, cap implications go out the window and we don't have to renounce Will to clear up any room. And we can sign him to whatever amount (or even just let the market dictate his price since he's a RFA)

but do you still also retain your MLE & LLE's as well if you sign a player using his Bird Rights Exception? that's the only part i'm not clear about. also, does the fact that Melo would be signing a contract extension the year prior have any impact on this or no?

TMS wrote:

scoshin wrote:

TMS wrote:

nyvector16 wrote:nice thinking... I forgot all about the MLE.
It might be a wiser decision to trade rather than sign outright.

Advantages of trade:
MLE
Keep Chandler
Dump Curry's worthless ass from the end of the bench

Sounds good. It would be a very bitter pill to swallow if we lost Gallo though.

If we could somehow pull a Curry, Azubuke, Douglas, Moz, Picks, Cash

there's also the LLE we could use as well if we went that route... i'm still not sure if that signing Wilson using his Bird Rights idea is allowed under the CBA, but like i said if it's feasible, then that is our best course of action by far of any i've heard during all these debates... we trade for Melo using Gallo, AR & Curry's expiring, it allows us to do this:

- re-sign Wilson this summer using his Bird Rights
- use the MLE to sign a defensive C to shore up our frontcourt
- use the LLE to re-sign Shawne Williams

unless i'm off here (& someone correct me if i am), all 3 of these moves we would NOT be able to do if we waited til the summer to sign Melo as a FA (we'd also have to renounce Wilson C as well)... we'd end up with this in 2011 after all those moves:

C - free agent C (MLE) / Turiaf / Mozgov
PF - Amare / Wilson
SF - Melo / Williams (LLE)
SG - Fields / Rautins
PG - Felton / Douglas

i can't imagine a more ideal scenario to play out than that... giving up Gallo would be a shame but to put that team together it's well worth it in my view... & AR is no big loss as he doesn't even have a role on this team as it is.

It is. The whole point of Bird Rights is to resign your own FA's regardless of cap. If we trade for Melo now, cap implications go out the window and we don't have to renounce Will to clear up any room. And we can sign him to whatever amount (or even just let the market dictate his price since he's a RFA)

but do you still also retain your MLE & LLE's as well if you sign a player using his Bird Rights Exception? that's the only part i'm not clear about. also, does the fact that Melo would be signing a contract extension the year prior have any impact on this or no?

Yup, MLE, LLE, and bi-annual exception are separate from bird rights. But the MLE, LLE, and bi-annual exception all take up cap space until renounced, which is why if we want to sign Melo, we have to renounce our rights to the MLE, etc. to get him.

scoshin wrote:

TMS wrote:

scoshin wrote:

TMS wrote:

nyvector16 wrote:nice thinking... I forgot all about the MLE.
It might be a wiser decision to trade rather than sign outright.

Advantages of trade:
MLE
Keep Chandler
Dump Curry's worthless ass from the end of the bench

Sounds good. It would be a very bitter pill to swallow if we lost Gallo though.

If we could somehow pull a Curry, Azubuke, Douglas, Moz, Picks, Cash

there's also the LLE we could use as well if we went that route... i'm still not sure if that signing Wilson using his Bird Rights idea is allowed under the CBA, but like i said if it's feasible, then that is our best course of action by far of any i've heard during all these debates... we trade for Melo using Gallo, AR & Curry's expiring, it allows us to do this:

- re-sign Wilson this summer using his Bird Rights
- use the MLE to sign a defensive C to shore up our frontcourt
- use the LLE to re-sign Shawne Williams

unless i'm off here (& someone correct me if i am), all 3 of these moves we would NOT be able to do if we waited til the summer to sign Melo as a FA (we'd also have to renounce Wilson C as well)... we'd end up with this in 2011 after all those moves:

C - free agent C (MLE) / Turiaf / Mozgov
PF - Amare / Wilson
SF - Melo / Williams (LLE)
SG - Fields / Rautins
PG - Felton / Douglas

i can't imagine a more ideal scenario to play out than that... giving up Gallo would be a shame but to put that team together it's well worth it in my view... & AR is no big loss as he doesn't even have a role on this team as it is.

It is. The whole point of Bird Rights is to resign your own FA's regardless of cap. If we trade for Melo now, cap implications go out the window and we don't have to renounce Will to clear up any room. And we can sign him to whatever amount (or even just let the market dictate his price since he's a RFA)

but do you still also retain your MLE & LLE's as well if you sign a player using his Bird Rights Exception? that's the only part i'm not clear about. also, does the fact that Melo would be signing a contract extension the year prior have any impact on this or no?

Yup, MLE, LLE, and bi-annual exception are separate from bird rights. But the MLE, LLE, and bi-annual exception all take up cap space until renounced, which is why if we want to sign Melo, we have to renounce our rights to the MLE, etc. to get him.

so basically we'd be idiots if we didn't make a trade for Melo now (depending on what we're giving up obviously), cuz we'd in effect be losing out on Wilson's Bird Rights, the MLE & our LLE (i think that's the same as the bi-annual exception) if we waited to sign him in free agency.

if the trade off is Gallo & AR in exchange to get back Melo, the use of our MLE, LLE & Wilson's Bird Rights, i have no idea how anyone here could possibly be opposed to it.

AnubisADL wrote:

TMS wrote:so basically we'd be idiots if we didn't make a trade for Melo now (depending on what we're giving up obviously), cuz we'd in effect be losing out on Wilson's Bird Rights, the MLE & our LLE (i think that's the same as the bi-annual exception) if we waited to sign him in free agency.

if the trade off is Gallo & AR in exchange to get back Melo, the use of our MLE, LLE & Wilson's Bird Rights, i have no idea how anyone here could possibly be opposed to it.

This is what some of the Pro Melo people like myself said before the season. Getting Melo now means we have access to the MLE this summer. We also could also make other moves to acquire guys before the deadline. Waiting for Melo has put us in a holding pattern when it comes to certain trades.

AR and Gallo arent going to get us Melo with their current play though.

if Melo has given the Nuggets that ultimatum, then we can absolutely get him for Gallo & AR... otherwise DEN would get nothing if they refuse out of spite... they have no real choice in this matter... they can save face somewhat if they at least get back 2 young players with upside on rookie scale contracts... that's like getting the equivalent of 2 high 1st round picks for their franchise stud... better than CLE, TOR or PHO got back this past summer after losing their stars, no?

Paladin55 wrote:

TMS wrote:

scoshin wrote:

TMS wrote:

scoshin wrote:

TMS wrote:

nyvector16 wrote:nice thinking... I forgot all about the MLE.
It might be a wiser decision to trade rather than sign outright.

Advantages of trade:
MLE
Keep Chandler
Dump Curry's worthless ass from the end of the bench

Sounds good. It would be a very bitter pill to swallow if we lost Gallo though.

If we could somehow pull a Curry, Azubuke, Douglas, Moz, Picks, Cash

there's also the LLE we could use as well if we went that route... i'm still not sure if that signing Wilson using his Bird Rights idea is allowed under the CBA, but like i said if it's feasible, then that is our best course of action by far of any i've heard during all these debates... we trade for Melo using Gallo, AR & Curry's expiring, it allows us to do this:

- re-sign Wilson this summer using his Bird Rights
- use the MLE to sign a defensive C to shore up our frontcourt
- use the LLE to re-sign Shawne Williams

unless i'm off here (& someone correct me if i am), all 3 of these moves we would NOT be able to do if we waited til the summer to sign Melo as a FA (we'd also have to renounce Wilson C as well)... we'd end up with this in 2011 after all those moves:

C - free agent C (MLE) / Turiaf / Mozgov
PF - Amare / Wilson
SF - Melo / Williams (LLE)
SG - Fields / Rautins
PG - Felton / Douglas

i can't imagine a more ideal scenario to play out than that... giving up Gallo would be a shame but to put that team together it's well worth it in my view... & AR is no big loss as he doesn't even have a role on this team as it is.

It is. The whole point of Bird Rights is to resign your own FA's regardless of cap. If we trade for Melo now, cap implications go out the window and we don't have to renounce Will to clear up any room. And we can sign him to whatever amount (or even just let the market dictate his price since he's a RFA)

but do you still also retain your MLE & LLE's as well if you sign a player using his Bird Rights Exception? that's the only part i'm not clear about. also, does the fact that Melo would be signing a contract extension the year prior have any impact on this or no?

Yup, MLE, LLE, and bi-annual exception are separate from bird rights. But the MLE, LLE, and bi-annual exception all take up cap space until renounced, which is why if we want to sign Melo, we have to renounce our rights to the MLE, etc. to get him.

so basically we'd be idiots if we didn't make a trade for Melo now (depending on what we're giving up obviously), cuz we'd in effect be losing out on Wilson's Bird Rights, the MLE & our LLE (i think that's the same as the bi-annual exception) if we waited to sign him in free agency.

if the trade off is Gallo & AR in exchange to get back Melo, the use of our MLE, LLE & Wilson's Bird Rights, i have no idea how anyone here could possibly be opposed to it.

My understanding is that Denver wants a #1 in a trade, and at least some columnists have talked about AR as the key to getting that #1, which means he can't be used in a trade to Denver. Chandler's contract may pose a problem to Denver (no?) which leaves Gallo and Fields. We would be foolish to do this, especially since there is no guarantee that Chandler will want to stay with us. Turiaf, who I would like to see remain on the team, has a player option next year- who knows what he will do if everyone is shipped off.

A worst case scenario leaves us with Amare and Melo with max-type contracts, Felton, Douglas, Mosguv, potentially Chandler, and whoever else we can scrounge together for a roster.

Chandler's a RFA...unless Dolan becomes stingy with his pocketbook, there's no way we end up losing Chandler to FA, unless we purposely let him go to free up cap space.

It's also why I don't get why people think we have a realistic shot at Marc Gasol. All signs point toward Memphis retaining Gasol over Randolph, and I'm sure they'll match any offer Gasol gets...or just give him a lucrative offer off the bat like they did with Rudy Gay and lock him up before other suitors can get to him.