How would you pitch that to Amar'e?

"Hey, we have a chance to get Melo and take a shot at a ring this year, but we feel like Deron Williams is incrementally better, so even though we have no idea if he would come here, we're going to blow two seasons in your prime. Thanks for being a trooper."

JohnWallace44 wrote:As great as Amar'e is, he's damaged goods and his game is based quite a bit on his athleticism. If you're Donnie, you try to contend now, not years down the road.

How would you pitch that to Amar'e?

"Hey, we have a chance to get Melo and take a shot at a ring this year, but we feel like Deron Williams is incrementally better, so even though we have no idea if he would come here, we're going to blow two seasons in your prime. Thanks for being a trooper."

Right. Amare comes here and says I think I can bring Melo and CP3 with me, lets ball. And we say, "Thanks but you can keep your little friends. We have our eye on some guys who are pretty happy where they are. We like long shots, lets coast."

Bonn1997 wrote:Is an extra year of Carmelo and Amare together better than waiting a year and pursuing Paul, Howard, or Williams? I don't see how a Amare/Melo combo or our current team with M. Gasol or another 2011 FA is going to compete with Miami, LA, SA or other elite teams. I realize that to have 2012 cap space you'd have to trade Wilson for picks and/or players on rookie contracts and would be willing to do that.

According to Steve Kerr's medical expertise, Amare's knees are literally about explode at any second. The first tow rows will be littered with patella shrapnel. So waiting another season and a half to further improve the team may be a bit risky. Marc Gasol is not an answer by himself. Amare and Melo are a better platform. So if you can get Anthony on the team, there is still going to be some space (depending upon the CBA) to get another player or two, even without Walsh letting people go or making moves. You combine that with the fact that Walsh, or maybe even Thomas, will make some moves to get more space to make a run at some of folks mentioned and why wait more? Get Melo now if you can and work towards more flexibility for 2012 while they play together with Felton and Gallo. If Raymond continues to play well, CP may not be necessary and the focus could be solely on Dwight.

I can smell the trophy, the rings. and the banner now...

BlueSeats wrote:Bonn, can you lay it out for us? Which players do we let walk,

grillco wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Is an extra year of Carmelo and Amare together better than waiting a year and pursuing Paul, Howard, or Williams? I don't see how a Amare/Melo combo or our current team with M. Gasol or another 2011 FA is going to compete with Miami, LA, SA or other elite teams. I realize that to have 2012 cap space you'd have to trade Wilson for picks and/or players on rookie contracts and would be willing to do that.

According to Steve Kerr's medical expertise, Amare's knees are literally about explode at any second.

Bonn1997 wrote:

BlueSeats wrote:Bonn, can you lay it out for us? Which players do we let walk,

Hopefully no one. You trade Wilson and Gallo for picks and/or players who would still be on rookie contracts in the 2012 off-season.

So you strip the team down to Amare, Fields and scrubs for the chance there might be a FA available who might want to come here and who might be a marginally better fit than Melo?

I'll pass, thanks. Get the Melo deal done, fill in a couple of pieces and we're good to go.

BlueSeats wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

BlueSeats wrote:Bonn, can you lay it out for us? Which players do we let walk,

Hopefully no one. You trade Wilson and Gallo for picks and/or players who would still be on rookie contracts in the 2012 off-season.

So you strip the team down to Amare, Fields and scrubs for the chance there might be a FA available who might want to come here and who might be a marginally better fit than Melo?

I'll pass, thanks. Get the Melo deal done, fill in a couple of pieces and we're good to go.