BRIGGS wrote:

TripleThreat wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Can we get a 1st round pick in 2015 and a few 2's --I think we can. Lets wait and see which contender might be willing to give up assets for Sammy D Shumpert Prigs etc.. at the deadline. Would a team trending in the pick 24 or later period give up a 1 for a combo of Prigs and Dalembart or another team give up a couple of 2's etc.... or if we take back salary---I'm sure it can be done and at aworst we should be able to bring back a few 2's. I know we are not grabbing a high pick--but my goal would be something that would trend 22 to 28 and or future 2's.

1) Most of the draft prospects you are listing out will not be available in the 22-28 range. What are the odds the Knicks find a rotation player, much less a franchise type player, in that part of the draft, at the kind of cost you are pushing ( "taking back salary" which is code for bad contracts)

2) You are listing Knick players that have close to no trade value. Phil Jackson has already tried to trade every single player on his roster not named Melo. He didn't even try to hide that fact. Even right after the Dallas deal, every last guy in that deal, beyond the two picks, were up for re-trade.

Many reserves on most teams would be starters on the Knicks, that means the Knicks roster is of little to no trade value to most other NBA teams ( i.e. why trade assets when a guy on your bench has more value or upside?)

3) You are citing one of the major pitfalls of getting picks of any kind under the current conditions, likely they will come back with "taking back salary" The Knicks have played this game before, taking other team's aging roster problems and contracts. Why would the Knicks, after a chance to free themselves of STAT and Bargs contracts, went to lock themselves again into aging bad contract type players?

I'm not here to break your balls, Briggs, but look at it practically. The Knicks have a statistically low chance to get a top pick in the 2015 draft. Their projected wins ( some from sources and analysts are who are usually very close on the money) put the Knicks outside that practical lottery range. They have no assets in place to entice another team to trade them another lottery pick ( the same reason the Knicks would want another pick is the same reason a team already picking there would rather have that player the Knicks hope to get) The only currency in place is likely to be future draft choices ( how jettisoning those in deals worked out for the Knicks?) and/or taking back bad contracts ( again, how has that worked out for the Knicks?)

Shit, you don't have to even take my word for it, look at recent draft history and recent league trade history. The Knicks are not getting a late 1st for Sammy D and Prigs. And like many of these hypothetical trade scenarios, even if a team was moving a late first rounder, THERE ARE 30 OTHER TEAMS THAT COULD OFFER A BETTER PACKAGE IN RETURN. Too many of these trade hypotheticals work in a vacuum where the Knicks must be the only possible trade partner.

After Philly--Im not sure we are not the next worst team. Maybe maybe not--hopefully we end up there or close to it. How can anyone watch this team and think that we are anything more than one of the 5 worst NBA teams. Can the Knicks get additional picks--well first off everything on these threads are hypothetical--thats why they are here. If the Knicks made a move where they traded an ending contract to Denver for instance for the contract of Javale Mcgee--I think we'd be asking for an unrestricted number 1 pick and a choice of one of Nurkic or Greene. Would I take Nurkic and a number 1 pick to lose out on free agency next year---Personally I would. But we have no clue what Phil J's plan is--we could make it a draft year this year by going all in by taking back large bad contracts for 2015 from 1-2 teams in return for what will likely be solid mid to low lottery picks aka 10-20. If we can trade our vets for a few 2's spread out over 2015-2017 it will fill our coffers for all of the picks we gave up sans the 2016 #1. IF we hit a great draft and followed up by having the cash to take on two maximum players in 2016---it might make the best sense. We have ending contracts AND an ability to bring back so called bad contracts for atleast 1 year. This would yield first rounders. Im not advocating stinking in 2015 either--Im just going to a potential different street in retooling. IF I felt I could get 2-3 frontcourt players that I wanted for the future a promising big PG and a couple of 2's spread over 2015=2017--Id be content removing myself from FA next year. Ill give examples

Trade #1 The ending contract of Bargnani and Cleanthony Early for Javalle Mcgee Denver's 2015 pick restricted to 3 in 2015 a 2016 2nd rounder and Eric Greene

Trade #2 The ending contract of Amare Stoudemire and 3mm in cash for Eric gordon Russ Smith Austin Rivers for a top 3 restricted pick in 2016 and a top 10 restricted pick in 2018

What gives you the idea either of those teams want to deal those players and a high draft as well? got to be realistic here. nobody is trading for our trash without US giving up picks and such.

knickscity wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

TripleThreat wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Can we get a 1st round pick in 2015 and a few 2's --I think we can. Lets wait and see which contender might be willing to give up assets for Sammy D Shumpert Prigs etc.. at the deadline. Would a team trending in the pick 24 or later period give up a 1 for a combo of Prigs and Dalembart or another team give up a couple of 2's etc.... or if we take back salary---I'm sure it can be done and at aworst we should be able to bring back a few 2's. I know we are not grabbing a high pick--but my goal would be something that would trend 22 to 28 and or future 2's.

1) Most of the draft prospects you are listing out will not be available in the 22-28 range. What are the odds the Knicks find a rotation player, much less a franchise type player, in that part of the draft, at the kind of cost you are pushing ( "taking back salary" which is code for bad contracts)

2) You are listing Knick players that have close to no trade value. Phil Jackson has already tried to trade every single player on his roster not named Melo. He didn't even try to hide that fact. Even right after the Dallas deal, every last guy in that deal, beyond the two picks, were up for re-trade.

Many reserves on most teams would be starters on the Knicks, that means the Knicks roster is of little to no trade value to most other NBA teams ( i.e. why trade assets when a guy on your bench has more value or upside?)

3) You are citing one of the major pitfalls of getting picks of any kind under the current conditions, likely they will come back with "taking back salary" The Knicks have played this game before, taking other team's aging roster problems and contracts. Why would the Knicks, after a chance to free themselves of STAT and Bargs contracts, went to lock themselves again into aging bad contract type players?

I'm not here to break your balls, Briggs, but look at it practically. The Knicks have a statistically low chance to get a top pick in the 2015 draft. Their projected wins ( some from sources and analysts are who are usually very close on the money) put the Knicks outside that practical lottery range. They have no assets in place to entice another team to trade them another lottery pick ( the same reason the Knicks would want another pick is the same reason a team already picking there would rather have that player the Knicks hope to get) The only currency in place is likely to be future draft choices ( how jettisoning those in deals worked out for the Knicks?) and/or taking back bad contracts ( again, how has that worked out for the Knicks?)

Shit, you don't have to even take my word for it, look at recent draft history and recent league trade history. The Knicks are not getting a late 1st for Sammy D and Prigs. And like many of these hypothetical trade scenarios, even if a team was moving a late first rounder, THERE ARE 30 OTHER TEAMS THAT COULD OFFER A BETTER PACKAGE IN RETURN. Too many of these trade hypotheticals work in a vacuum where the Knicks must be the only possible trade partner.

After Philly--Im not sure we are not the next worst team. Maybe maybe not--hopefully we end up there or close to it. How can anyone watch this team and think that we are anything more than one of the 5 worst NBA teams. Can the Knicks get additional picks--well first off everything on these threads are hypothetical--thats why they are here. If the Knicks made a move where they traded an ending contract to Denver for instance for the contract of Javale Mcgee--I think we'd be asking for an unrestricted number 1 pick and a choice of one of Nurkic or Greene. Would I take Nurkic and a number 1 pick to lose out on free agency next year---Personally I would. But we have no clue what Phil J's plan is--we could make it a draft year this year by going all in by taking back large bad contracts for 2015 from 1-2 teams in return for what will likely be solid mid to low lottery picks aka 10-20. If we can trade our vets for a few 2's spread out over 2015-2017 it will fill our coffers for all of the picks we gave up sans the 2016 #1. IF we hit a great draft and followed up by having the cash to take on two maximum players in 2016---it might make the best sense. We have ending contracts AND an ability to bring back so called bad contracts for atleast 1 year. This would yield first rounders. Im not advocating stinking in 2015 either--Im just going to a potential different street in retooling. IF I felt I could get 2-3 frontcourt players that I wanted for the future a promising big PG and a couple of 2's spread over 2015=2017--Id be content removing myself from FA next year. Ill give examples

Trade #1 The ending contract of Bargnani and Cleanthony Early for Javalle Mcgee Denver's 2015 pick restricted to 3 in 2015 a 2016 2nd rounder and Eric Greene

Trade #2 The ending contract of Amare Stoudemire and 3mm in cash for Eric gordon Russ Smith Austin Rivers for a top 3 restricted pick in 2016 and a top 10 restricted pick in 2018

What gives you the idea either of those teams want to deal those players and a high draft as well? got to be realistic here. nobody is trading for our trash without US giving up picks and such.

Both trades are salary dumps; they're not trading for Bargnani and Amare, they're trading for their expiring contracts. In order to convince us to take on these bad contracts for bad players they need to give us something in return, generally 1st round draft picks.

Javale McGee is a knucklehead that Denver pretty much immediately regretted trading for; he's averaged less than 20 mpg the last 3 seasons and is only playing 11 mpg this season. He still as another year on his contract at $12M; I'm sure Denver would love to dump him.

Eric Gordon hasn't been able to stay health since he got to New Orleans and even when he is healthy he's a shooting guard that can't shoot. He's currently shooting under 40% from the field, 34% from 3, and has a player option for $15M next season.

The other teams we should be looking at to trade our salary dumps are Detroit and Boston. Detroit has Brandon Jennings, a shoot-first PG that can't shoot or run an offense all that effectively, for another season at $8M. They also have Josh Smith, a PF being asked to play SF except he has 0 range. He's currently shooting under 40% from the field, shot only 41% last season, and has two more years at $14M/year left on his deal.

Boston has Gerald Wallace, who's completely washed up, at another year of $10M and Jeff Green, who's just a generally lousy player, with a player option of $9M next season. The only issue with Boston is they seem like a team that values the draft picks and won't give them away in a salary dump.

BRIGGS wrote:

TripleThreat wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Can we get a 1st round pick in 2015 and a few 2's --I think we can. Lets wait and see which contender might be willing to give up assets for Sammy D Shumpert Prigs etc.. at the deadline. Would a team trending in the pick 24 or later period give up a 1 for a combo of Prigs and Dalembart or another team give up a couple of 2's etc.... or if we take back salary---I'm sure it can be done and at aworst we should be able to bring back a few 2's. I know we are not grabbing a high pick--but my goal would be something that would trend 22 to 28 and or future 2's.

1) Most of the draft prospects you are listing out will not be available in the 22-28 range. What are the odds the Knicks find a rotation player, much less a franchise type player, in that part of the draft, at the kind of cost you are pushing ( "taking back salary" which is code for bad contracts)

2) You are listing Knick players that have close to no trade value. Phil Jackson has already tried to trade every single player on his roster not named Melo. He didn't even try to hide that fact. Even right after the Dallas deal, every last guy in that deal, beyond the two picks, were up for re-trade.

Many reserves on most teams would be starters on the Knicks, that means the Knicks roster is of little to no trade value to most other NBA teams ( i.e. why trade assets when a guy on your bench has more value or upside?)

3) You are citing one of the major pitfalls of getting picks of any kind under the current conditions, likely they will come back with "taking back salary" The Knicks have played this game before, taking other team's aging roster problems and contracts. Why would the Knicks, after a chance to free themselves of STAT and Bargs contracts, went to lock themselves again into aging bad contract type players?

I'm not here to break your balls, Briggs, but look at it practically. The Knicks have a statistically low chance to get a top pick in the 2015 draft. Their projected wins ( some from sources and analysts are who are usually very close on the money) put the Knicks outside that practical lottery range. They have no assets in place to entice another team to trade them another lottery pick ( the same reason the Knicks would want another pick is the same reason a team already picking there would rather have that player the Knicks hope to get) The only currency in place is likely to be future draft choices ( how jettisoning those in deals worked out for the Knicks?) and/or taking back bad contracts ( again, how has that worked out for the Knicks?)

Shit, you don't have to even take my word for it, look at recent draft history and recent league trade history. The Knicks are not getting a late 1st for Sammy D and Prigs. And like many of these hypothetical trade scenarios, even if a team was moving a late first rounder, THERE ARE 30 OTHER TEAMS THAT COULD OFFER A BETTER PACKAGE IN RETURN. Too many of these trade hypotheticals work in a vacuum where the Knicks must be the only possible trade partner.

After Philly--Im not sure we are not the next worst team. Maybe maybe not--hopefully we end up there or close to it. How can anyone watch this team and think that we are anything more than one of the 5 worst NBA teams. Can the Knicks get additional picks--well first off everything on these threads are hypothetical--thats why they are here. If the Knicks made a move where they traded an ending contract to Denver for instance for the contract of Javale Mcgee--I think we'd be asking for an unrestricted number 1 pick and a choice of one of Nurkic or Greene. Would I take Nurkic and a number 1 pick to lose out on free agency next year---Personally I would. But we have no clue what Phil J's plan is--we could make it a draft year this year by going all in by taking back large bad contracts for 2015 from 1-2 teams in return for what will likely be solid mid to low lottery picks aka 10-20. If we can trade our vets for a few 2's spread out over 2015-2017 it will fill our coffers for all of the picks we gave up sans the 2016 #1. IF we hit a great draft and followed up by having the cash to take on two maximum players in 2016---it might make the best sense. We have ending contracts AND an ability to bring back so called bad contracts for atleast 1 year. This would yield first rounders. Im not advocating stinking in 2015 either--Im just going to a potential different street in retooling. IF I felt I could get 2-3 frontcourt players that I wanted for the future a promising big PG and a couple of 2's spread over 2015=2017--Id be content removing myself from FA next year. Ill give examples

Trade #1 The ending contract of Bargnani and Cleanthony Early for Javalle Mcgee Denver's 2015 pick restricted to 3 in 2015 a 2016 2nd rounder and Eric Greene

Trade #2 The ending contract of Amare Stoudemire and 3mm in cash for Eric gordon Russ Smith Austin Rivers for a top 3 restricted pick in 2016 and a top 10 restricted pick in 2018

I doubt we get Nurkic and a first rounder for assuming Javale McGee's contract. He's only on the books for one more season and can still be productive in spite of his knuckleheadedness.

The Nuggets are a hard peg though. They are at a crossroads where they could try and salvage their roster or could blow it up completely, which makes it difficult to project what they'd be willing to do. However, they have shown to be very frugal in the past, dealing a prime-Marcus Camby for a 2nd rounder that never materialized. So it may be possible that they are so cheap that they give up a first rounder to move McGee. If they are, I would imagine that they'd need more assets in return, which again, is hard to predict because they can go either way with that team.

I think it's far more likely to get a first rounder out of the Pelicans because Dell Demps is the epitome of incompetence and may be on the hot-seat. To save his job, I think he'd agree to any deal that marginally improves his team and its projected outlook. But two potential lottery picks to dump Eric Gordon seems like overkill, even by their track record of ineptitude. I think the market, more or less, has already been set by a similar trade that sent Ben Gordon, formerly of the Detriot Pistons, his extra year of salary and a (top 8 protected) 2014 pick to the Bobcats for Corey Maggette's expirer. The Bobcats/Hornets lucked out in that deal because that 2014 pick inevitably became the 9th selection, Noah Vonleh. Hopefully we could have a stroke of luck like that, which undeservingly lands us in the lottery.

I think a deal in a similar vein could be made between the Knicks and Pelicans that sends Iman Shumpert, JR Smith and Bargnani to NO for Eric Gordon, Jimmer Fredette a top 6 protected pick in the 2015 draft and some unprotected second round picks.

NardDogNation wrote:Be that as it may, I still think our best move is to try and offload Carmelo to jumpstart a full rebuild. The reality is that we don't have the time or resources to surround him with enough talent to be legitimate contenders, so why continue to try to swim against the current? We need to talk to the Celtics and see what talent we can pouch from them that can be paired with a top 3 pick from this draft. Personally, I'd do Gerald Wallace's contract, Marcus Smart, Jared Sullinger and an unprotected 2015 in principle for Melo, Larkin and Prigioni.

The Celtics get their 2nd star and would still have $20 million in cap space, James Young, and 12 first round picks in 4 seasons to trade to build their contender. If they could pick up Denver's supporting cast FOR those picks, Jeff Green and James Young (e.g. Gallo, Wilson Chandler, Mozgov, Afflalo) and pair them with a core of Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Kelly Olynk and Brandon Bass, I think they could easily make themselves into the 2nd or 3rd best team in the East. They'd be reminiscent of the D'Antoni Suns who could space the hell out of the floor and run BUT would also excel defensively because of their hawkish backcourt and length. More importantly, they'd be able to compensate/compliment Melo's flaws because of the team's versatile talent i.e. Gallo and Chandler can play and DEFEND either forward position, which allows the Celtics to switch accordingly AND Rondo is a true floor general that can help prevent dead positions where Melo just pounds the ball looking for his shot. All things considered, I think that's something that Melo would agree to because Boston is a high profile city that can carry his brand; he keeps his guaranteed max deal that he wanted; AND gets to play for a team that could contend, with a co-star he has expressed interest in playing with. Plus, he's only a 45 minute flight from NY, which will allow him to keep his family there AND maintain his business contacts. I think he'd waive his no-trade clause for that.

Meanwhile, the Knicks get a legitimate building pick in Marcus Smart who reminds me of an older but healthier Dwayne Wade. If we manage to get Jahlil Okafor in the draft, I think the two would fit exceedingly well with each other and are capable of being perennial allstars in their own right. I also think that Sullinger would give us a nice complimentary player that is young enough to grow with the team and give us the opportunity to be exceedingly good at scoring in the paint/rebounding ala the Memphis Grizzlies.

I still don't see Boston as a possibility. Right now, Boston is a terrible team and has been one for several seasons; don't see Melo agreeing to be traded from one terrible team to another one. He might want to play with Rondo but I don't think he personally cares about him one way or another; I think Melo was more likely throwing out a big name that happened to be available last year to try and improve the team. And Rondo isn't even signed past this season, would Melo risk a trade to Boston only to watch Rondo leave this Summer? And Melo didn't even meet with Boston this past Summer.

VCoug wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:Be that as it may, I still think our best move is to try and offload Carmelo to jumpstart a full rebuild. The reality is that we don't have the time or resources to surround him with enough talent to be legitimate contenders, so why continue to try to swim against the current? We need to talk to the Celtics and see what talent we can pouch from them that can be paired with a top 3 pick from this draft. Personally, I'd do Gerald Wallace's contract, Marcus Smart, Jared Sullinger and an unprotected 2015 in principle for Melo, Larkin and Prigioni.

The Celtics get their 2nd star and would still have $20 million in cap space, James Young, and 12 first round picks in 4 seasons to trade to build their contender. If they could pick up Denver's supporting cast FOR those picks, Jeff Green and James Young (e.g. Gallo, Wilson Chandler, Mozgov, Afflalo) and pair them with a core of Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Kelly Olynk and Brandon Bass, I think they could easily make themselves into the 2nd or 3rd best team in the East. They'd be reminiscent of the D'Antoni Suns who could space the hell out of the floor and run BUT would also excel defensively because of their hawkish backcourt and length. More importantly, they'd be able to compensate/compliment Melo's flaws because of the team's versatile talent i.e. Gallo and Chandler can play and DEFEND either forward position, which allows the Celtics to switch accordingly AND Rondo is a true floor general that can help prevent dead positions where Melo just pounds the ball looking for his shot. All things considered, I think that's something that Melo would agree to because Boston is a high profile city that can carry his brand; he keeps his guaranteed max deal that he wanted; AND gets to play for a team that could contend, with a co-star he has expressed interest in playing with. Plus, he's only a 45 minute flight from NY, which will allow him to keep his family there AND maintain his business contacts. I think he'd waive his no-trade clause for that.

Meanwhile, the Knicks get a legitimate building pick in Marcus Smart who reminds me of an older but healthier Dwayne Wade. If we manage to get Jahlil Okafor in the draft, I think the two would fit exceedingly well with each other and are capable of being perennial allstars in their own right. I also think that Sullinger would give us a nice complimentary player that is young enough to grow with the team and give us the opportunity to be exceedingly good at scoring in the paint/rebounding ala the Memphis Grizzlies.

I still don't see Boston as a possibility. Right now, Boston is a terrible team and has been one for several seasons; don't see Melo agreeing to be traded from one terrible team to another one. He might want to play with Rondo but I don't think he personally cares about him one way or another; I think Melo was more likely throwing out a big name that happened to be available last year to try and improve the team. And Rondo isn't even signed past this season, would Melo risk a trade to Boston only to watch Rondo leave this Summer? And Melo didn't even meet with Boston this past Summer.

Melo was only visiting teams with maximum cap space or near to it. The Celtics did not fit that criteria since they only had about $8 million or so to play with. That being said, I don't think Melo was rebuking the franchise; he just loves his money, as he should.

And you do raise some good points, even though I disagree. Yeah, the Celtics aren't good but we were not much better when Melo forced his way to NYC. And more importantly, we are no better than they are at present yet they have a far rosier future because of the phletora of assets that they possess. Needless to say, they are in a far better position than we currently are and have the tools to make themselves into instant contenders.

At the end of the day, Melo is as much about his business, as he is about winning basketball games. After all, that's why he forced his way off a Nuggets team that was only a game away from advancing to the NBA Finals, 2 seasons prior. Sticking around in NYC while not serve either end for him and only help to tarnish his brand and legacy. He should look no further than Stephon Marbury and how his brand/prestige crumbled by sticking around here too long. The guy is still scorned in NYC in spite of the fact that he had very little to do with the shortcomings of the franchise. Fortunately for Melo, Boston has the 2nd star we don't have (nor will we get) and a front office that has already built a championship team. If he sits down and thinks about those points, I don't know why he'd even consider staying with the Knicks.

NardDogNation wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:Be that as it may, I still think our best move is to try and offload Carmelo to jumpstart a full rebuild. The reality is that we don't have the time or resources to surround him with enough talent to be legitimate contenders, so why continue to try to swim against the current? We need to talk to the Celtics and see what talent we can pouch from them that can be paired with a top 3 pick from this draft. Personally, I'd do Gerald Wallace's contract, Marcus Smart, Jared Sullinger and an unprotected 2015 in principle for Melo, Larkin and Prigioni.

The Celtics get their 2nd star and would still have $20 million in cap space, James Young, and 12 first round picks in 4 seasons to trade to build their contender. If they could pick up Denver's supporting cast FOR those picks, Jeff Green and James Young (e.g. Gallo, Wilson Chandler, Mozgov, Afflalo) and pair them with a core of Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Kelly Olynk and Brandon Bass, I think they could easily make themselves into the 2nd or 3rd best team in the East. They'd be reminiscent of the D'Antoni Suns who could space the hell out of the floor and run BUT would also excel defensively because of their hawkish backcourt and length. More importantly, they'd be able to compensate/compliment Melo's flaws because of the team's versatile talent i.e. Gallo and Chandler can play and DEFEND either forward position, which allows the Celtics to switch accordingly AND Rondo is a true floor general that can help prevent dead positions where Melo just pounds the ball looking for his shot. All things considered, I think that's something that Melo would agree to because Boston is a high profile city that can carry his brand; he keeps his guaranteed max deal that he wanted; AND gets to play for a team that could contend, with a co-star he has expressed interest in playing with. Plus, he's only a 45 minute flight from NY, which will allow him to keep his family there AND maintain his business contacts. I think he'd waive his no-trade clause for that.

Meanwhile, the Knicks get a legitimate building pick in Marcus Smart who reminds me of an older but healthier Dwayne Wade. If we manage to get Jahlil Okafor in the draft, I think the two would fit exceedingly well with each other and are capable of being perennial allstars in their own right. I also think that Sullinger would give us a nice complimentary player that is young enough to grow with the team and give us the opportunity to be exceedingly good at scoring in the paint/rebounding ala the Memphis Grizzlies.

It looks like the Celtics are in it for the long haul, Melo is pushing 30 and the injuries are starting to pile up. Im not opposed to trading anyone on this roster if the deal is right. If we do trade Melo it will probably be to a legit contender, because (as others have mentioned) Melo has veto power over any trade.

The Celtics looked like they were in it for the long haul before 2008 as well. If I recall correctly, they were in deep talks with the Blazers to acquire their lottery pick and assets in exchange for Paul Pierce, a season or two prior. However, they held onto Pierce until he was 31 years old before finally pulling off the trade that landed Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. All things considered, was Paul Pierce's game and circumstances any better or worse than Melo is at this stage in his career? They'd have to find that 3rd star, which they'd have difficulties doing in spite of a quasi-max cap space, but I think they'd be incredibly close to contending especially when you consider the phletora of trade assets they'd still have. Even if they don't find that 3rd star, they could always build a well rounded team like the 2011 Mavs or the 2014 Spurs and still be title contenders.

You make a good point about the big 3, but I believe its more appropriate to compare Melo to Garnett since Pierce was already there. As far as Garnett, that was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Celtics. McHale pretty much gifted Garnett to his old buddy Danny Ainge for what they got in return. Unless Ainge can make another sweetheart deal like that, I don't see them bringing Melo to Boston and I don't believe Phil would trade Melo to Boston just to clear cap space.

Even with his flaws its hard to find a player as good as Melo on the open market, and I don't believe he would trade him to clear out cap space, not knowing who would come to NY. The old Dolan we all know and hate might resurface if it turned into 2010 again. Also don't believe Melo would approve of a trade to Boston with what they have now.