fishmike wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

tkf wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

tkf wrote:I have a question.. would the miami heat be better with lebron, Bogut and ginobili, rather than lebron wade and bosh?

i would dare to say that the heat would be better with lebron, Bogut and manu.. more balance, different skillsets... Yet we can say that wade is better than both bogut and manu and for that matter, bosh is better than bogut... so what gives?

Again, it is about finding that right balance..... Now I am not saying gallo and chandler are bogut and manu, but it is not out of reach.. did anyone ever think manu and bogut would be this good at this point in their careers.. especially manu?

I dont think so. Lebron and Wade can carry a team to the playoffs by themselves. Guys are not going to stay healthy for 82 games every season.

I take Wade and Bosh over the likes of Bogut and Ginobli all day every day.

WELL right now wade is like a second option, and bosh is a 3rd option.. bogut is a better player as a third option than bosh is, because bogut acutally hits the boards and plays physical... manu is the ultimate on and off the ball player.. something wade and lebron have trouble doing... playing off the ball.. again, i bet a team of lebron, manu and bogut would be more balance, easier to build around and just better.. again, you can't always look at individual players vs one another, but how they fit in that team concept...

Im looking at this from a talent point of view. You can get a decent center for the MLE is they needed too. Remember Wade and Lebron are going to dominate the ball and arent going to be throwing the ball in the post anytime soon.

Also Bogut has ZERO range on his jumper. So you have him eating up cap and not helping their spacing issue. Plus Bogut is injury prone. Not a good combination for a thin team. Bosh is the most ideal fit because he doesn't mind being 3rd fiddle and he can hit the jumper from all over the court.

yea who? Cause if that was the case I'm with you... just get the most talent and "go get" the needed pieces to fill out the frontcourt. The problem is this isnt baseball. It just doesnt work that way. You cant just "go get" quality bigs, shooters and top flight defensive players. Kyle Korver cost $5mm. Anthony Morrow cost $4mm. Brandon Haywood just got 6 years $51mm. These are not upper echelon guys. These are role/bench players, and good ones dont grow on trees. Then you have guys like Gallo/Chandler/Fields who are more talented and more valuable then the guys I just mentioned, and when you have that kind of quality depth and some complimenting skills you have a winning formula.

Miami isnt looking for a 2 way center. They are looking for a guy to defend and rebound who is 7 feet tall.

Gortat was signed for MLE. Different years different asking prices. You think Dalembert is going to get 8-10 million per this summer? Deandre Jordan is a RFA this summer too. How much do you think he is going to get?

AnubisADL wrote:

fishmike wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

tkf wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

tkf wrote:I have a question.. would the miami heat be better with lebron, Bogut and ginobili, rather than lebron wade and bosh?

i would dare to say that the heat would be better with lebron, Bogut and manu.. more balance, different skillsets... Yet we can say that wade is better than both bogut and manu and for that matter, bosh is better than bogut... so what gives?

Again, it is about finding that right balance..... Now I am not saying gallo and chandler are bogut and manu, but it is not out of reach.. did anyone ever think manu and bogut would be this good at this point in their careers.. especially manu?

I dont think so. Lebron and Wade can carry a team to the playoffs by themselves. Guys are not going to stay healthy for 82 games every season.

I take Wade and Bosh over the likes of Bogut and Ginobli all day every day.

WELL right now wade is like a second option, and bosh is a 3rd option.. bogut is a better player as a third option than bosh is, because bogut acutally hits the boards and plays physical... manu is the ultimate on and off the ball player.. something wade and lebron have trouble doing... playing off the ball.. again, i bet a team of lebron, manu and bogut would be more balance, easier to build around and just better.. again, you can't always look at individual players vs one another, but how they fit in that team concept...

Im looking at this from a talent point of view. You can get a decent center for the MLE is they needed too. Remember Wade and Lebron are going to dominate the ball and arent going to be throwing the ball in the post anytime soon.

Also Bogut has ZERO range on his jumper. So you have him eating up cap and not helping their spacing issue. Plus Bogut is injury prone. Not a good combination for a thin team. Bosh is the most ideal fit because he doesn't mind being 3rd fiddle and he can hit the jumper from all over the court.

yea who? Cause if that was the case I'm with you... just get the most talent and "go get" the needed pieces to fill out the frontcourt. The problem is this isnt baseball. It just doesnt work that way. You cant just "go get" quality bigs, shooters and top flight defensive players. Kyle Korver cost $5mm. Anthony Morrow cost $4mm. Brandon Haywood just got 6 years $51mm. These are not upper echelon guys. These are role/bench players, and good ones dont grow on trees. Then you have guys like Gallo/Chandler/Fields who are more talented and more valuable then the guys I just mentioned, and when you have that kind of quality depth and some complimenting skills you have a winning formula.

Miami isnt looking for a 2 way center. They are looking for a guy to defend and rebound who is 7 feet tall.

Gortat was signed for MLE. Different years different asking prices. You think Dalembert is going to get 8-10 million per this summer? Deandre Jordan is a RFA this summer too. How much do you think he is going to get?

fishmike wrote:

Melo2NYK wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Melo2NYK wrote:Yeah and Kevin Durant had a "-" value during the ENTIRE 2008-2009 season. I suppose the Thunder should have dealt him when they had the chance. Guess they are now stuck just being one of the better teams out West with the ability to contend in the near future.

Yea they should have... great post man. Really had to dig deep into 82games to find that one. They should have traded the whole team because they were all a "-"

Lets try to find something even more unrealated and obscure to further weaken your arguements which are nothing more than your opinions.

Since it is difficult for you to understand the moral of a story, I guess I'll explain it to you like I would a child. In short "+/-" doesn't mean ****. Kevin Durant has been one of the best players in the league for sometime now and he had a "-" value for an entire season. Clearly that statistic alone can not determine the full contributions of a player to a game.

since its equally difficult for you let me explain it.

The Knicks are one of the best teams in the league in every offensive category, including points per possession and adjusted FG%. Scoring aint the problem. While Melo is a very nice player what he brings is scoring, and trading 2 rotation players plus picks and prospects isnt worth it for a guy who is 2nd tier and doesnt addresss the real needs of this team, which are SIZE and DEFENSE.

Clearly your not getting that.

Why are you insulting me?

I'm insulting you for the same reason you're insulting me: we're both passionate fans that want the best for our team (p.s., I thought that this was just an exchange of friendly jabs). I just strongly disagree with your line of reasoning.

And again, your emphasis for improving this team is "SIZE and DEFENSE." Gallo is big as **** but what defense does he really provide that is markedly better than Melo's? Does he even use his size? The guy at 6-11 hovers around the perimeter for most of the game, with exception to a few fast break opportunities and when he has a clear path to the basket. Defensively, he is a capable help defender but he'll consistently get beat by smaller quicker players. Melo on the other hand has demonstrated he is rising to the occassion on this end. He covered Kobe Bryant in the 2008 Western Conference Finals and made his life hell (in spite of Kobe eventually winning out). In short, if defense is what you're asking for, I believe Melo is better apt to deliver at the 3 than Gallo.

Just to make my position fully transparent, I don't want to give up all our "assets" to get Melo. The thing is, I don't think we need to. Gallo, Randolph, Curry and cash is what I think it'll get done for. That would still leave us with Wilson Chandler as the backup 4/5; with Fields starting at the 2 and Azubuike as our backup there. This trade would be a hell of an improvement over what we currently have, especially when you consider that we would still retain Shawne Williams as our stretch forward next to Wilson off the bench.

Even more exciting is the fact that we can add Jared Jefferies at the deadline when the Rockets will likely waive him to save money. Jefferies played the 5 remarkably well for us when he was here. He was a poor rebounder but we rebound well as a collective unit. Defensively, I maintain that he is perhaps one of the top 5 help defenders in the league. This fact was partially evident when he was led the league in fouls drawn when he was with us. In those games, he almost single-handedly disrupted the games of some of the leagues primer penetrators (CP3, Rondo,Tony Parker etc.). I don't think he'll be a long-term solution for us but remember that we only need a guy to take the burden squarely off of Turiaf's shoulders and time to slowly develop Mozgov. In this regard, I believe Jefferies is our best option.

Melo2NYK wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Melo2NYK wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Melo2NYK wrote:Yeah and Kevin Durant had a "-" value during the ENTIRE 2008-2009 season. I suppose the Thunder should have dealt him when they had the chance. Guess they are now stuck just being one of the better teams out West with the ability to contend in the near future.

Yea they should have... great post man. Really had to dig deep into 82games to find that one. They should have traded the whole team because they were all a "-"

Lets try to find something even more unrealated and obscure to further weaken your arguements which are nothing more than your opinions.

Since it is difficult for you to understand the moral of a story, I guess I'll explain it to you like I would a child. In short "+/-" doesn't mean ****. Kevin Durant has been one of the best players in the league for sometime now and he had a "-" value for an entire season. Clearly that statistic alone can not determine the full contributions of a player to a game.

since its equally difficult for you let me explain it.

The Knicks are one of the best teams in the league in every offensive category, including points per possession and adjusted FG%. Scoring aint the problem. While Melo is a very nice player what he brings is scoring, and trading 2 rotation players plus picks and prospects isnt worth it for a guy who is 2nd tier and doesnt addresss the real needs of this team, which are SIZE and DEFENSE.

Clearly your not getting that.

Why are you insulting me?

I'm insulting you for the same reason your insulting me: we're passionate fans that want the best for the team (p.s., I thought that this was just friendly jabs). I just strongly disagree with your line of reasoning.

And again, your emphasis for improving this team is "SIZE and DEFENSE." Gallo is big as **** but what defense does he really provide that is markedly better than Melo's? Does he even use his size? The guy at 6-11 hovers around the perimeter for most of the game, with exception to a few fast break opportunities and when he has a clear path to the basket. Defensively, he is a capable help defender but he'll consistently get beat by smaller quicker players. Melo on the other hand has covered Kobe Bryant and made his life hell in the playoffs. In short, if defense is what your asking for, I believe Melo is better apt to deliver at the 3 than Gallo.

Just to make my position fully transparent, I don't not want to give up all our "assets" to get Melo. The thing is, I don't think we need to. Gallo, Randolph, Curry and cash is what I think it'll get done for. That'll still leave us with Wilson Chandler as the backup 4/5; Fields starting at the 2 and Azubuike as our backup there. That is a hell of an improvement over what we have especially when you consider that we still retain Shawne Williams as our stretch forward AND can add Jared Jefferies at the deadline when the Rockets will likely waive him to save money. Jefferies played the 5 remarkably well for us when he was here. He was a poor rebounder but we rebound well as a collective unit. Defensively, I maintain that he is perhaps one of the top 5 help defenders in the league evident by the fact that he was leading the league in fouls drawn and successfully disrupted penetrating guards game (CP3, Rondo, etc.).

Look at what the Nets are offering. If Melo is a priority the bidding STARTS at Gallo + Fields + AR + Douglas + cap relief (Curry). Thats well short, but getting close to what the Nuggets TURNED DOWN from the NEts.

Be realistic.

Friendly jabs are cool. Sorry to sound like a bitch ;)

fishmike wrote:Jordan is garbage, Gortat was "offered" the MLE by one team who failed to sign him because Orlando matched. Dalembert is decent in that role. I doubt he goes for the MLE (prob $8-$10mm) but OK. Thats ONE player. Where are the rest coming from?

No he is the ideal big for Miami. He scores off garbage points and alleys oops, runs the floor well, and can block shots.

You think Miami's center will actually get touches in the post?

fishmike wrote:

Melo2NYK wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Melo2NYK wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Melo2NYK wrote:Yeah and Kevin Durant had a "-" value during the ENTIRE 2008-2009 season. I suppose the Thunder should have dealt him when they had the chance. Guess they are now stuck just being one of the better teams out West with the ability to contend in the near future.

Yea they should have... great post man. Really had to dig deep into 82games to find that one. They should have traded the whole team because they were all a "-"

Lets try to find something even more unrealated and obscure to further weaken your arguements which are nothing more than your opinions.

Since it is difficult for you to understand the moral of a story, I guess I'll explain it to you like I would a child. In short "+/-" doesn't mean ****. Kevin Durant has been one of the best players in the league for sometime now and he had a "-" value for an entire season. Clearly that statistic alone can not determine the full contributions of a player to a game.

since its equally difficult for you let me explain it.

The Knicks are one of the best teams in the league in every offensive category, including points per possession and adjusted FG%. Scoring aint the problem. While Melo is a very nice player what he brings is scoring, and trading 2 rotation players plus picks and prospects isnt worth it for a guy who is 2nd tier and doesnt addresss the real needs of this team, which are SIZE and DEFENSE.

Clearly your not getting that.

Why are you insulting me?

I'm insulting you for the same reason your insulting me: we're passionate fans that want the best for the team (p.s., I thought that this was just friendly jabs). I just strongly disagree with your line of reasoning.

And again, your emphasis for improving this team is "SIZE and DEFENSE." Gallo is big as **** but what defense does he really provide that is markedly better than Melo's? Does he even use his size? The guy at 6-11 hovers around the perimeter for most of the game, with exception to a few fast break opportunities and when he has a clear path to the basket. Defensively, he is a capable help defender but he'll consistently get beat by smaller quicker players. Melo on the other hand has covered Kobe Bryant and made his life hell in the playoffs. In short, if defense is what your asking for, I believe Melo is better apt to deliver at the 3 than Gallo.

Just to make my position fully transparent, I don't not want to give up all our "assets" to get Melo. The thing is, I don't think we need to. Gallo, Randolph, Curry and cash is what I think it'll get done for. That'll still leave us with Wilson Chandler as the backup 4/5; Fields starting at the 2 and Azubuike as our backup there. That is a hell of an improvement over what we have especially when you consider that we still retain Shawne Williams as our stretch forward AND can add Jared Jefferies at the deadline when the Rockets will likely waive him to save money. Jefferies played the 5 remarkably well for us when he was here. He was a poor rebounder but we rebound well as a collective unit. Defensively, I maintain that he is perhaps one of the top 5 help defenders in the league evident by the fact that he was leading the league in fouls drawn and successfully disrupted penetrating guards game (CP3, Rondo, etc.).

this discussion was never about Gallo vs. Melo. Melo wins! I would rather have Melo. You have said 1000 times a 100 ways that Melo is a superstar. Superstar players in trades have superstar price tags. We are not getting MElo for Galo and Curry's expiring contract. Thats lunacy.

Look at what the Nets are offering. If Melo is a priority the bidding STARTS at Gallo + Fields + AR + Douglas + cap relief (Curry). Thats well short, but getting close to what the Nuggets TURNED DOWN from the NEts.

Be realistic.

Friendly jabs are cool. Sorry to sound like a bitch ;)

No, you were fine. I just thought we were shooting the **** so to speak. We're both apart of the same fanbase so I figured we had a bit of leeway to be a-holes to one another, LOL.

But I'm glad we can finally come to more of a common ground for what we're arguing about. The main issue between you and I seems to be about what it'll take to get Melo, not that he wouldn't improve this team. This I can understand. With that being said, let the arguing on this point begin!

Gallo, AR (depending on how we utilize him in the trade) and Eddy Curry for Melo is paying pennies on the dollar for a commodity; no doubt about that. The Nuggets, however, have very limited options. Any trade they make is contingent on Melo's willingness to extend his contract with the team. With that being said, do you think Melo would go to a team without Devin Harris and Derrick Favors? With Harris, that team won only 17 games last year. At present, they are statistically the worst team in the East and that would be Melo's reality. On the flip side, do you think the Nets make that trade without making sure Melo extends beforehand? I don't. So that leaves the Nuggets in a precarious situation.

I don't see any team giving up any assets of consequence for Melo because his eyes are set on NY. This leaves the Nuggets with the option of either taking back whatever assets we give them or letting him walk for nothing at the end of the year. Once they exhaust all their other options and have the trade deadline breathing them down, I think Melo being a Knick- for whatever the Nuggets can get- to be a done deal. Gallo and Randolph are better than nothing. It's better than what the Raptors got when they traded Vince Carter who went on to average 27ppg, 7rpg and 6apg that season (Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, Alonzo Mourning, 3 future first round picks that included two from Denver, apart of the Kenyon Martin trade from earlier that year).

Melo2NYK wrote:

TMS wrote:Melo2NYK, you are wasting your time on this one... these guys have it set in their mind that bringing Melo here is not worth the risk (what they percieve it would take for us to get him)... nothing u can much do to change their minds no matter what kind of argument you present... it's the same as them trying to convince us that bringing Melo here wouldn't be an upgrade... just let both sides agree to disagree & see how things pan out... for what it's worth i think you have presented a very good argument on this topic & i agree with you on all points

just to pick everyone's brain who is open to the idea of trading for Melo, how much would you all be willing to give up in a trade? my limit would be 2 players out of Wilson/Gallo/AR along with filler contracts like Curry, Buike, Mason &/or Mozgov, our 2nd round picks & maybe a purchased 1st rounder or cash considerations... that would still leave a very good surrounding cast for Melo & Amare to play with:

C - Turiaf / Mozgov or an Earl Barron-esque type signing for depth
PF - Amare / 1 of Wilson-Gallo-AR
SF - Melo / Williams
SG - Fields / Rautins or Mason
PG - Felton / Douglas

personally i think that's plenty enough to contend for the Finals THIS year, at the very least get past the 1st round of the playoffs... maybe not enough to beat the Lakers just yet, but maybe add another C next year using the MLE & u can stack up pretty well against any team... add Melo & we're very close to becoming a legit title contender IMHO.

LOL, TMS. I wish you would have told me that 40 posts ago, LOL. But the debate was fun especially since I'm so new here. I can't wait for us to be right though! lol.

And I agree with you, what you listed is plenty enough to contend for the Finals. We obviously won't make it but we'd get close and that would be a hell of a start considering where we were last season and the flexibility we will retain to improve for next season. For this season, I think alot of it would depend on how well Azubuike comes back and plays and whether Douglas can become more consistent but adding Melo alone would put us into the Orlando Magic stratosphere.

don't feel bad, it's taken me about 30,000 posts to come to the realization that you can't change people's opinions around here.

fishmike wrote:

Melo2NYK wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Melo2NYK wrote:Exactly, "we are talking about how to improve and established team." Last time I checked, DRAFTS along with free agent signings and trades are the only 3 options of doing so. So what exactly are you talking about? Even if you want to discredit that example, I supplied you with yet another example of the flaws in your thinking when I submited the Caron Butler for Kwame Brown trade. The Lakers needed a big man and gave up on a talented and productive player to get an eventual nomad. The situation with the Knicks is a bit different. You instead want to avoid pursuing Melo for the prospect of a 36 year old Marcus Camby, or an above average Nene, or to simply bring in Nazr Mohammed's mediocre game. I want those players too but have the common sense to realize that they will not help this team more than Melo because history has confirmed this. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Your argument is pure insanity.

P.S., you made another dense argument suggesting that Melo would make the Heat better because he is a better player than Bosh, etc. This game is a game of fits and playing a role. I guess you forgot the part about Melo playing the same position as Gallo (the 3) and that Melo is better at fulfilling every aspect of the role.

no its not.... you just explained to me its a game of talent over need. So which is it? A game of fits and playing a role or a game of talent?

Did I say Kwame for Caron was a good trade? Why do you bring up stupid examples and assume I would think this way.

You foiled your own arguement and supported mine.

As you said its a game of fits and playing a role. Melo plays a very important one and he's a great player. Problem is that role and fit is just fine on the Knicks right now.

I would have traded 5 first rounders and every player I had to put Melo next to Ewing for 10 years. That would have been a great fit.

Melo on this team? Chandler/Fields/Gallo are arent garbage. They are all very good high end rotation guys who are winning games. ALL the Knick offensive stats support this, but you simply avoid and refuse to acknowledge that the Knicks are just fine in all the categories Melo brings.

Would I add Camby or Nene or Nazr? Sure... for Bill Walker. I'm not trading Gallo/Chandler/AR and picks for those guys, which is what a Melo trade would command which isnt worth it.

Hold on there speedy. Please find me exactly where I said that fits don't matter. I thought it could be assumed that Melo was a fit....mostly because of the fact that he is a fit and that it is clear as day. Our team is in desperate need of a consistent 20ppg scorer that shoots better than Gallo's pathetic 39%. We need a guy that not only can hit jump shots but be a dynamic perimeter scorer; the kind of scorer Gallo will never be.

I agree that Chandler/Fields/Gallo isn't garbage. I'm also not advocating getting rid of all 3, just Gallo (and AR/Walker). Wilson Chandler is the ideal 6th man for this team as a backup to both Melo and Amar'e. There are 96mpg in total at the forward positions. Amar'e and Melo would account for only 64-70 of those minutes per game. That would still leave Chandler playing anywhere between 26mpg-32mpg, which is what he is getting anyway and you'd still have Shawne Williams there for spot duty. Fields, last time I checked, is playing the 2 spot for us exclusively. Last I checked, adding Melo won't do a thing to disrupt this. In fact, I think Melo would make Fields significantly better since he commands so much attention on the court.

because when I said I would prefer to target a big defensive frontcourt player because that is what this team LACKS the most and NEEDs the most instead of an offensive player that Melo is you started with all this crap about I'm the kind of guy who draft Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan (what the hell was that??).

Fits DO matter, which is EXACTLY why Melo is a LOW priority for me. RIGHT NOW we are an elite offensive team. We get GREAT balance from Gallo/Chandler/Fields to compliment Amare who takes over games and is unstoppable as well as Felton who has brought his offensive game to another level.

Would I trade Melo for Curry and GAllo? Of course. Who wouldnt. Thats not realistic. That trade isnt anything close to what the Nets are offering in Favors, Harris and picks. For the Knicks to come close to that package we are STARTING at GAllo/Chandler/Fields (because we have no picks) and Curry. If you think its going to cost less your kidding yourself.

Is Melo a great player? You seem to think so. If he is why the phuck would Denver take just Gallo and AR for him. Would you do that? You say yes I say your lying. OIf course you wouldnt.

Nobody is talking about trading MElo for Gallo. If you think thats the cost your joking.

Go through this thread. Most of the pro-Melo guys are basically saying that Melo+Amare+Felton = elite team. I am saying it doesnt because we dont have the size or depth and wounldnt for years if we gutted this roster to make that trade.

Is Walsh gets Melo for Curry+Gallo he's a freakin genious. You think thats happening? PLEASE

Fish, it depends on what your goals/prioties are for this team. You say This Current team needs a Big. Absolutely, we do. But, adding a big makes a little better, perhaps 5th in the East but still far from contending for a title. Now if your priority is to be a bonafied championship contender, then we absolutely need Melo in the blue and orange.

Just like the Amare and Lee debates. Lee put up similar numbers in terms of scoring average, but as you can see, Amare's impact is huge and cant be added up with numbers. Same with Melo. His impact would be huge and he would make Amare even better than he is now, not toe mention Felton all of a sudden becomes the third option, Wil the 4th etc. Melo also gives us a go to perimeter player when we absolutely have to have a basket in a tight playoff game when the everything slows down a bit.

Melo2NYK wrote:

TMS wrote:Melo2NYK, you are wasting your time on this one... these guys have it set in their mind that bringing Melo here is not worth the risk (what they percieve it would take for us to get him)... nothing u can much do to change their minds no matter what kind of argument you present... it's the same as them trying to convince us that bringing Melo here wouldn't be an upgrade... just let both sides agree to disagree & see how things pan out... for what it's worth i think you have presented a very good argument on this topic & i agree with you on all points

just to pick everyone's brain who is open to the idea of trading for Melo, how much would you all be willing to give up in a trade? my limit would be 2 players out of Wilson/Gallo/AR along with filler contracts like Curry, Buike, Mason &/or Mozgov, our 2nd round picks & maybe a purchased 1st rounder or cash considerations... that would still leave a very good surrounding cast for Melo & Amare to play with:

C - Turiaf / Mozgov or an Earl Barron-esque type signing for depth
PF - Amare / 1 of Wilson-Gallo-AR
SF - Melo / Williams
SG - Fields / Rautins or Mason
PG - Felton / Douglas

personally i think that's plenty enough to contend for the Finals THIS year, at the very least get past the 1st round of the playoffs... maybe not enough to beat the Lakers just yet, but maybe add another C next year using the MLE & u can stack up pretty well against any team... add Melo & we're very close to becoming a legit title contender IMHO.

LOL, TMS. I wish you would have told me that 40 posts ago, LOL. But the debate was fun especially since I'm so new here. I can't wait for us to be right though! lol.

And I agree with you, what you listed is plenty enough to contend for the Finals. We obviously won't make it but we'd get close and that would be a hell of a start considering where we were last season and the flexibility we will retain to improve for next season. For this season, I think alot of it would depend on how well Azubuike comes back and plays and whether Douglas can become more consistent but adding Melo alone would put us into the Orlando Magic stratosphere.

Melo... if we are getting Melo for pennies on the dollar as you suggest its a no brainer, and I have ALWAYS said we should do that. Its not even a debate.

Also I have said no matter what the trade was if Walsh got Melo here I would embrace him as Knick bigtime instead of crying after every 7-20 shooting game and saying we should have kept Gallo, bla bla

ALSO I have said one thing I would LOVE about Melo is he wants to come to NY, something pussies like LBJ clearly cant stomach.

Finally I do think we have a very good team and the upside for all Fields/Gallo/Chandler (all 22) is very high, and these guys could grow into a very solid core along with Amare/Felton. Possibly even elite... just keep developing our bigs.

What I DONT think we should do is make a reasonable offer for Melo... something like Chandler/Fields/Gallo/Curry. Something that would compete w/ the Nets offer. Its not worth it. (to me)