blkexec wrote:

smackeddog wrote:It's a negotiating ploy that Dolan has already fallen for. What contender could afford to sign him to a max? None. He wants to play with Kobe on the Lakers? Absolute BS- they couldn't play well together, plus Kobe is done- I don't get why people think he's magically going to heal from that Achilles injury, especially at his age.

But Dolan will fall for it like he always does.

I was majically healed at the same age with the same injury.....And mine was worse, because it was a chronic injury. Kobe will come back close to his normal self, which is still championship worthy. In fact, he might be a better team player, and he will definately be a better set shooter. It's the second Achilles injury you have watch for.....Usually happens on the other leg, if he's still playing into his 40's

No offense, blkexec, but I suspect you are no Kobe Bryant! But you do have more personal experience of this injury than I do- however I will say I can't think of any elite nba player who has returned 100% from this and not lost a step. Plus last season was like a miracle- I still don't get how Kobe put up the numbers he did and played the minutes he did at his age and with an arthritic knee.

arkrud wrote:If Melo will opt out and looks like he will, this opens the possibility of trading him...
Will Dolan do this... may be... he is dumb but he is a contrarian.
So he may get tired of Melo getting his way all the time.
This way Melo can still get his max and sht on winning it all with some other healthy star or capable organization.
NY can get a new fresh start and Dolan get a lot of drama and media attention which he likes.
This can get much more interesting that dump the ball to Melo stuff we are about to see..

Management must constantly assess how good a group of players can truly be. The New York front office will have to go through this process during next season and consider all options. If the team doesn't show significant improvement, Melo's impending free agency could mean big changes with the Knicks.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/york-knicks-consider-trading-carmelo-anthony-011700101.html

I forgot about the trade option. I guess if the season is not going well, that will be on the table. If they have any illusions of winning, it wont be.

However, if they are a 5-8 seed, I would make the deal, get some picks and some young talent. Why not?

Again, he has won nothing, except a scoring title.

One season at a time. Im not gonna worry about this.

I have such low expectation with this team under Dolan that anything above .500 is a good season! He will lost the team to the Nets over time and no frivolous "bridges" can save him.

Is it the smart business decision yes. Wrong thing to say.

"I ain't going nowhere!"

Then back tracks and gives people something to tall about. Him. Instead of the team. Just like the last go around because he wanted the extra year of money instead of being a free agent with the heat boys, he made an entire season about him.

First round exit here come the Knicks

nyk4ever wrote:i'm not mad at melo for opting out or for getting the most money he can get - if anyone of us was in that position we'd do the same thing. personally i don't see him leaving 30million on the table and going elsewhere but i'm fine with calling his bluff and letting him explore other opportunities. if he ends up signing somewhere else, so be it, it'll open a boatload of money for us to sign some other guys.

Melo leaving would help the Knicks. Then they can gut and clean up after next year. Get a good pick, build up the roster and have enough to sign 2 max guys in one shot.

OR

We could could pay Melo like Kobe and watch him lead us to 45-55 wins each year and shoot us right out of the playoffs when he has his usual 10-35 shooting games in the playoffs, BUT he will average 30ppg and say he cant do it all himself. Doesnt really strike me as terribly exciting.

Dagger wrote:

Papabear wrote:

Dagger wrote:

Papabear wrote:

Dagger wrote:

Finestrg wrote:This stuff kills me....Why say something like that -- something that will obviously rub a lot of people the wrong way???? Just like JR saying he wasn't gonna tell anyone the full extent of his knee injury until after he signed a deal with someone. Huh? WTF bro -- WHY SAY THAT?!?!?!? If Melo feels that way, great--it's his right that he's earned, just keep it to yourself. I don't wanna hear stuff like this, not this close to the start of the season... All I want to hear outta these jokers is talk about winning, winning the Atlantic, winning a friggin' title. NOTHING ELSE!! Shit man, and I love Melo. Why throw out a bad vibe like that, that you're contemplating leaving, could possibly leave?? I know that's not technically what he said but still man. Come on -- this close to the start of the season??? Nobody -- from the fans, to Knicks mgmt. wants to hear that right now. I'd like to see some of these guys resist whatever a guy like Marc Berman tries to stir up when he sticks a tape recorder in their face. The correct answer here: "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Right now, I'm committed to the NY Knicks and to winning."

To answer your question, there are two reasons someone says this. 1) The player is stupid or not well-rehearsed in media relations 2) the player cares more about money than winning

My biggest fear in all of this is not that we lose Melo,it's that I know when the times comes Knicks management won't have the balls to take a hard stance and say 17 mil/year or you're out of here.

Papabear Says

No I disagree with your comment. If Melo want to win a championship or come close to winning one. Now one will have to ask him he will just be willing to do that. Something you must understand though. Leborn have many endorsements. I LeBron gave up his whole salary he would still be making crazy money. Thats not the same for Melo. No if the right piece comes available Melo might jump. I don't think that Melo is very happy with this team and because of Amare's injury and the money Amare is taking we could have gotten 2 very good players with Amares money. I don't think Melo will see crazy money offers from teams who have a big payroll. It will be from team who don't have a chance to win anyway.

Why do you think Lebron makes so much money in endorsements? Because he's better at basketball than Melo. If Melo were that good then he would be raking in that much money in endorsement deals as well. This isn't some rigged system where everything is stacked against melo like it seems to be in your head, if Melo were better he'd have more endorsements, but he's not the best player in the league so he doesn't get the same draw. Besides the dude is a top level ambassador of the Jordan brand anyway, it's not like sponsors are ignoring him. Melo is not some average income dude that needs the money to feed his kids, no family I know can't be fed on a budget of 17 MILLION DOLLARS. With the enormous wealth Melo has acquired in his career he's very well off, he has nothing to worry about financially. He can take 17mil and play for us, or he can play for the bobcats for the max he can get and be labeled as a greedy loser.

Papabear Says

You answered your on question or this boards discussion. Yes LeBron is making more money because he is a better player and he has many endorsements. So why should Melo give up his money if thats all he is going to make? Don't you think he should get what he can just like everyone else?

You're missing the point, what do you mean all he is going to make? He doesn't deserve to make more because he's not good enough to warrant getting more money. The dude is filthy rich, I couldn't care less how much money he makes, if you care about winning in Melo's position you don't take 29 million a year. Do you know how much the salary cap in the NBA is? If you did know you'd realize how crippling 30 million to ONE PLAYER is. The Knicks already made a big sacrifice to ensure Melo gets all his money via the trade, or did you forget? If he can't even get us to the ECF why on earth does he deserve the opportunity to demand an even higher max contract again in his older years? I've said it a million times about Amar'e and I'll say it about Melo, we don't owe him anything! Patrick Ewing, Clyde Frazier, Willis Reed those are the players that you owe as an organization, the ones that shape team history. Melo gets to the ECF or Finals and makes things competitive then well see about his pay raise.

Making more money is winning...