tkf wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:tkf and dk7th have got to be depressed right now if this rumor is true. i like andrew's chain of thought though.... chicago's assets are enviable and if melo really does want to go there, the 129 mill is sure going to come at a high price.

Any Knick fan should be depressed, Yes the Knicks will be better next year but this deal officially closes the door on this team winning a title for the foreseeable future. You cant pay Melo this type of money with this roster. If you had young talent that could offset his deal you could but the Knicks dont

don't worry I think some of these fans are getting a kickback from carmelo's check because they only seem to be concerned with him getting his money.. forget actually winning..

funny thing is fans got mad when amare opted in to get his money.. yet tell carmelo to " get your money man".. LOL.. go figure..

Who are these Ghost-Posters you speak of? I don't recall seeing anyone cheering or openly hoping he signs a max contract.....

Jmpasq wrote:

tkf wrote:

Vmart wrote:

anrst wrote:i dunno man... if it "was there all along" ... why was it "offered" just now tonight? ... seriously? wtf is brousard talking about. the offer was there all along, but it was offered tonight?

how does that make any sense.

The Max was there all along. Melo just wants to jump through hoops so he can feel loved and empowered. I'm totally against giving a max deal to any player including LeBron these are guaranteed contracts one would think they learned from Houston and Amare, Rose and all those that never lived up to their max deals.

lebron and durant are the only players I would give a max to...

Depends on my team if I had the Cavs young players or the 76ers I might take a chance on more guys but the Knicks dont have that, not even close

What has kd won and what has labron won on his own...the NBA is starving for super stars, real super stars, I doubt melo takes the max, but if he does, I trust phil has a plan

CrushAlot wrote:

StarksEwing1 wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

“@FisolaNYDN: That, plus $129 million. RT@WojYahooNBA: Yahoo Sources: After meeting, Carmelo left comfortable with Phil's vision for shaping a contender.”

I have a feeling he felt more comfortable with the 130 million

I can't copy the article but here is the link.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--after-meeting-with-knicks--carmelo-anthony-aligned-with-team-s-plans-184612252.html

Many wonder what should Mello do. I think that many take for granted the importance of winning. Yes, you may want to have much money as you can get but the point is that if you are a star NBA player you want to win. In that case I really can't imagine Carmelo Anthony returning to the Knicks for the max and Phil Jackson wanting that for your plan. I do believe signing Melo is important, but the max could seriously hurt our chances of sporting a championship contender in the next few seasons.

nixluva wrote:I don't think the Max hurts our chances as much as some do. What matters most is gonna be how shrewd Phil can be adding cheap talent and coaching them up like Pop did with Kawhi, Green n Mills. It can't just be two more max players like the Heat anymore. There are VERY GOOD players that aren't max we can target and would fit the team. Fit is more important than just adding pricey talent.

Who? Very good players almost never come cheap.

Dagger wrote:

nixluva wrote:I don't think the Max hurts our chances as much as some do. What matters most is gonna be how shrewd Phil can be adding cheap talent and coaching them up like Pop did with Kawhi, Green n Mills. It can't just be two more max players like the Heat anymore. There are VERY GOOD players that aren't max we can target and would fit the team. Fit is more important than just adding pricey talent.

Who? Very good players almost never come cheap.

Robin Lopez, Danny Green, Patty Mills, Kyle Lowry, Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, Wesley Matthews, and etc. You have to hit on players that do not fit other teams. Boris Diaw was cut and could have been had by anyone.

Dagger wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:

Dagger wrote:

nixluva wrote:I don't think the Max hurts our chances as much as some do. What matters most is gonna be how shrewd Phil can be adding cheap talent and coaching them up like Pop did with Kawhi, Green n Mills. It can't just be two more max players like the Heat anymore. There are VERY GOOD players that aren't max we can target and would fit the team. Fit is more important than just adding pricey talent.

Who? Very good players almost never come cheap.

Robin Lopez, Danny Green, Patty Mills, Kyle Lowry, Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, Wesley Matthews, and etc. You have to hit on players that do not fit other teams. Boris Diaw was cut and could have been had by anyone.

I don't know man, Robin Lopez, Danny Green, and Wesley Matthews aren't so great in my opinion, maybe marginally better than league average at their positions. Dragic is a pipe dream and Lowry got paid way more than we could give him (a pretty bad contract IMO). Bledsoe would be nice, I question Diaw's work ethic-don't really want him. Ramon Sessions would be very nice as a back-up pg as well.

I am not saying those players exactly but players like them. Lowry and Dragic were below 7m and Robin Lopez was traded twice within few year but he brought rim protection, passing, rebounding, and some scoring for around $5M. He is a FA next summer. Wesley Matthews was a undrafted FA that is a high volume and efficient 3pt shooter plus defender. Danny Green is a similar type player but not as good of a defender. He was a second rd pick who was cut multiple times.

There are others out their who can be had that can become quality players in the triangle around the big guns the Knicks will hopefully get in 15 or 16. Maybe Cole Aldrich is that guy. Maybe Larkin is that guy. I am not a fan of Sessions in an non-PNR offense because of his inability to shoot but there could be players this year and the years to come that fit the system Fisher will install.

While there are many teams that are YOUNG and stockpiled with asset's, and some nice pieces to begin with, with the CAP LIKELY moving higher, they can continue to make some moves, signing Lebron and CA to HUGE contracts if NOT MAX like what The LAKER's OFFERED by actually having a TEAM already like Sun's, Philly, Orlando *had they NOT made those rumored deals in Ben Gordon and also being a STATE free tax team*

Sun's
============

They have arguably the best medical team in the entire NBA, reviving Grant Hill's 7 injuries and many years of NOT playing a game
Also have kept Nash playing 10 years younger as a productive player that has NO PHYSICAL ABILITIES but all weakness's gaining 2 MVP seasons under his belt
This is one of their selling points about keeping both Leborn/CA's career's productive at a high level in addition to all of their young players, assets, role players, and future picks to use in other trades right now

For Sun's, they not only allow both Lebron and CA to choose which PG to play with that are both 2nd TIER TOP NBA players (for Bledsoe, it is possible that he can take less, above the 10m range but not the MAX range as well who is a LOCKDOWN DEFENDER, and his speed/quickness/athleticism takes much attention away from those 2 STAR's as those 2 STAR's also take some ball handling/facilitating/scoring and other teams must leave CA, Lebron, and Bledsoe open (capable of hitting that wide open 3pt ease now)
They have 2 1st rounders coming their way for 2015 summer that can be used in trades to improve any trade scenarios in addition to either Bledsoe/Dragic one of the better PG's in the entire league that are BOTH YOUNG
They have 30m guaranteed to players, with Bledsoe's "qualifying offer of 3.7m" in there while 3 in Tyler Ennis 1st round picks in TJ Warren *a SF with great/reach, ability to score, and handle and Bogdanovic *sharp shooter at SG* NOT added in the CAP yet in addition to their core of

Dragic
Bledsoe
Gereld Green
Plumlee
Len

Archie Goodwin
Morris
MOrris

team options on

Shavlik Randolph
Ish Smith (one of the quickest/fastest PG's that is currently a 4th option)

Tyler Ennis *PG*
TJ Warren *SF*
Bogdanovic *SG*

bird rights to

Channing Frye
PJ Tucker

Sun's pick incoming
===========================

2015 first round draft pick from Minnesota
Minnesota's 1st round pick to Phoenix protected for selections 1-12 in 2015 or 1-12 in 2016; if Minnesota has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Phoenix by 2016, then Minnesota will instead convey its 2016 2nd round pick and 2017 2nd round pick to Phoenix [Minnesota-New Orleans-Phoenix, 7/27/2012]

2015 first round draft pick from L.A. Lakers
L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick to Phoenix protected for selections 1-5 in 2015, 1-3 in 2016 or 1-3 in 2017 or unprotected in 2018 [L.A. Lakers-Phoenix, 7/11/2012]

Sun's Picks Outgoing
==============================

NONE

Philly
==============

Philly has one of the lowest salaries in the team, in addition to having a versatile PG/SG defender in FUTURE ALL STAR MCW, and the potential of Noel/Embid at PF/C
Thad Young is a trading chip, they drafted well, have some future picks coming their way too, and had used 7 draft picks this summer
They can stretch out Jason Richardson's contract or put him in trade talks with his 6.6m final year, along with the assets needed, in which the other team would likely stretch him

Tony Wroten and Arnett Moultrie are both very good YOUNG talents as well, while Wroten has shown his abilities, Moultrie had some injuries that plagued him but also showed some potential as a scoring PF/C, similar to a YOUNG Chris Bosh with the 3pt shooting when playing well
Eric Maynor is in a short contract, who was once the backup PG to Westbrook and even started for him awhile back in OKC, not sure what his value is, but certainly the idea of moving him is possible
Philly only has 26m in salaries (aside from the 7 draft picks used in this summer's draft)

MCW

Noel
Embid

Thad Young likely moved for at least a 1st round pick type of value, is a very good SF/PF that could be used as trading chip at 10m, or kept as a 6th man

Dario Saric as SF/PF with Toni Kukoc comparisons picked at number 10

2nd round picks in (that Philly has the draft rights to but do not need to sign and can force them to develop overseas for salary reasons if needed, however, some can come in and develop and contribute right away like KC McDaniels)

KC McDaniels (which is comparable to a YOUNG Matt Barnes with good shooting mechanics)
Jerami Grant *F, which likely will be stashed and needs to bulk up/fill out his body at 215pds first*
Vasilje Micic *another BIG EURO PG, drawing comparisons to Jose Calderon*
Jordan McRae *SG/SF*, only 180pds but is 6-5 and has a wingspan of a 7footer, and has the ability to shoot the COLLEGE 3pter already

picks incoming
=====================

2015 second round draft pick from Golden State
Golden State's 2015 2nd round pick to Philadelphia (via Indiana) [Golden State-Indiana, 12/19/2011 and then Indiana-Philadelphia, 2/20/2014]

2015 second round draft pick from New Orleans
New Orleans' 2015 2nd round pick to Philadelphia (via L.A. Clippers to Washington) [L.A. Clippers-New Orleans, 12/14/2011 and then Denver-L.A. Clippers-Washington, 3/15/2012 and then Denver-Philadelphia-Washington, 2/20/2014]

2016 second round draft pick from Denver
Denver's 2016 2nd round pick to Philadelphia [Denver-Philadelphia-Washington, 2/20/2014]

2018 second round draft pick from L.A. Clippers
L.A. Clippers' 2018 2nd round pick to Philadelphia [L.A. Clippers-Philadelphia, 2/20/2014]

Picks outgoing
===================

2015 first round draft pick to Boston
Philadelphia's 2015 1st round pick to Boston (via Miami) protected for selections 1-14; if Philadelphia has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Boston by 2015, then Philadelphia will instead convey its 2015 2nd round pick and 2016 2nd round pick to Boston [Miami-Philadelphia, 6/28/2012 and then Boston-Golden State-Miami, 1/15/2014]

2017 first round draft pick to Orlando
Philadelphia's 1st round pick to Orlando protected for selections 1-11 in 2017 or 1-8 in 2018; if Philadelphia has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Orlando by 2018, then Philadelphia will instead convey its 2018 2nd round pick and 2019 2nd round pick to Orlando [Miami-Philadelphia, 6/28/2012 and then Denver-L.A. Lakers-Orlando-Philadelphia, 8/10/2012]

Other notable teams with cap space include

Cleveland, Boston, and Jazz are some notables, that could clear up cap space
For Cleveland they have a core of

Cleveland
=============

Irving
Wiggons

likely trading chip with combo guard Dion Waiters
Anderson Varajo as a team option

With the idea to either trade or keep some players *which would be much different with the added ALL STAR talents and Wiggons like

Jarret Jack
Triston Thompson

Zellar

former 1st round pick in

Anthony Bennet
Sergey Karasev

Bird Rights to Deng

Team options on

Varejao at 9.8m
Alonzo Gee 3.25m
Scotty Hopson 2.45m

Cleveland Picks Incoming
=============================

2015 first round draft pick from Memphis
Memphis' 1st round pick to Cleveland protected for selections 1-5 and 15-30 in 2015, 1-5 and 15-30 in 2016, 1-5 in 2017 or 1-5 in 2018 or unprotected in 2019 [Cleveland-Memphis, 1/22/2013]

2015 first round draft pick from Miami
Miami's 1st round pick to Cleveland protected for selections 1-10 in 2015 or 1-10 in 2016 or unprotected in 2017 [Cleveland-Miami, 7/9/2010]

Cleveland Outgoing Picks
==============================

2015 first round draft pick to Chicago
Chicago has the right to swap its 2015 1st round pick for Cleveland's 2015 1st round pick protected for selections 1-14 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Cleveland's obligation to Chicago will be extinguished) [Chicago-Cleveland, 1/7/2014]

Boston
===============
As for Boston, they have drafted quite well and have some very good role players, though need an ALL STAR
They have some cap space, more importantly a trading chip in at least Rhondo
Their team is set at about 49m but some TEAM OPTIONS in there as well, however, that doesn't add the salaries of Marcus Smart and James Young
Because of all the "possible" deals they could have, there are just too many directions they can offer
One is the obvious rumored deal earlier regarding Kevin Love, in addition to getting Lebron/CA if they can clear some salary/make some moves with some of their assets

2015 first round draft pick from Philadelphia
Philadelphia's 2015 1st round pick to Boston (via Miami) protected for selections 1-14; if Philadelphia has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Boston by 2015, then Philadelphia will instead convey its 2015 2nd round pick and 2016 2nd round pick to Boston [Miami-Philadelphia, 6/28/2012 and then Boston-Golden State-Miami, 1/15/2014]

Boston incoming future picks
====================================
2015 first round draft pick from L.A. Clippers
L.A. Clippers' 2015 1st round pick to Boston [Boston-L.A. Clippers, 6/25/2013]

2015 second round draft pick from Sacramento
Sacramento's 2015 2nd round pick to Boston protected for selections 31-55 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Sacramento's obligation to Boston will be extinguished) [Boston-Sacramento, 2/17/2009]

2016 first round draft pick from Brooklyn
Brooklyn's 2016 1st round pick to Boston [Boston-Brooklyn, 7/12/2013]

2016 second round draft pick from Miami
Miami's 2016 2nd round pick to Boston [Boston-Golden State-Miami, 1/15/2014]

2017 first round draft pick from Brooklyn
Boston has the right to swap its 2017 1st round pick for Brooklyn's 2017 1st round pick; if Boston exercises this swap right, then Boston will convey its 2017 2nd round pick to Brooklyn protected for selections 31-45 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Boston's obligation to Brooklyn will be extinguished) [Boston-Brooklyn, 7/12/2013]

2017 second round draft pick from Sacramento
Sacramento's 2017 2nd round pick to Boston protected for selections 31-55 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Sacramento's obligation to Boston will be extinguished) [Boston-Sacramento, 2/24/2011]

2018 first round draft pick from Brooklyn
Brooklyn's 2018 1st round pick to Boston [Boston-Brooklyn, 7/12/2013]

Boston outgoing picks
==========================

2016 second round draft pick to Utah
Utah will receive the more favorable of Boston's 2016 2nd round pick and Toronto's 2016 2nd round pick (via Memphis) and Memphis will receive the less favorable of these two picks; this potential pick conveyance is the same as the one described in "2016 second round draft pick from Toronto" on Utah Credits [Memphis-Toronto, 7/9/2009 and then Boston-Memphis-Oklahoma City, 1/7/2014 and then Memphis-Utah, 6/26/2014]

2016 second round draft pick to Memphis
Memphis will receive the less favorable of Boston's 2016 2nd round pick and Toronto's 2016 2nd round pick and Utah will receive the more favorable of these two picks (via Memphis); this potential pick conveyance is the same as the one described in "2016 second round draft pick from Toronto" on Memphis Credits [Memphis-Toronto, 7/9/2009 and then Boston-Memphis-Oklahoma City, 1/7/2014 and then Memphis-Utah, 6/26/2014]

2017 second round draft pick to Brooklyn
If Boston exercises its right to swap its 2017 1st round pick for Brooklyn's 2017 1st round pick, then Boston will convey its 2017 2nd round pick to Brooklyn protected for selections 31-45 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Boston's obligation to Brooklyn will be extinguished) [Boston-Brooklyn, 7/12/2013]; this potential pick conveyance is the same as the one described in "2017 first round draft pick from Brooklyn" on Boston Credits

I don't think anyone really wants to go to Utah, that is why Stockton and Malone is the best team they ever had, with Deron Williams leaving if he wasn't traded
However, they do have some talents in

RFA Gordon Hayward (though I don't think is worth anywhere near a MAX deal)
PF/C Derrick Favors

C Enes Kanter
C Rudy Gobert (developing, drafted last season)

Alec Burks
Trey Burk

role players in

John Lucas
Jeremy Evans HIGH FLYER with supreme athletic/jumping ability but hasn't been able to translate that in the NBA yet though still young

team options in

Malcolm Thomas
Diante Garrett
Ian Clark

bird rights to

Brandon Rush
Richard Jefferson
Marvin Williams

Drafted, who is actually not on their 29m roster but are both 1st round picks,

Dante Exum
Rodney Hood

We have to remember one VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL
The CAP is expected to rise, to what, we don't exactly know, meaning the TEAM payroll, tax threshold, MLE, combinations of talents/trades all will have affect/effect on each other