Jmpasq wrote:

RonRon wrote:If we have to pay him MAX to keep him, I do not think we would ever be able to have the pieces around him to build a contender, not at his age, NOT with our limited assets and current construction of our team
I do believe that another team can SIGN him to a max and be able to contend though, but because of our past deals and how our NYK's roster is, I don't think that is realistic

I did not create the thread

The question is, IF YOU HAVE TO PAY HIM MAX, would I?

my answer is, No

Just because you disagree with my opinion, doesn't give mean you can twist my words around, saying things I didn't say...

This is the problem ,its about acquiring the other pieces to put next to Melo while paying him that deal. Say had the Knicks had Steph Curry on this roster at 11m per and a big like Andre Drummond on a rookie deal and some other role players on the roster then paying Melo 20 mil would be ok because the other pieces are here and cheap. This isnt the same CBA anymore where every year you can add a mid level exception starter, or sign and trade players where you can get rid of an expiring contract for 5 years of a star player, those days are over. If the Knicks sign Melo to the max every year we dont get another piece he cuts 2 million off are cap space with his raises. Look at are salary cap space next season we already have

$15,537,134 guaranteed on the cap , then we have Shumperts 4 million dollar qualifying offer, plus Larkin and Hardaway JR, early, plus a draft pick. Without Shump thats 21 million another 2 million for roster spots thats 24 million , Add Melo thats another 23.5 the Knicks are now at 47.5 million ,say the Knicks add a MLE player at 3 million this offseason up to 50.5 the cap is 63 the Knicks are left with 12.5 in cap space.

How are the Knicks with melo building around Melo with 12.5 in cap space. So we wait another year until JR and Pablo are gone, Melo is now in a 3rd year of his deal and 33. Now the Knicks may be able to add another piece but the clock is on because Melo is going to start to decline we might have to force it overpaying and the cycle starts all over again

This is pretty much how I feel.

However, if the knicks had done things right, they could have surrounded him with solid pieces. Instead, they get players like bargs.