So, here we are in the here and now and we have Melo, Stat, Billups, Great rookie in fields and improved Douglas and what resembles a supporting cast. Since Melo has really been playing well I'm actually starting to like the guy (yes, I didn't like his (constant) grin before but for some reason it seems innocent now.)

I say Melo is worth a whole lot more than what we paid for him, especially since Chandler is an expiring (though he has some trade value like Lee) and Felton only has one more year. The hardest part of the trade for me was Mos (then Gallo) as Melo replaced Gallo and Chandler in my mind, and here we are - would be in great shape with a (healthy) Mos. I'll keep it relatively short...

I won't go into that again, it's been beaten to death.

You did. Its a new thread so we start all over again.........

I'll say as long as he don't need micro fracture inside of two years, and does not suck the vasoline orally its all good.

It is what it is.

The guy is playing well and delivering.

As far as the team being incomplete well thats just gonna have to be addressed over time.

If the plan is to build around the wedding toast, I am totally for it. We need an elite playmaker and some solid BIGs. It seems we're on the right track and I couldn't be more psyched for the playoffs.

earthmansurfer wrote:

CashMoney wrote:Melo was/is worth what we gave up. I think the reason so many here don't like the trade is that many felt we could have gotten him in FA or could have paid less. What's done is done and I'm happy with it. Can't wait for the playoffs.

Maybe I wasn't clear. It's pretty obvious (now) that Melo is worth what we gave up and more. What I'm saying, in a sense, is that you can't put a worth on a player like him. He has a great offensive game (and now 3pt shot) and his defense has been solid. As hard as it was to part with our players, we got a DEAL!!! He is really playing like a top 5 talent, no question in my mind.

Melo is the kind of player that, with the proper cast around him (and another star in Stat) can put you into the finals. The team we had I really liked, but to win, we had to play above our heads and damn near perfect it seems. Maybe I'm just enjoying the last week, but now that the team is jelling, it seems like the sky is the limit.

And just think of the players we might attract in 2012 with some salary cap space...

No need to sell me bro, I was all for the deal and been defending the guy since he got here.

loweyecue wrote:What is his worth? More thsn Dolan's weight in gold! But while I have support-ed the deal, I would also caution people from forming unrealistic expectations. Melo is not Kobe/Lebron, never was. But in the right situation can be almost as effective. Can we build the right situation? That depends on that other guy who is worth 3 times Dolan's weight in gold. Hope he stays.

Disagree. Melo is Kobe/lebron and we are seeing it more and more each week.

The kid got the cursed cuse a title by himself. He has battled lebron every year.

He's the real deal and definitely the top 5 player in the league...in no particular order:
Durante, lebron, Kobe, melo, wade...I'd have others if they hit their free throws and the guy in Chicago is making a very strong case.

Loved the trade from day 1.

loweyecue wrote:

babyKnicks wrote:

loweyecue wrote:What is his worth? More thsn Dolan's weight in gold! But while I have support-ed the deal, I would also caution people from forming unrealistic expectations. Melo is not Kobe/Lebron, never was. But in the right situation can be almost as effective. Can we build the right situation? That depends on that other guy who is worth 3 times Dolan's weight in gold. Hope he stays.

Disagree. Melo is Kobe/lebron and we are seeing it more and more each week.

The kid got the cursed cuse a title by himself. He has battled lebron every year.

He's the real deal and definitely the top 5 player in the league...in no particular order:
Durante, lebron, Kobe, melo, wade...I'd have others if they hit their free throws and the guy in Chicago is making a very strong case.

True he has played Lebron well (you could almost sya he has owned Lebron teams), but his defense remains an open question. I will agree he is in Kobe/Lebron terriotery when he shows he can sustain his current level of defense over longer periods of time.

+1 on that last quote. Melo's shown flashes of the ability to play defense, but he needs to show that he can do it every single night to get to that elite star territory.

In any event, the trade was totally worth it because I don't believe for a second that Melo was going to test the market and lose money. After that, there's literally NO Free Agent class in 2011 and then it's impossible for The Knicks to improve the squad with that type of talent going into next year.

babyKnicks wrote:

loweyecue wrote:What is his worth? More thsn Dolan's weight in gold! But while I have support-ed the deal, I would also caution people from forming unrealistic expectations. Melo is not Kobe/Lebron, never was. But in the right situation can be almost as effective. Can we build the right situation? That depends on that other guy who is worth 3 times Dolan's weight in gold. Hope he stays.

Disagree. Melo is Kobe/lebron and we are seeing it more and more each week.

The kid got the cursed cuse a title by himself. He has battled lebron every year.

He's the real deal and definitely the top 5 player in the league...in no particular order:
Durante, lebron, Kobe, melo, wade...I'd have others if they hit their free throws and the guy in Chicago is making a very strong case.

I think Dirk and healthy Chris Paul should be in the discussion as well.

Papabear wrote:Papabear Says

We got to give Dolan credit for this trade. He wanted his man and he went and got him. Walsh wanted him too. But Dolan went and got him. He would have given Denver more pieces to get Melo. Why?? It's because you can build a championship around him. In Denver he didn't have freedom or didn't shoot those deepwater 3s. Melo was made for New York. Isn't it funny but I do believe that LeBron would not be able to handle New York pressure.

Lebron DIDN'T WANT the pressure of NY. That's the thing. He could've had this city and it's huge legion of fans that come out and support in other major cities around the country, but he didn't want that kind of challenge. If he came here and started off poorly the fans would eat him up and the media as well. If he was in NY and failing to win against the good teams like he has in MIA that would also be a huge problem here in NY.