For all we know all this trade talk is mind games. Have we not actually seen Melo play harder since the trade talk? Shockingly the team does not seem to be affected by it, they are playing closer. In the last 2 weeks, we have beaten Boston on the road, Indiana on the road, Charlotte and Chicago at home, We're 4-6 in the last 10, and actually lost I believe 2 or 3 games out of those where we had a lead in the last minute. We're playing a playoff team virtually every night.
I don't think the team is making the playoffs. They don't play enough defense, they have heavily invested in two players (financially) that only play one on one making us inconsistent on offense. We have invested in Noah who flat out sucks right now, he may be our 4th best Center on the roster. So you can't make the playoffs nor should you keep the roster together in that situation.
But I would keep Melo unless I got back a lottery pick or a lottery drafted player. Anything less than that, I pass. We have over 30 million in capspace this summer, we can make some small trades, draft a lottery pick, and regroup around KP, Melo, Willy, Lee and rebuild a new team with a different point guard running it. Who knows what type of talent we may get with the draft pick.
I don't trade Melo out of force or take a bad deal. I think Phil knows this. He is doing due dilligence at this time of year. I am open to a Melo trade if I get some of the right assets, but I am also open to this next year:
Willy/O'Quinn
KP/Kuz
Melo/Holiday
Starting SG/Lee
Staring PG/Jennings
Plumlee, Noah, Baker 3rd string.
Could a lottery pick, 30$M in capspace allow us to re-sign Jennings and Holiday as well as get 2 new starting guards? Willy should be ready for more minutes next year and I like Plumlee as well.
I'm thinking of a veteran non-star PG out there who could do what Kidd used to, or Billups. Someone who just plays hard on defense, high IQ, makes the right play and runs the coach's playbook well. I don't know who that is. And draft wise, we could really use an athletic 2-way guard/forward wing type. Golden State got Klay Thompson late in the lottery. Devin Booker was drafted late as well. If only we could be as lucky !