ekstarks94 wrote:In agreement with...but in a mgmt position at any company...things should be handled more tactfully. Whether Phil is right or wrong is not the point it is how he handled it. Players and others are not coming to Melos defense saying that...no Phil is wrong he is not a ball stopper...they are coming to his defense on his treatment by the franchise who by the way has bent over backwards for him.Phil in his comments is doing the counterproductive thing by driving down the perceived value of his player....other teams see the dysfunction and Melo age and say 25 cents on the dollar is best you will get.
Perception in some cases supersedes reality
The Knicks can only hope to build for the future, start over, attempt to win, attempt to be competitive, attempt to consistently make the playoffs, attempt to be a contender if they can move forward, starting now. Moving forward means getting Melo off the roster.
It's almost like it's not in blinding flashing neon lights for some of you. Melo could care less about the Knicks winning or what's best for this team or playing team basketball, he cares about living in NY, his 'branding' and his marketing opportunities outside the game. If that's not clear, there was a giant article in SI or ESPN the magazine or some sports rag where it goes in depth to his view about "winning" versus "branding"
Phil Jackson is using the one weapon that will work. Melo cares about his public image. Apparently most of us wish he cared about team basketball, defense, passing the ball and teamwork as much as he cares about said public image.
Jackson going after Melo will do one of two things.
A) It will get Melo to play team basketball. Just about as unlikely as you winning an Olympic gold in figure skating in 8 years, but OK, why not try.
or
B) It will force Melo to see his "branding" will be at risk and the only way to protect his public image from being labeled as a mercenary malcontent selfish player is to waive his NTC or to do so for a larger range of teams.
Jackson is not driving down Melos trade value
What drives down his trade value is
A) His age. Father Time is undefeated
B) The way he plays the game, it creates a very limited fit for most teams
C) His massive salary plus the trade kicker, which makes salary matching difficult if not impossible
D) His NTC, in which case he has tremendous power over which team and what compensation come across the board.
You cannot drive down trade value if it's already at rock bottom. Again, why do people keep pushing this narrative? With or without Jackson's comments, Melo's trade value is rock bottom. He's an aging gunner who doesn't play team basketball and causes a massive salary issue for any trade.
Yes, he can create his own shot, but the VORP ( Value Over Replacement Player) issue comes to mind. Can you get a player who can give you 60-70 percent of what Melo gives you at a fraction of the cost. Lou Williams is instant offense off the bench. He's not costing you what Melo is going to cost you, then again, he has limitations, but then again Melo has self imposed limitations.
Yes, other players in the league are coming to his "defense" Are we talking about the same players, who are so dogmatic about the NBAPA fraternal order that they almost to a man universally supported the players when in Detroit, players WENT INTO THE STANDS AND STARTED PUNCHING FANS OUT?
Are any of those players who spoke out against Jackson, were they going to sign with the Knicks anyway? NBA FA history shows that players pick teams that are winning/contending and can pay the most. The best players try to get both. The not as best players try to get the latter if they can. It's not rocket science.
Nothing you are saying actually lines up with NBA FA history, the general NBA marketplace or factors in the existing trade leverage situation here with Melo.
If you want an example to show the Melo/Knicks situation, here is one. It's a MARRIAGE. Not an old school aligning two powerful Game Of Thrones dynasties type of marriage. It's a situation where Melo is the jilted wife and the Knicks are the battered down husband. She can decide to never have sex with you again ( play defense), never clean (pass the ball), never be civil (be a leader), the kids don't even have to be yours ( push out coaches and teammates who don't fit your selfish agenda), they could be the mailmans, and she can leave at any time take more than half of everything you own (NTC/Trade Kicker). The Knicks are the "husband" who simply left his "wife" get totally out of control. But then again, he knew she was "slut" when he married her. Melo's spots and his flaws were evident from his Denver days. You can't wife a whore. You can't ring up a ho. Now it's time to dump the b!tch and now it's gonna cost.
This is not a TRADE, it's a DIVORCE. And the ALIMONY ( gutting the Knicks by personnel moves to appease Melo) and CHILD SUPPORT ( years it will take to recover from having Melo's toxic play/behavior/contract legacy on the roster) are going to hurt.
But you know what they say about divorce and it's COST?
It's worth it.
Why does divorce cost so much? Because it's worth it.
IT IS WORTH IT.
No one will pay top dollar ( see 2nd marriage commitment) to a busted out aging whore who did nothing but nag and grind her "husband" into the ground. This is why Melo has no trade value. It has nothing to do with Jackson. Jackson is just calling Melo out for being the coked out pumped out former party girl turned wannabe Martha Stewart fake without all the pretense about it. Anyone want to wife up a broken down nag, with her face pounded to dust from too much tanning, too much drinking, too much getting bent over pool tables and is all used up with a lousy attitude?
Melo is the NBA equivalent of a just about to hit menopause rode hard single mom with bad credit and sagging t!ts.
Zinger now is the NBA equivalent of a 22 year old hottie virgin who cooks, cleans and is actually pleasant to be around.
Is it really that hard to see why the Knicks want to move on and don't care how Melo feels about it?
I know what you are going to say next. People marry whores all the time. Yes, they do. Stupid people. The Knicks married Melo, which is why they have been, sadly, a stupid franchise for such a long time. But now it's time to get that divorce ( because IT IS WORTH IT) and start over with this new nubile virgin without all the baggage.
Yes, yes, some people will criticize Jackson for his tactics. Then again, there will be people who will try to shame a man for realizing his mistake too late, but tries to make amends by divorcing that whore. What would you rather have? Virtue by shaky perception that has no real value or leverage, or still being married to a worthless whore?
Divorce the b!itch. Trust me, it's worth it.
2/25/2017 1:15 AM