NardDogNation wrote:If so, I think BOS becomes a legitimate suitor for Melo, which would easily make them legitimate contenders. Do you think they'd be willing to do a Melo for Jaylen Brown swap if everything breaks right?
Flip the shoe on the other foot. If the Knicks has Boston's roster and the Celtics had Melo with his NTC and his trade kicker, would you give up anything other than a lowball offer to a team that has ZERO trade leverage. I mean absolutely ZERO.
Boston will give the LEAST it has to give to make a Melo trade work, assuming Melo would even waive his NTC.
And there is the issue that any kind of salary match would make taking in a bad contract as more likely to happen.
Melo is an aging no defense coach killing shot jacker who has really horrible shot selection, doesn't play team basketball and absorbs a massive cap hit. He has a super limited trade market in place.
The best I think the Knicks can do is create a 'wash' situation. I.E. whatever asset they do get a Melo deal would be used to jettison the bad contract they have to take in to another team. If the Knicks get ZERO in asset return for Melo from a net perspective, I still say make the deal. It's addition by subtraction.