I don't know Chicago's temperature on Wade, but they've traditionally been very cap conscious. So here goes.

The key here is NY gives Wade a buyout and he goes to... Houston for vet's minimum.

Why NY: Significant 2018-2019 cap savings. It's like a one-year Melo buyout. In this scenario they ask for maximum picks and Euro-stashes from Houston. Knicks try to garner back some good standing by putting Melo and Wade in a great situation.

Why Houston: They get Melo, move Anderson, keep Capela & Ariza and when Wade gets bought out he joins the Rockets replacing Gordon and becoming their 6th man/insurance behind Harden/Paul, making them that much more of a legit threat to GSW. Leonard is the price of doing business.

Wade joining them is the unofficial, verbal part of him getting his buyout.

Why Portland: Harkless/Leonard, Anderson swap.

Why Chicago: They seem to be rebuilding/tanking. Randle is non-guaranteed (had to go somewhere to make dollars work for Knicks). Gordon vs Wade saves them $11m this season. They can try to spin Gordon off to a 5th team with cap room or expiring(s) if they're not interested in him long-term. Might even get a pick out of it.

Chicago can flip Gordon's $12.9m 3-year deal to the Cavs for Frye (expiring, $7.4m), one of Taveres or Felder's unguaranteeds and Jefferson ($2.5m), who likely retires or maybe Bulls give him a $1.25m buyout.

That turns Wade's $23.8m (one year) into one year of $7.5-$10m ($13.8 to $16.3m savings). And that's assuming Bulls can't get a better Gordon deal elsewhere.

Now the Rockets, and the Cavs get better and the Knicks and Bulls get relief.

Almost a win-win-win-win-win.

Portland doesn't get much, maybe need to throw them a bone.

meloshouldgo wrote:Why would Portland do this?

Based on the original premise they were in if a clean home for Leonard could be found. This does that.

I acknowledge they don't get a lot out of it. Maybe they come back if they're convinced melo isn't an option for them.

Maybe something else needs to go their way.

TheGame wrote:

Knickoftime wrote:

meloshouldgo wrote:Why would Portland do this?

Based on the original premise they were in if a clean home for Leonard could be found. This does that.

I acknowledge they don't get a lot out of it. Maybe they come back if they're convinced melo isn't an option for them.

Maybe something else needs to go their way.

Portland would want two draft picks to do this deal and Chicago and the Knicks are not giving up a picks and the Rockets are already going to have to give a pick to get the Knicks to agree. So the rockets would have to give up Three future first rounders for this deal to have any chance. I don't see them doing that.

Perhaps.

If so, Houston is a non-starter then if Anderson is that toxic.