NardDogNation wrote:Nalod wrote:NardDogNation wrote:I do wonder how Melo would have felt about a trade to MIA during the 2015 draft when the Heat had the 10th overall pick (used to select Justise Winslow). LeBron had already left BUT Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh were still there with a newly acquired Goran Dragic and Hasheem Thabeet in-tow. It always seemed to me that it would've been in both teams' interest to swap assets (Melo and the 10th pick) and call it a day. The only hold-up would've been Melo's NTC but would he really have turned down the opportunity to pair up with his friends in MIA? Would LaLa and co really objected to that move?
Melo's salary would not have fit on that team and the Bosh contract situation was in a state of confusion then as was his health.
I have written that Melo/Miami would have been a good fit. Since Miami is getting a favorable outcome from Bosh, there is not deal to be made with his contract.
From a player fit standpoint Melo in Miami might be a decent fit but we taking back salary is the sticking point. Dragic won't work as we not have little Timmy.
Melo's contract would have fit just fine. The Heat had enough empty salary in Loul Deng ($11 million, expirer), Chris Andersen ($6 million, expirer), Mario Chalmers ($6 million, expirer) and Shabazz Napier ($1.1 million) to match the $20 million or so owed to Melo. Aside from Deng, the aforementioned players were all dumped to save money before the end of that season.
The only thing that stood in the way of the deal was Micky Arison'a frugality and Hasan Whiteside's impending free agency. Micky was penny-pinching when the team was winning championships, so I doubt he looked forward to the proposition of paying five players, top dollar to likely not be as good. Also, their lack of Bird Rights for Hasan and his emergent play meant that they would have to use cap space to retain him...cap space they would not have with Melo earning max and Wade reluctant to take another pay cut. I think the latter point poised more of an issue but in the end, it did appear that the Heat were reluctant to pay Hasan; so maybe they would have been willing to let him walk if they felt they had a worthwhile alternative (i.e. Melo) and thought Goran, Wade and Bosh would be healthy.
Mickey paid the tax when worthwhile. Bosh I thought was in the middle of his clot problems and Your talking two seasons ago which Melo was younger and had only been here one year on that new contract. Also, "What would he think" is a big question. What we as fans think is impossible. We sign him for one year then dump him for Deng and change? easy to say in hindsight but that, along with at the time a massive trade kicker would really have made it very very hard. IN fact, Melo is still an allstar (Gratis) and pretty good and look how hard it is to move him and that's with him agreeing to a trade to just one team!
Winslow in hindsight has done nothing and he is returning from serious shoulder surgery.
Today, well I'd do that trade and take on Winslow and others. Like I said, they would have had to move a lot of money and its apparent they wanted to keep Whiteside.
The big if is does Miami want him then or ever? Riles and Spo's teams have a defensive ethic and Wade with Melo doing the Iso thing might not have jived too well.
All this and perhaps you recall I thought Miami was a natural trading partner for Melo if they wanted him. That was largely predicated on Knicks eating Bosh's contract and they give us a pick and Winslow. Add that to a team that finished 31-11 and it might have been a good deal for both. Miami has resolved its Bosh contract dilemma and Im not sure either team has a mutual interest now.
9/16/2017 1:49 PM