Knicks

[chipstern]

There's like 5-6 objective cats on this forum.  The rest of y'all are buggin'.

[kidcarter8]

If you're the Bulls and Denver tells you they'll take Deng's contract and give you Carmelo if you part with one piece: Noah
You'd have to be crazy Chip Stern not to pull the trigger.

won't happen

[kidcarter8]

I'd wait to see what happens with Felton and how Chris Paul's health holds up. We need a strong PG more than a scoring SF. Below is about what I would expect out of a high scoring D'Antoni offense with the present line-up, though 111 is ambitious. If I'm anywhere close, what we need is high % shooting and defense, neither of which Carmelo brings, and both Gallinari and Chandler offer a reasonable facimile.

When was the last time an NBA champ had a PG as their scoring leader?

[thebizneverloses]

Did Billups lead the Pistons in scoring in the playoffs? If not, then perhaps Magic did.

[KBY]

Cousy perhaps?

Anyway I like Melo, I'd be one happy camper if we got him for a good price. I however do NOT want to gut the team to do so, especially since we're constructed to have capspace to add a player without losing anybody.

[rembee]

...especially since we're constructed to have capspace to add a player without losing anybody.

Who might we hope to sign that will come close to Melo's level?

[exmachina]

Rem: Chris Paul.

[rembee]

Rem: Chris Paul.

He doesn't become an unrestricted free agent until year three of our four year window with Amare.  Plus, it seems clear after this summer that if he plans on signing somewhere else, he will let nawlens know before that time comes.  So my money is on Paul getting traded, not signed outright in two years.

[fwk00]

KBY - There is no way *to* gut the team in a Melo trade.  Eddie Curry has to be part of any deal just to make the money exchange work.  Curry then becomes a bit of a sponge in terms of volume of players who are moving.

It will be something along the lines of Curry, Gallo, and whoever.  There may be money and/or picks moving around too.

But there is no way it becomes moving seven youngsters for Melo because Denver is better off with the fiscal relief of an Eddie Curry than bodies who won't see the floor.

And I speculate that any Melo trade will include some pain.  They'll absolutely look to package one headache or another with Melo.

This argument goes out the window if its a multiple team deal (and it very well could be).

The other thought about a Melo trade is this, we may regret trading Gallo.

Melo is undoubtedly  a top-notch player but Gallo may get there too and shortly.

Last year's team was pretty mediocre.  Gallo may begin to function far more effectively this year and begin to rival Melo in productivity.

[bodiddley]

When was the last time an NBA champ had a PG as their scoring leader?

Just depends who your best player is.
But to answer your Q: Isiah and Magic.
Billups and Tony Parker (the third time) were the second highest scorers, just slightly in second.
Expand to finals teams and you add in Iverson and Kidd.
That covers a lot of recent Finals teams.

Just matters how your team is constructed.
Most finals teams have a strong/dominant Guard.
Either a Point or a Jordan/Kobe SG who handles the ball a lot.

But things change.
Until LBJ you'd have to go back to Bird to find an SF leading his team to the Finals.

[bodiddley]

Denver is better off with the fiscal relief of an Eddie Curry than bodies who won't see the floor.

Unfortunately, Curry just balances the accounts.
There is no savings for Denver.
Right now Melo is on the books for this season.
He's not a long-term contract.
Paying Curry for the rest of the season is actually a penalty.

[bodiddley]

USA v Lithiumbatteries starting in 10 minutes.
On ESPN C and probably elsewhere.

So who shuts down Kleiza?
Iggy, I guess to start.
Gay also.
Granger would also seem to match-up well on him, but he hasn't played that much.

[PrezIke]

durant going off...again

not too crazy to say he's gonna have a ridiculous year

[KBY]

Who might we hope to sign that will come close to Melo's level?

Alright I'll play, we might not be able to sign a star but if the choice is gut the team , add Melo
or
add a good player via free agency or trade without losing anybody

I don't have a crystal ball but we've already got promising options at sf,
Gallo, Chandler, AR

To gut the team, strip our young talent, picks and cap space for one player. I'm not a 100% ready to do that yet.



Our young talent is a question, whether we continue with anyone outside of Amar'e is a question, so for the Knicks this offseason make a fixed choice without knowing anything is not something I see Donnie do.

Making a trade now could block a 2012 free agency too (CP3) if for instance we need to take Nene too.


So by not doing anything major untill the right trade comes along,
- gives us a shot at Melo or TP or Zbo or Yao Ming or Kirilenko,
- CP3 a year later (Felton ending contract, rookies ending possibly)


Making a big trade for what's already a position of strength with questions remaining about the rest of the roster. Not something I would do.

I'd seriously pursue a sg on a rookie contract next year (Xavier Henry, Rudy) and not do anything else unless it's a good offer costing us only Curry +


Look it's all rumors anyway, Denver is still evaluating what to do and we don't know if there's any genuine offers on the table besides the rumored tribe by the media to generate hits to their articles.

[bodiddley]

Just checking the box, and Mozgov  went 11-12 at the line for 19 points.
Only 3 boards, but also only 1 turnover.
Doesn't look like Brezec managed to do much against Moz.
But I didn't see the game.