A. Scottie Pippen being traded here was the biggest trade in team history, probably followed closely by Washington trading Rasheed Wallace here, and finally trading trading Gerald Wallace for the pick that became Damian Lillard.
B) Landing Melo would certainly be a story, but it'd probably be more sizzle than steak. The motherfucker doesn't play defense, he's a ball-stopper on offense, he's inefficient, and at this point of his career, he's more 'name' than 'player.' It won't change the narrative, it won't make this team a contender, and it won't don't shit to attract free agents, because none of the fundamentals that drive free agency will have changed -- that is: Money (Portland has none to spend), a chance to compete for a title (maybe if Nurkic's star keeps ascending, but not because of Melo), and brand-building/wealth-building opportunities (state taxes here suck, and there's a few barriers to getting national media attention because it's seen as such a backwater).