OT: Its official: Melo traded to the Knicks

[Pinwheel1]

I don't think the Knicks got any better to be honest.

Whenever you give up "replaceable players" for a top 5 player in the league, you got better. Maybe not this year, but eventually. IMO 90% of the players in this league are interchangeable, the trick is to get the top 5-10%.

 

[B-Roy]

Whenever you give up "replaceable players" for a top 5 player in the league, you got better. Maybe not this year, but eventually. IMO 90% of the players in this league are interchangeable, the trick is to get the top 5-10%.

You're right.

But Carmelo is no top 5 player.

 

[Sug]

dont count on denver tanking


Houston wants Nene bad but sources say Denver unlikely to trade Nene or JR Smith before deadline. from brousards twitter

Tanking? They just became much worse, they don't need to tank.

 

[Pinwheel1]

You're right.

But Carmelo is no top 5 player.

Close enough IMO. The guys averages 25 a game for his career. He can play defense when the game is on the line. I don't personally like the prick, but the way the game is called these days, he is about as tough to stop as they come.

 

[Natebishop3]

LeBron
Wade
Paul
Howard
Durant

I could probably keep going.... Melo MIGHT be top 10 in the league.

 

[Sex Panther]

Rose
Rondo
Dirk
D-Will
Hell, even Kobe.



Seriously, he's not a very good defender, overrated ball-handler, and isn't the most efficient scorer. I'm not sure if they became "elite".

 

[THE HCP]

Question for the Knicks: Will Billups play?

???? He will play 30+ a night.

 

[THE HCP]

What is the general feeling about this in Denver?

Just chatted with my boy who is the producer of the Nugget TV broadcasts. He knows all these guys personally and said there is a huge sigh of relief that it is done! He said Billups would be missed more then Mello. It was known that NO MATTER WHAT, he was NOT going to re-sign in Denver. "Glad it's over!"

 

[Pinwheel1]

LeBron
Wade
Paul
Howard
Durant

I could probably keep going.... Melo MIGHT be top 10 in the league.

Does it really make any difference if he is top 5 or top 10 or top 15? The guy averages 25 a game for his career. Games are won in crunch time, and we never had an answer for him. Nor did most teams.

I am glad he is out of our division. The Knicks can replace Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, and Timofey Mozgov within 2 years. They are all a dime a dozen. Denver will not replace Carmelo for another 10 years.

 

[alex42083]

Considering the trash NY was throwing out there in recent years with no assets whatsoever, it's pretty impressive that they've turned it into Melo/Amare. Gotta have studs to win titles.

 

[THE HCP]

Considering the trash NY was throwing out there in recent years with no assets whatsoever, it's pretty impressive that they've turned it into Melo/Amare. Gotta have studs to win titles.

That's what having a team in the #1 market will do for ya!

 

[maxiep]

Just chatted with my boy who is the producer of the Nugget TV broadcasts. He knows all these guys personally and said there is a huge sigh of relief that it is done! He said Billups would be missed more then Mello. It was known that NO MATTER WHAT, he was NOT going to re-sign in Denver. "Glad it's over!"

Interesting. The assistant coach I know with the Thuggets was convinced that Melo would sign the extension and then proceed to play half-assed and destroy the team from inside until he was moved. I'm not trying to get into a he said/she said contest, just that the opinions within the organization are different.

They do agree that it's the King of Park Hill (Chauncey) that's the real loss and that the team is mostly relieved.

 

[Minstrel]

Does it really make any difference if he is top 5 or top 10 or top 15?

Yes. The difference between the fifth best player and the fifteenth best player is pretty massive.

The guy averages 25 a game for his career.

Not particularly efficiently. Raw scoring isn't what is valuable. The ability to get a lot of points efficiently (in terms of possessions used) is what's valuable. Portland could make Dante Cunningham a 25 PPG scorer by letting him take shots every time down. Of course, the team might only score 27 points per game.

Games are won in crunch time

They really aren't. They're won by playing the best for the entire game. Try falling behind by 25 points in the fourth quarter and see how far "crunch time play" will take you. "Crunch time" may be the most exciting, memorable part of the game...it's hardly the only thing that matters.

 

[Minstrel]

Considering the trash NY was throwing out there in recent years with no assets whatsoever, it's pretty impressive that they've turned it into Melo/Amare. Gotta have studs to win titles.

It's not that impressive. IMO, they got the most overrated stars in the game. Neither plays any defense and Anthony isn't an amazing scorer (amazing scorer being a player who combines volume scoring with efficient scoring). Neither is good at making plays for teammates. The Knicks are certainly better off than they were a few years ago, but it's not hard to improve on rock bottom. IMO, this was the easy part: acquiring a couple of good but not great players. Turning this into a championship core will be far, far harder because they won't have major cap room and they have virtually nothing else that's attractive in trade.

They will be fun to watch, though.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Not particularly efficiently. Raw scoring isn't what is valuable. The ability to get a lot of points efficiently (in terms of possessions used) is what's valuable. Portland could make Dante Cunningham a 25 PPG scorer by letting him take shots every time down. Of course, the team might only score 27 points per game.

Sounds like you are describing Durrant. I will still take one of the top scorers in the NBA over players that could only start on half the teams in the league.

Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, and Timofey Mozgov? All decent players, but no one I fear when the game is on the line, or when the game is just starting.

 

[DUB]

It really doesn't matter who has the better line-up, or whether stars are overrated or not.

This is the NBA, it's not about the better team, it's about how many superstars your franchise has.

 

[Minstrel]

Sounds like you are describing Durrant.

Durant is extremely efficient. He's head and shoulders better than Anthony.

This is the NBA, it's not about the better team, it's about how many superstars your franchise has.

I agree, but Anthony isn't a superstar (in terms of production; maybe in terms of image).

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

League sources told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that the Nuggets are not expected to keep Gallinari once their three-team trade is completed.

ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported that the New Jersey Nets may be interested in acquiring the perimeter-shooting forward but the market for the Italian may also include the Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.

There is also talk that the Nuggets are considering dealing Felton. Sources have told Stein that the Nuggets are confident they could get a first-round pick for the point guard but other sources told ESPN.com that Denver may hold off until closer to the draft to attempt to flip Felton or hang on to the veteran point guard

LINK

 

[Mamba]

Lakers' should make a play for Felton. We've got 4 2nd round picks we could try and swing and Denver's GM is...for some reason..infatuated with Caracter.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Yeah, I'm sure that'll interest them.

Second round picks, Caracter, as the saying goes - you can polish a turd but it's still a piece of shit.

 

[Mamba]

Aha...we have no trade pieces...I'm just hoping Mitch can go to Stern and ask him for some help to complete that trade. :]

 

[MickZagger]

Ray Felton, who is having an AS type year for a bunch of 2nd round picks and Caracter? lol GTFO of here.

 

[maxiep]

Don't blame the L*ker fan: that fan base is used to getting gold for crap.

 

[Rhal]

Don't blame the L*ker fan: that fan base is used to getting gold for crap.

WTS 2002 NBA Finals trophy. Unfortunately it has "rigged" written on the bottom.

 

[PapaG]

It's nice to see ESPN let Tom Penn out of wherever it is they keep him locked up.

I forgot that he works for ESPN, it's been so long since I've seen him on air.

 

[Natebishop3]

It's nice to see ESPN let Tom Penn out of wherever it is they keep him locked up.

I forgot that he works for ESPN, it's been so long since I've seen him on air.

And the funny thing is, whenever he goes on there he doesn't say anything ground breaking. It's like "An Idiot's Guide to Understanding Trades" whenever he speaks. I really don't understand what he did that was SO vital for the organization.

 

[HailBlazers]

 

[Minstrel]

It's nice to see ESPN let Tom Penn out of wherever it is they keep him locked up.

They keep him locked up in a pen, of course. A tom pen.

That's GOLD, Jerry.

 

[HailBlazers]

It's like "An Idiot's Guide to Understanding Trades" whenever he speaks. I really don't understand what he did that was SO vital for the organization.

Not saying I know, but there is a big difference between speaking to couch potatoes watching sportscenter vs. directing operations for an NBA team.

 

[THE HCP]

Big game this Sunday on ESPN. NYC vs Miami! That should be fun to watch!