I am on the Knicks subreddit and their fans are pretty nice about Portland and think obviously we have the best peices to trade with them. Some notable quotes...
"If Melo really wants to win, I wouldn't rule it Portland. All it takes is an injury to Steph or KD and suddenly the Warriors aren't this unbeatable team. Dame/CJ/Nurkic was actually really good over the last half of the season, add in Melo and that could easily be a top 4 seed if things go right"
"you know, I really don't get the whole contention thing. the likelihood of either the cavs or houston + melo fucking with the dubs next year is sort of pie in the sky imo. like, I wouldn't even give them a puncher's chance. portland is the best city of the three, it just doesn't have his buds. but mccollum seems like a cool dude. come on melo, branch out a bit, everyone could stand to extend his circle of friends every now and again."
"I'm sure it's unlikely, but Melo waiving his NTC for Portland gives us the best shot at a favorable deal"
"I hope he waives his NTC for the Blazers that would give the Knicks the best return"
"a deal with POR straight up would be so much easier than HOU. even though I'm not a big fan of either HArkless or Crabbe."
"From all accounts I read, Melo isn't really into the whole celebrity thing--that was more LaLa's thing. I think he'd be cool with chilling in Portland."
"I don't like this. If Melo goes to Portland I will have a hard time hating him. He is supposed to be the spiteful asshole who is holding an organization hostage so he can join a super team where he can undermine a coach he had already run out of town in a previous stint. He's not supposed to go to an underdog team in a quirky, quasi-small market that's actually a good fit for him and has something of value to return to us."
"CJ and Dame are so likeable that I actually want to see him go to Portland, it would be easy to cheer for them"
"I too as a lover of the New York Knicks association would love for Carmelo to go to Portland"
"Dame is trying to fuck over the Rockets for the second time in his career. Speak it into existence."
"hopefully this works. portland has better trade assets than houston"
"Also lowkey my favorite team in the west."
"For me they took over as favorites from the Mark Jackson era Warriors. A scrappy, young team with an all star backcourt and a fantastic fanbase."
"Even though I doubt this happens I would love for Melo to go to Portland. I've always liked Dame and CJ and if Melo joined them then I'd have 3 players to root for on that team. That team would feast on offense, defense is another story though."
"Good move by Portland. They'll no doubt trade some 3 year contracts for Melo, and know that either he comes off the books a year earlier than other contracts, or he opts out and it was a 1 year rental.
They aren't going anywhere with Harkless, Leonard or Turner so if they can move any of them for a contract with one less year it means they'll be in a better financial position overall.
Now, if only Melo could open up the option to Portland."
"Knicks get:
1) Rid of the Noah contract.
2) A 25 year old three-point shooter (Crabbe) that's logged substantial minutes at the SF position (i.e. could conceivably start next to THJ and KP). Also locked up for 3 years at a reasonable rate.
3) Ed Davis' expiring deal.
4) Noah Vonleh, who is on an expiring rookie deal and was a lottery talent.
5) Presumably, Portland would also add at least one 1st round pick, and likely 1+ 2nd round picks as well.
Is that enough? Can't really see what Houston can do to best that."