Melo Close to Extension and Ainge Shopping 19

[Andy Jick]

I remember when Larry and Magic sat down for an interview with LeBron and Melo... The NBA wanted everyone to believe that this was the next "rivalry."  I wondered how Larry, who is a very intelligent guy, sat there with a straight face...

Melo's really led the way, huh? 

[Chris]

He should be neck and neck with Lebron and Kobe as the best player in the league, if not above them. 

Whaaaat?  How do you figure? 

I agree he is one of the more talented players in the league.  But if you're gonna say he should be neck and neck with those two, then you could make a similar argument for many, MANY other players in the NBA.

He is simply not as good as those two and it has to do with a lot more than just work ethic.

So you don't think he has the physical ability to be a great rebounder and defender?  Because if he was, he would be right up there with those other guys. 

he's already a solid rebounder - he averaged just under 7 a game last season.
But could he be better than Lebron? No.
LBJ is a legit triple double threat everytime he steps on a court. In a few seasons, I wouldn't be shocked if he came close to averaging a triple double for an entire season. Melo is good, but not that kind of player.

People need to curb their expectations of some of these guys. Stop focusing on Melo should be and focus on what he is, and truth is if he was on the Celts he would easily be the best player on this team. And yes, we would be in championship contention.

I don't get how anyone can not see how adding Melo to this lineup, with Rondo at the point isn't a fantastic idea.

Well, to me, the fact that he has not maxed out his talent tells me that he is not someone I want to rely on to lead the team to a championship. 

I look at guys like Pierce, and Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade, and I see guys who put their hearts and sole into winning, and do everything they can to make themselves better.  I just don't see that from Melo.  I see a guy perfectly happy with what he is.  And that doesn't mean he is a bad player, but its not someone I will cry about not having on the C's.

[jambr380]

Beggars can't be choosers. Melo may not be the 'best' player in the NBA, but he is pretty awesome and we are only a couple of years away from playing the lottery again. I don't see any way we actually acquire Melo, but I would trade everyone not named Rondo to get someone of his talent level.

[xmuscularghandix]

Danny is just seeing what he can get for it.

The same way he was “shopping Rondo” last year. You have to know what the league value is for your pieces.

[jr_3421]

Melo is a winner plain and simple. People forget that before he left for the NBA, he led Syracuse to a national title as a freshman. Durant, Rose and countless others have tried and failed at doing the same. In his first season with the Nuggets, he led a mediocre team into the playoffs. On top of this, he is always in the top 3 in last second shot percentage placing him with the top clutch shooters in the game today. To say he hasn't got the most out of his talent is absurd. If Lebron James had the same scoring mentality, he would be averaging 50 points per game. In short, Melo is a stud.

[Ed Teach]

Melo reminds me alot of a younger Paul Pierce.  He has the same kind of offensive game, he can score from anywhere on the court.  He has the ability to get to the FT line, shoot the three, and drive to the rim.  He has yet to play defense at a playoff level, but I am not convinced that he can't.  Defense is just not stressed by the Nuggets.  I also think that this year Denver showed signs of getting over the hump, but George Karl's being absent really hurt this team during their playoff run. 

[RJ87]

He should be neck and neck with Lebron and Kobe as the best player in the league, if not above them. 

Whaaaat?  How do you figure? 

I agree he is one of the more talented players in the league.  But if you're gonna say he should be neck and neck with those two, then you could make a similar argument for many, MANY other players in the NBA.

He is simply not as good as those two and it has to do with a lot more than just work ethic.

So you don't think he has the physical ability to be a great rebounder and defender?  Because if he was, he would be right up there with those other guys. 

he's already a solid rebounder - he averaged just under 7 a game last season.
But could he be better than Lebron? No.
LBJ is a legit triple double threat everytime he steps on a court. In a few seasons, I wouldn't be shocked if he came close to averaging a triple double for an entire season. Melo is good, but not that kind of player.

People need to curb their expectations of some of these guys. Stop focusing on Melo should be and focus on what he is, and truth is if he was on the Celts he would easily be the best player on this team. And yes, we would be in championship contention.

I don't get how anyone can not see how adding Melo to this lineup, with Rondo at the point isn't a fantastic idea.

Well, to me, the fact that he has not maxed out his talent tells me that he is not someone I want to rely on to lead the team to a championship. 

I look at guys like Pierce, and Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade, and I see guys who put their hearts and sole into winning, and do everything they can to make themselves better.  I just don't see that from Melo.  I see a guy perfectly happy with what he is.  And that doesn't mean he is a bad player, but its not someone I will cry about not having on the C's.

Funny thing is, Pierce had similar questions of surrounding him early in his career... Paul wasn't always the leader he is now.

[Q_FBE]

I guess I consider Melo a Silver Medal Player - not bad but may not be the primary option on Championship teams.

A Gold medal player is someone like Kobe Bryant (VOMIT)  

or in his day Tim Duncan (still peeved about the 1997 lottery)

or in the future Lebron James and Kevin Durant (Getting more and more peeved everyday about the 2007 lottery).

Sometimes you can win with Three Silver Medalists that complement each other to offset the effects of the Gold Medal player (2008) but you must execute the fundamentals of rebounding and taking care of the ball (2010).

On shopping #19, is Ainge looking to move up, move down, or move out of this draft? That is an indicator of his approach to rebuilding or reloading this summer. I don't see any difference makers in this draft.

[Chris]

He should be neck and neck with Lebron and Kobe as the best player in the league, if not above them. 

Whaaaat?  How do you figure? 

I agree he is one of the more talented players in the league.  But if you're gonna say he should be neck and neck with those two, then you could make a similar argument for many, MANY other players in the NBA.

He is simply not as good as those two and it has to do with a lot more than just work ethic.

So you don't think he has the physical ability to be a great rebounder and defender?  Because if he was, he would be right up there with those other guys. 

he's already a solid rebounder - he averaged just under 7 a game last season.
But could he be better than Lebron? No.
LBJ is a legit triple double threat everytime he steps on a court. In a few seasons, I wouldn't be shocked if he came close to averaging a triple double for an entire season. Melo is good, but not that kind of player.

People need to curb their expectations of some of these guys. Stop focusing on Melo should be and focus on what he is, and truth is if he was on the Celts he would easily be the best player on this team. And yes, we would be in championship contention.

I don't get how anyone can not see how adding Melo to this lineup, with Rondo at the point isn't a fantastic idea.

Well, to me, the fact that he has not maxed out his talent tells me that he is not someone I want to rely on to lead the team to a championship. 

I look at guys like Pierce, and Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade, and I see guys who put their hearts and sole into winning, and do everything they can to make themselves better.  I just don't see that from Melo.  I see a guy perfectly happy with what he is.  And that doesn't mean he is a bad player, but its not someone I will cry about not having on the C's.

Funny thing is, Pierce had similar questions of surrounding him early in his career... Paul wasn't always the leader he is now.

Well, it was closer to the middle of his career (everyone loved him during the Antoine days, but then he fell off after Toine left), but it is a good point.  However, I wouldn't have been clambering to get Pierce at that point either. 

I think Pierce and Melo are very similar.  I think Pierce works on his game more, but in general, they both are very talented, but also have some dog in them.  If you surround them by the right guys, then they can absolutely be a second banana on a championship team.  But I don't think either are true, franchise changers.