Rockets to make big push for Carmelo Anthony this summer

[KG_ended_Bias]

Why wouldn't we cut Houston out the equation for our Trade Exception & really get to work on the Lakers? Maybe we could take back 1 of their bad contracts they have left (Steve Nash) or whomever is left & try to pry their 2014 which will be top 5-6 for cap space from our Trade Exception & the Clippers 1st to help them land Carmelo? I think that makes more sense then just taking back a Jeremy Lin or Asik who I believe wouldn't help us much at all. Asik will a tad bit, but Lin I want no part of! 2 top 5 picks would be a tremendous rebuild on the fly!

[Lucky17]

Why wouldn't we cut Houston out the equation for our Trade Exception & really get to work on the Lakers? Maybe we could take back 1 of their bad contracts they have left (Steve Nash) or whomever is left & try to pry their 2014 which will be top 5-6 for cap space from our Trade Exception & the Clippers 1st to help them land Carmelo? I think that makes more sense then just taking back a Jeremy Lin or Asik who I believe wouldn't help us much at all. Asik will a tad bit, but Lin I want no part of!

I don't see how the Lakers would be willing to sacrifice a top 5-6 pick to dump Nash's expiring contract. They could simply use the stretch provision on it if they were that keen on freeing up cap space.

[KG_ended_Bias]

Why wouldn't we cut Houston out the equation for our Trade Exception & really get to work on the Lakers? Maybe we could take back 1 of their bad contracts they have left (Steve Nash) or whomever is left & try to pry their 2014 which will be top 5-6 for cap space from our Trade Exception & the Clippers 1st to help them land Carmelo? I think that makes more sense then just taking back a Jeremy Lin or Asik who I believe wouldn't help us much at all. Asik will a tad bit, but Lin I want no part of!

I don't see how the Lakers would be willing to sacrifice a top 5-6 pick to dump Nash's expiring contract. They could simply use the stretch provision on it if they were that keen on freeing up cap space.

I believe they would! They would still get our 2014 Clipper pick so they don't lose a 1st they just lose a couple of slots. But it could guarantee they could pay Memo what he wants instead of asking him to take a huge pay cut. And it also helps them acquire a 3rd banana to pair with Memo & Kobe.

[pearljammer10]

A trio of Harden, Melo, Howard would be pretty lethal. That is scary to think about if they all could get on the same page and were able to click the chemistry in gear.

[D.o.s.]

Why wouldn't we cut Houston out the equation for our Trade Exception & really get to work on the Lakers? Maybe we could take back 1 of their bad contracts they have left (Steve Nash) or whomever is left & try to pry their 2014 which will be top 5-6 for cap space from our Trade Exception & the Clippers 1st to help them land Carmelo? I think that makes more sense then just taking back a Jeremy Lin or Asik who I believe wouldn't help us much at all. Asik will a tad bit, but Lin I want no part of!

I don't see how the Lakers would be willing to sacrifice a top 5-6 pick to dump Nash's expiring contract. They could simply use the stretch provision on it if they were that keen on freeing up cap space.

I believe they would! They would still get our 2014 Clipper pick so they don't lose a 1st they just lose a couple of slots. But it could guarantee they could pay Memo what he wants instead of asking him to take a huge pay cut. And it also helps them acquire a 3rd banana to pair with Memo & Kobe.

Lakers are waiting 'til 2015 to make a free agent splash. No way they get rid of Nash this season (or their 2014 pick).

Of course, if Carmelo calls Kobe and is like "yo I'm signing with you guys keep it on the DL" that changes, but I doubt that happens.

[KGs Knee]

A trio of Harden, Melo, Howard would be pretty lethal. That is scary to think about if they all could get on the same page and were able to click the chemistry in gear.

It's crazy amount of talent. I love the idea of pairing Howard and Melo.

Not thrilled about Harden and Melo together though. Both players can be 'ball-stoppers'. Which one relents to the other? And how do you then also find enough shots for Dwight?

It's worked for Miami because Lebron is an excellent PG. Harden isn't on that level as a playmaker. Would Dwight and Melo both be willing to sacrifice to touches as Bosh and Wade have?

Melo is getting close to the age Pierce was when he had to make the decision to sacrifice touches on offense. I wonder if Melo is ready to yet?

[Monkhouse]

A trio of Harden, Melo, Howard would be pretty lethal. That is scary to think about if they all could get on the same page and were able to click the chemistry in gear.

It's crazy amount of talent. I love the idea of pairing Howard and Melo.

Not thrilled about Harden and Melo together though. Both players can be 'ball-stoppers'. Which one relents to the other? And how do you then also find enough shots for Dwight?

It's worked for Miami because Lebron is an excellent PG. Harden isn't on that level as a playmaker. Would Dwight and Melo both be willing to sacrifice to touches as Bosh and Wade have?

Melo is getting close to the age Pierce was when he had to make the decision to sacrifice touches on offense. I wonder if Melo is ready to yet?

I'm just not seeing that big of an upgrade with Carmelo..

I never saw offense as a problem with the Rockets except for the game vs the Bulls last night... Its defense... Durant had a field day on Chandler Parsons, and Melo isn't a better defender than Parsons. Yes his defense at PF is pretty good, top 15th in the league, but why put him at PF? Hes not going to be traded to the Rockets unless they offer Parsons, which I'm sure the Knicks will want.

The reason why the Big 3 worked in Heat, Celtics, and Lakers is that all 3 of the players are good defenders, as well as scorers... I don't see Harden/Melo being good defenders. Yes both can hustle and play good defense when it counts, but defensively they aren't as strong as most Big 3.

Kobe/Wade/LBJ/Garnett/Pierce/Rondo were all great defenders, and great at play making.

[manl_lui]

looks great on paper, but Harden and Melo are so ball dominant I am not sure if that will work. Also, if he comes, who then becomes first option? Melo or Harden? Will Dwight be happy being shifted to 3rd option?

[Monkhouse]

looks great on paper, but Harden and Melo are so ball dominant I am not sure if that will work. Also, if he comes, who then becomes first option? Melo or Harden? Will Dwight be happy being shifted to 3rd option?

As far as I'm concerned, this has and always will be Harden's team.

Howard has been getting 4.7 less touches, and adding Melo who can't create for others will make it even harder for ball movement to occur... The Rockets need to add a great defensive point guard that is a solid play maker. Barkley was saying Rondo would've been the best piece, and could've helped them contend for at least 5-6 years which I agreed with.

But I sure as heck ain't giving them Rondo!

[RJ87]

looks great on paper, but Harden and Melo are so ball dominant I am not sure if that will work. Also, if he comes, who then becomes first option? Melo or Harden? Will Dwight be happy being shifted to 3rd option?

James Harden played with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Carmelo played with Allen Iverson and later, Chauncey Billups. I think the ball-dominant thing gets overblown with both of them.  I think they've both shown they can play with other scorers - Harden in particular is an underrated facilitator. I think a trio of Harden/Dwight/Melo would be scarily potent.

Now lets sign&trade them Avery + Bogans + filler for Asik. AB can play point next to Harden; doesn't have to handle the ball and can reek havoc on opposing PG's.

[D.o.s.]

My small-ball fetishism is giddy thinking about a Beverly Lin Harden Melo Howard lineup.

[#1P4P]

Is there any way that the Rockets can trade away enough salary to just sign him outright?

Hard to do as you have to eat salary back anyways.  A sign and trade makes more sense.

If the rockets and knicks dont get past the 2nd round of the playoffs and jackson does not want melo as the face of the team moving fwd this trade makes sense.

The trade that could happen

To rockets: melo(singed), stoudermire
To nyk: parsons(signed), asik, lin, t jones, 2014 and 2016 1sts

I think Morey would decline this trade proposal.

The Rockets desire Melo, but not if they're not going to get abused in the process.

2 of the assets (Parsons, Jones, 2014, 2016) in the proposed trade would have to be rescinded if Amar'e were included in the deal. If it's just Melo and an expiring (that is just enough to complete the transaction (not Amar'e's $23M+)), NY would be able to negotiate for everything except 1 of the assets. The Rockets are going to try to negotiate hard to exclude Parsons or Jones in the deal.

Safe to say... The Rockets would be a prolific offensive team if they got Melo especially if they didn't have to part with Parsons or Jones.

[Moranis]

Woj has said the Bulls and Rockets are the frontrunners for Anthony.

If he does go to Houston, I wonder if Boston could be a third team and either absorb Asik into the TPE (for a pick or something) or maybe trade Green to NY and take Asik from Houston in a three team trade.