Nets trying to acquire Rip Hamilton, Billups and Melo in a 3 way deal ( rumor )

[StartOrien]

I only like this trade for the Nets if they stay disciplined for free agency in 2012. Excercise Billups' option in the off-season and spend the next two years trying to figure a good way to get out of Travis Outlaw's contract.

[Snakehead]

I only like this trade for the Nets if they stay disciplined for free agency in 2012. Excercise Billups' option in the off-season and spend the next two years trying to figure a good way to get out of Travis Outlaw's contract.

Agreed on Outlaw.  They need to be rid of that contract and strike big in Free Agency if this makes any sense.

If they miss in FA in 2012 they will just be mediocre for a while.  They will have lost all their ability to build young talent so the stakes are high.

Not sure how I feel about this trade for them, what with the age and questions surrounding Rip and Billups.  Those two make sense for a team close to contention, but New Jersey isn't that even after the trade.

[StartOrien]

If they stayed disciplined, I don't see how they could possibly lose in 2012* - Melo, Lopez and Brooklyn is a pretty attractive offer

*Unless the world has already ended, which would be really poor timing for Nets fans.

[nba is the worst]

The deal is great for Denver, but bad for the Pistons and Nets, and therefore, Anthony.

Everything he's said previously indicates that he doesn't want to go to "the Clippers of NY".

Why would he change his mind now - is there that much pressure from LaLa?

[Snakehead]

The deal is great for Denver, but bad for the Pistons and Nets, and therefore, Anthony.

Everything he's said previously indicates that he doesn't want to go to "the Clippers of NY".

Why would he change his mind now - is there that much pressure from LaLa?

The possibility of aquiring a big free agent in the years ahead, which is a good possibility if they play in Brooklyn and have a few good pieces.  A lot of big FA's in the next couple seasons, including Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, could possibly go there.



I think Melo might change his mind since:

A) The Knicks seem to have really solidified their hitching to the Amare wagon and he seems to have gone from the "we need a big three" stance of adding free agents to "I want to be the man", which is funny to me because although they are good and can be one of the better teams in the East with their young talent, the Knicks as currently composed are never going to be title contenders.  When Amare has been questioned about Melo recently he's cooled off a lot about it, sounds like they will stick with their roster

B) How strange things are in Denver now.  The team has just been waiting for this trade to happen and things are weird on the floor with the team itself and he even got booed at home yesteday. And you can see it in his play, he hasn't been playing well.  Not saying this is a smart move, but he might make the move just to get it over with.  And I guess the extension follows from there.  If he wants the most money he should strike now before the CBA.



If they clean house like this and move to Brooklyn and prove themselves owner wise, I think they could lure a big free agent or two.  I still think that Avery Johnson is the wrong coach but maybe stars will want to play for him.  Either way they will be maybe the best Free Agent destination since a lot of teams filled up this last offseason and the only other teams with cap room might be really unattractive places to go play.

[Fafnir]

If they stayed disciplined, I don't see how they could possibly lose in 2012* - Melo, Lopez and Brooklyn is a pretty attractive offer

*Unless the world has already ended, which would be really poor timing for Nets fans.

Assuming Lopez recovers, he's been atricious this year.

[StartOrien]

Even if he stays stagnant - and I don't think that'll happen - he's still an above average starter you can pencil in at center. Something that a great deal of other teams can't do.

[Snakehead]

If they stayed disciplined, I don't see how they could possibly lose in 2012* - Melo, Lopez and Brooklyn is a pretty attractive offer

*Unless the world has already ended, which would be really poor timing for Nets fans.

Assuming Lopez recovers, he's been atricious this year.

Atrocious is a little much.  He's had some really bad games that is for sure, but he's also had some good ones too.

Whatever happens, I'm sure being rid of these trade distractions and adding a player like Melo who slides defensive pressure away from you (and Lopez has to be the focus of every defense) and gives your team hope they have not had for years has to help Lopez.

[Snakehead]

Interesting piece on this possible trade up by Chris Sheridan.  I liked this part:

Question No. 3: What do the Knicks think of all this?

They are best described as flabbergasted, for the following reasons: The know they are Anthony's preferred destination, and they are flummoxed by the notion that Anthony would give up all his leverage in early January with the trade deadline still six weeks away, postulating that the fatigue from all the drama and the pressure from those in Anthony's camp may have worn him down. They also are perplexed as to why Anthony's representatives are pushing for a trade to a destination where their client does not want to go.


Question No. 4: Why would Rose and Wesley push for a trade to the Nets when the Knicks are their client's preferred destination?

Good question, and there is no clear answer. But here is something to consider: Anthony signed his current contract when he was represented by BDA Sports, which continues to collect a commission on Anthony's salary, meaning CAA (Rose and Wesley's agency) has not made a dime off Anthony's salary since wooing him to join their megastar client list, which includes LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Chris Paul. If Anthony agrees to the New Jersey trade and signs his extension, he becomes a revenue producer for CAA (the industry standard is for agents to collect 4 percent of their client's salary).

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/1917/five-pending-melo-to-nets-questions


It'll be interesting to see if the Knicks come back in this because of all the talk of Amare as "the man" and keeping their young players.  Like I said before, a team with Amare as your lone star can be quite good but will never contend.

[Fafnir]

If they stayed disciplined, I don't see how they could possibly lose in 2012* - Melo, Lopez and Brooklyn is a pretty attractive offer

*Unless the world has already ended, which would be really poor timing for Nets fans.

Assuming Lopez recovers, he's been atricious this year.

Atrocious is a little much.  He's had some really bad games that is for sure, but he's also had some good ones too.

Whatever happens, I'm sure being rid of these trade distractions and adding a player like Melo who slides defensive pressure away from you (and Lopez has to be the focus of every defense) and gives your team hope they have not had for years has to help Lopez.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=iMLcX

He's playing at a similar level to Glen Davis. Your franchise Center cannot play at a level similar to backup PF/C. Its beyond inconsistency he's just playing like crap.

[Snakehead]

If they stayed disciplined, I don't see how they could possibly lose in 2012* - Melo, Lopez and Brooklyn is a pretty attractive offer

*Unless the world has already ended, which would be really poor timing for Nets fans.

Assuming Lopez recovers, he's been atricious this year.

Atrocious is a little much.  He's had some really bad games that is for sure, but he's also had some good ones too.

Whatever happens, I'm sure being rid of these trade distractions and adding a player like Melo who slides defensive pressure away from you (and Lopez has to be the focus of every defense) and gives your team hope they have not had for years has to help Lopez.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=iMLcX

He's playing at a similar level to Glen Davis. Your franchise Center cannot play at a level similar to backup PF/C. Its beyond inconsistency he's just playing like crap.

I'm well aware of his play, "atrocious" is Patrick O'Bryant.  He is not "atrocious". 

And it is inconsistent with him being the one of the best young posts in the NBA previously.  He's had a few games where he has looked like he did last year so it is inconstent past this season.

[Fafnir]

If they stayed disciplined, I don't see how they could possibly lose in 2012* - Melo, Lopez and Brooklyn is a pretty attractive offer

*Unless the world has already ended, which would be really poor timing for Nets fans.

Assuming Lopez recovers, he's been atricious this year.

Atrocious is a little much.  He's had some really bad games that is for sure, but he's also had some good ones too.

Whatever happens, I'm sure being rid of these trade distractions and adding a player like Melo who slides defensive pressure away from you (and Lopez has to be the focus of every defense) and gives your team hope they have not had for years has to help Lopez.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=iMLcX

He's playing at a similar level to Glen Davis. Your franchise Center cannot play at a level similar to backup PF/C. Its beyond inconsistency he's just playing like crap.

I'm well aware of his play, "atrocious" is Patrick O'Bryant.  He is not "atrocious".  

And it is inconsistent with him being the one of the best young posts in the NBA.  He's had a few games where he seems to still have it.

Okay so you disagree with my choice of words, but any way you phrase it he's played poorly. Currently he's producing at the level of Glen Davis, how is that going to attract a FA? He's not supposed to be a 6th man or a fill in starter level guy, he's supposed to be a franchise level big man.

Why do you think he's one of the best posts in the league? I can't put him in that category because this year he's been allgeric to the paint. He's stopped rebounding, and stopped going to the block. Instead he's picking and popping and taking jump shots.

[Moranis]

I think NJ would be greatly improved with this trade and you can't really pass up a superstar (which melo is) when you can get one, but the more I think about the more I think NJ should just go with what they have or just try to improve without giving up Favors and all the draft picks.  They have 5 first rounders over the next two years and it appears that 2 this year are going to be in the lottery.  They are bound to get at least one good player out of the group.  If you start building around Lopez, Favors, and Harris, you might be able to attract a free agent or two to NJ even without Melo.  And it isn't like they couldn't just add a guy like Rip Hamilton and not give up anything of value (which is essentially what would happen in the 3 team trade).  If they just sit tight they can perhaps use just expiring contracts to improve the team greatly going forward and still keep all the young guys.

[Snakehead]

If they stayed disciplined, I don't see how they could possibly lose in 2012* - Melo, Lopez and Brooklyn is a pretty attractive offer

*Unless the world has already ended, which would be really poor timing for Nets fans.

Assuming Lopez recovers, he's been atricious this year.

Atrocious is a little much.  He's had some really bad games that is for sure, but he's also had some good ones too.

Whatever happens, I'm sure being rid of these trade distractions and adding a player like Melo who slides defensive pressure away from you (and Lopez has to be the focus of every defense) and gives your team hope they have not had for years has to help Lopez.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=iMLcX

He's playing at a similar level to Glen Davis. Your franchise Center cannot play at a level similar to backup PF/C. Its beyond inconsistency he's just playing like crap.

I'm well aware of his play, "atrocious" is Patrick O'Bryant.  He is not "atrocious". 

And it is inconsistent with him being the one of the best young posts in the NBA.  He's had a few games where he seems to still have it.

Okay so you disagree with my choice of words, but any way you phrase it he's played poorly. Currently he's producing at the level of Glen Davis, how is that going to attract a FA? He's not supposed to be a 6th man or a fill in starter level guy, he's supposed to be a franchise level big man.

Why do you think he's one of the best posts in the league? I can't put him in that category because this year he's been allgeric to the paint. He's stopped rebounding, and stopped going to the block. Instead he's picking and popping and taking jump shots.

Yeah he's played poorly but just not "atrocious".  On a forum using written words I have to just diagree with that word being used.  Not saying he has played well, but the guy has averaged 18 points, 6 boards, 1.5 blocks.  Not "atrocious".

I would not put him in that catagory of "best young posts" right now but I would have before his slide this season.  He was outstanding last year: 18.8 PPG, 2.3 AST, 8.7 RB, 1.7 BLK, almost 50 % FG and 80 % FT.  Those are strong numbers and I wouldn't throw him away as a player because he has struggled this year through 30 or so games.

He needs to focus more on getting back in the paint and hitting the glass instead of scoring, his only stat which has remained about the same this season.  Carmello will cettainly allow him to focus less on scoring.

I think he'll always be more of a finesse C and he's not going to become a banger or anything.  He can certainly rebound better than he is right now though, he's already proved that in his career.

Going forward NJ would be smart to have a physical PF to compliment him.  Sadly Favors would be perfect...

[indeedproceed]

If they stayed disciplined, I don't see how they could possibly lose in 2012* - Melo, Lopez and Brooklyn is a pretty attractive offer

*Unless the world has already ended, which would be really poor timing for Nets fans.

Assuming Lopez recovers, he's been atricious this year.

Atrocious is a little much.  He's had some really bad games that is for sure, but he's also had some good ones too.

Whatever happens, I'm sure being rid of these trade distractions and adding a player like Melo who slides defensive pressure away from you (and Lopez has to be the focus of every defense) and gives your team hope they have not had for years has to help Lopez.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=iMLcX

He's playing at a similar level to Glen Davis. Your franchise Center cannot play at a level similar to backup PF/C. Its beyond inconsistency he's just playing like crap.

I'm well aware of his play, "atrocious" is Patrick O'Bryant.  He is not "atrocious".  

And it is inconsistent with him being the one of the best young posts in the NBA.  He's had a few games where he seems to still have it.

Okay so you disagree with my choice of words, but any way you phrase it he's played poorly. Currently he's producing at the level of Glen Davis, how is that going to attract a FA? He's not supposed to be a 6th man or a fill in starter level guy, he's supposed to be a franchise level big man.

Why do you think he's one of the best posts in the league? I can't put him in that category because this year he's been allgeric to the paint. He's stopped rebounding, and stopped going to the block. Instead he's picking and popping and taking jump shots.

Brook Lopez is the most disappointing non-injured player for me this season, hands down.

1 double-double through 37 games played, at 34 minutes per game. He's about as strong a post presence as Tiny Archibald.