New York rejects Denver's asking price for Carmelo

[JSD]

That asking price is too high. NY needs enough leftover to net Chris Paul. My feeling is, Walsh wants CP and Anthony this season before the deadline.

No way they get both of those guys before the offseason. They don't have the chips to do it.

Curry, Chandler and 2 first rounders for Melo is better than nothing.

Even if Denver bit on that (which I don't think they would, due to Chandler being a restricted free agent), would New Orleans move CP3 for Felton and Gallinari?  I don't think that's a great return, and CP3 has more value since he's not a free agent until 2012.

I'm not saying Walsh is gonig to succeed, but I think that's his (in his mind) realistic goal.

I don't think CP3 this offseason is in his goals, I think he'll be trying to get CP3 next offseason. Until he's in his last year before his opt out, like Melo is now, New Orleans is not going to trade him.

Especially when they look to be a solid playoff team at the moment.

I was saying this deadline...

If he's not holding assets to pull off another major trade this season, then he should do this deal.

[Vermont Green]

I guesss I am in the minority that it seems to me they are really close to a deal here.  If NY gives up Gallinari and a first, plus 2 of Felton, Chandler, Fields they should take Melo and Billups.  They become a really good team.

They could wait and just sign Melo but there are risks.  I think it is mostly just posturing when Melo says he is thinking about signing with Denver but if there are radical changes possible to the CBA, he might just do it.

Sure, Billups is in his "twilight" but then they will be in perfect position to get Chris Paul after next season.  A big 3 of Melo, Billups, and Amare make them dark horses this year and out right contenders for a title next year.  Then if Billups retires and the get Paul, they could run off multiple titles.

[Fafnir]

That asking price is too high. NY needs enough leftover to net Chris Paul. My feeling is, Walsh wants CP and Anthony this season before the deadline.

No way they get both of those guys before the offseason. They don't have the chips to do it.

Curry, Chandler and 2 first rounders for Melo is better than nothing.

Even if Denver bit on that (which I don't think they would, due to Chandler being a restricted free agent), would New Orleans move CP3 for Felton and Gallinari?  I don't think that's a great return, and CP3 has more value since he's not a free agent until 2012.

I'm not saying Walsh is gonig to succeed, but I think that's his (in his mind) realistic goal.

I don't think CP3 this offseason is in his goals, I think he'll be trying to get CP3 next offseason. Until he's in his last year before his opt out, like Melo is now, New Orleans is not going to trade him.

Especially when they look to be a solid playoff team at the moment.

I was saying this deadline...

If he's not holding assets to pull off another major trade this season, then he should do this deal.

I understand what you were saying, I was just giving my thoughts that he's looking at another major deal next year. Thus trying to perserve some assets to play with Melo, and then potentially make a second trade down the road.

[JSD]

That asking price is too high. NY needs enough leftover to net Chris Paul. My feeling is, Walsh wants CP and Anthony this season before the deadline.

No way they get both of those guys before the offseason. They don't have the chips to do it.

Curry, Chandler and 2 first rounders for Melo is better than nothing.

Even if Denver bit on that (which I don't think they would, due to Chandler being a restricted free agent), would New Orleans move CP3 for Felton and Gallinari?  I don't think that's a great return, and CP3 has more value since he's not a free agent until 2012.

I'm not saying Walsh is gonig to succeed, but I think that's his (in his mind) realistic goal.

I don't think CP3 this offseason is in his goals, I think he'll be trying to get CP3 next offseason. Until he's in his last year before his opt out, like Melo is now, New Orleans is not going to trade him.

Especially when they look to be a solid playoff team at the moment.

I was saying this deadline...

If he's not holding assets to pull off another major trade this season, then he should do this deal.

I understand what you were saying, I was just giving my thoughts that he's looking at another major deal next year. Thus trying to perserve some assets to play with Melo, and then potentially make a second trade down the road.

Yeah, that makes sense. I think he's running too big a risk though.

[rondohondo]

Carmelo has done everything in his power to be on the Knicks THIS year and right now.

He wants to be in NY and have his 65$ ext.  He has held up his end of the deal...now it is NY turn stop holding on to these role players who can be replaced cheaper and get the top of the line talent in Carmelo.

The Knicks camp think he will just sign here anyways we can wait.  Lets play hardball.

Umm if the deal doesnt go down...mark my words Melo will be angry will take his "talents" elsewhere if you watch him walk and you end up with nothing just because you wanted to hold on to a few scrubs...

TP completely agree. It's like if the c's refused to give up al jefferson for KG or the #5 pick(Jeff Green) for Ray Allen.

The only difference is Melo is just entering his prime!

NYK are moronic if they don't get this deal done.

[Who]

I don't see the value in Chauncey Billups for NY. He is too old.

NY would still need to make further additions to their squad to be a title contender after this trade ... and Chauncey simply won't be an elite player for long enough to give them a long enough window at a title.

[Fafnir]

Carmelo has done everything in his power to be on the Knicks THIS year and right now.

He wants to be in NY and have his 65$ ext.  He has held up his end of the deal...now it is NY turn stop holding on to these role players who can be replaced cheaper and get the top of the line talent in Carmelo.

The Knicks camp think he will just sign here anyways we can wait.  Lets play hardball.

Umm if the deal doesnt go down...mark my words Melo will be angry will take his "talents" elsewhere if you watch him walk and you end up with nothing just because you wanted to hold on to a few scrubs...

TP completely agree. It's like if the c's refused to give up al jefferson for KG or the #5 pick(Jeff Green) for Ray Allen.

The only difference is Melo is just entering his prime!

NYK are moronic if they don't get this deal done.

They also refused to give up Rondo in both of those deals. Both Seattle and Minnesota wanted Rondo, and Danny repeatedly said no deal if Rondo had to go.

Where would the C's be right now if we didn't have Rondo? You may say none of the guys the Knicks have are Rondo, but then again Rondo wasn't the player he is now back then either.

[Who]

Can Billups run the D'antoni offense?

No, he can't.

Billups doesn't even push the tempo enough for George Karl's liking ... nevermind D'Antoni.

[rondohondo]

I don't see the value in Chauncey Billups for NY. He is too old.

NY would still need to make further additions to their squad to be a title contender after this trade ... and Chauncey simply won't be an elite player for long enough to give them a long enough window at a title.

He is only under contract until 2012, the same year chris paul and deron williams could be free agents.

They would be able to offer either of those guys a max contract.

[Roy H.]

I think I would pull the trigger on this one.  As I see it:

Chauncey and Billups aren't much different.  Billups is older, but he's a better shooter, and is a good passer.  With Carmelo there, the ball won't be in a point guard's hands quite as much, anyway.  Plus, Chauncey will have an expiring deal right before 2012, setting New York up well for CP3 or Deron (or potentially Howard).

The #1 picks aren't worth a whole heck of a lot, since they'll presumably be somewhere after 20th in the draft.  Not a huge sacrifice there.

Wilson Chandler is a restricted free agent.  They're not going to be able to sign him and sign Carmelo, so I don't see him as a major asset.

When you look at it that way, the only legitimate asset you're giving up for Carmelo is Gallinari.  That's a fair swap, I'd say, especially since the team will have to say goodbye to Gallinari if they hope to sign a 2012 free agent.

Of course, NY should wait this out a bit to see if Denver caves at all, but if this is the bottom line, I would pull the trigger without any hesitation.

[Fafnir]

I don't see the value in Chauncey Billups for NY. He is too old.

NY would still need to make further additions to their squad to be a title contender after this trade ... and Chauncey simply won't be an elite player for long enough to give them a long enough window at a title.

He is only under contract until 2012, the same year chris paul and deron williams could be free agents.

They would be able to offer either of those guys a max contract.

No they won't, they'll have Amar'e and Melo under max deals at that point right?

They won't have cap room to get another max level FA.

[Who]

Not too sure I believe that report from Frank Isola.

I think Denver are asking for Danilo Gallinari + Wilson Chandler as a starting point for Carmelo Anthony. I don't think they are ready to accept Fields as a replacement for one of those guys ... not yet.

If they were willing to accept Fields (Gallo or Wilson + Fields + Randolph or a first + E.Curry), I think NY's owner would have ignored Donnie Walsh's advice and pushed this trade through by now.

[rondohondo]

Carmelo has done everything in his power to be on the Knicks THIS year and right now.

He wants to be in NY and have his 65$ ext.  He has held up his end of the deal...now it is NY turn stop holding on to these role players who can be replaced cheaper and get the top of the line talent in Carmelo.

The Knicks camp think he will just sign here anyways we can wait.  Lets play hardball.

Umm if the deal doesnt go down...mark my words Melo will be angry will take his "talents" elsewhere if you watch him walk and you end up with nothing just because you wanted to hold on to a few scrubs...

TP completely agree. It's like if the c's refused to give up al jefferson for KG or the #5 pick(Jeff Green) for Ray Allen.

The only difference is Melo is just entering his prime!

NYK are moronic if they don't get this deal done.

They also refused to give up Rondo in both of those deals. Both Seattle and Minnesota wanted Rondo, and Danny repeatedly said no deal if Rondo had to go.

Where would the C's be right now if we didn't have Rondo? You may say none of the guys the Knicks have are Rondo, but then again Rondo wasn't the player he is now back then either.

If KG was in his prime Danny would have given up Rondo. If the C's had a young KG they would have years to build around him, just like NY can with Melo

Melo is 26 years old and a top 10 player .

Plus they will still have cap space to offer a max contract in 2012.

[Roy H.]

I don't see the value in Chauncey Billups for NY. He is too old.

NY would still need to make further additions to their squad to be a title contender after this trade ... and Chauncey simply won't be an elite player for long enough to give them a long enough window at a title.

He is only under contract until 2012, the same year chris paul and deron williams could be free agents.

They would be able to offer either of those guys a max contract.

No they won't, they'll have Amar'e and Melo under max deals at that point right?

They won't have cap room to get another max level FA.

It depends.  Amare's salary would be around $20 million, Carmelo's will probably be similar.  Let's assume the cap is somewhere between $60 and $65 million.  Assuming that the Knicks clear the deck and don't add any contracts, they should be able to fit CP3 under their cap.  It leaves them with a three man roster, but it's a pretty dang good one that they could fill in using the MLE, draft picks, etc.

[Fafnir]

Carmelo has done everything in his power to be on the Knicks THIS year and right now.

He wants to be in NY and have his 65$ ext.  He has held up his end of the deal...now it is NY turn stop holding on to these role players who can be replaced cheaper and get the top of the line talent in Carmelo.

The Knicks camp think he will just sign here anyways we can wait.  Lets play hardball.

Umm if the deal doesnt go down...mark my words Melo will be angry will take his "talents" elsewhere if you watch him walk and you end up with nothing just because you wanted to hold on to a few scrubs...

TP completely agree. It's like if the c's refused to give up al jefferson for KG or the #5 pick(Jeff Green) for Ray Allen.

The only difference is Melo is just entering his prime!

NYK are moronic if they don't get this deal done.

They also refused to give up Rondo in both of those deals. Both Seattle and Minnesota wanted Rondo, and Danny repeatedly said no deal if Rondo had to go.

Where would the C's be right now if we didn't have Rondo? You may say none of the guys the Knicks have are Rondo, but then again Rondo wasn't the player he is now back then either.

If KG was in his prime Danny would have given up Rondo. If the C's had a young KG they would have years to build around him, just like NY can with Melo

Melo is 26 years old and a top 10 player .

Plus they will still have cap space to offer a max contract in 2012.

I'm not sure this is true honestly. You have to have talent around your stars to win in this league. Especially when Danny knew he had two motivated sellers in Seattle/Minnesota.

I will say that there is a world of difference between Carmelo and KG as players (assuming same age). One is an all-star level guy in his prime, the other was a perenial MVP caliber player.