If it wasn't clear the Melo really likes the Knicks and if the Knicks weren't the front runner in free agency, don't the Knicks absolutely make this trade? I mean it seems like a no brainer with the only hang up being the Knicks believe they will get Melo in the off season anyway. Given that, I don't see why you wouldn't make the trade. You have to trade for Melo if you are the Knicks. He would instantly be the best player on your team and you aren't winning the championship with the crap they have around Amare, but with Melo and Amare, you have a great start on building a title team.
Nah man they're asking for 3 starters and multiple first rounf picks melo is good but not good enough to gut your starting lineup. Since the knicks know he wants to be there they might as well wait until the summer to sign him while they hold on to the key pieces
3 crappy starters and they are getting 2 starters back. The Celtics traded 3 starters, 2 rotations players, and multiple first round picks (including the 5th pick in the draft) to get 2 starters back (Allen & Garnett) and the Celtics aren't looking back. You absolutely have to make that trade if you are the Knicks.
The C's traded only traded two starters, Big Al and West, right? (I know Telfair started as did Gomes, but Rondo started the second they stopped tanking and Gomes was in for Pierce who also was "sat" for losing reasons)
I think the situations are somewhat different though, in that the C's were getting two high level players back that matched the window of Pierce.
Chauncey isn't going to be a high level player for much longer, if he even is at all I have my doubts at this point.
Edit: yup the second we lost the toilet bowl with the Bucks Rondo stopped splitting time with Telfair lol.
I was basically calling Gomes a starter since he started 60 of the 73 games he played in. Jefferson started 60 of 69. West started 47 of 69. The trades also involved Wally who started 19 of 32, Green who started 26 of 81, and Telfair who started 30 of 78 (even Theo started both games he played). My basic point was, the Celtics unloaded a lot of their rotation (and much better draft picks then the Knicks would be getting rid of) in order to get 2 starters back.
And for the record, I believe the gap between Melo and Gallinari/Chandler far exceeds the gap between Garnett and Jefferson/Gomes. Allen was clearly better then West and Green (#5 pick), so the C's came out ahead on that end more then the Knicks will with Chauncey and Felton, but you still have to make the trade.
Also, Melo is significantly younger then Garnett was and fits in perfectly with Amare's window. Billups is a stop gap, but so is Felton, so they don't lose much on that end and Billups has far more experience then Felton and that can make a difference in a playoff series.
I'll agree with you that I think this is a ploy by the Knicks to get the Nuggets to lower their demands, I just don't think it will work (look what denver did with the new jersey stuff, kept coming back for more and more, not less) and could easily back fire on the Knicks. The Knicks have to make a trade for Melo. They can't let him get away when they can have him.