Pierce for Anthony?

[byennie]

New York is a mess with Amare + Anthony, lots of talk how they are a bad combo. Trading for Pierce makes them better now (more of an all-around player, can play alongside Stoudemire), and gives them a lot more cap flexibility moving forward (and New York CAN make use of cap room). They get back a legitimate star before things get worse.

Boston gets a top-25 player with top-10 ability, 7 years younger than Pierce. Look at the situations 'Melo has been in: early unwinnable comparisons with LeBron, playing alongside Iverson, traded to New York with unrealistic expectations (Amare, Chandler and a gutted roster with no point guard trying to play in a D'Antoni offense). I'm not saying he's free of blame, but he's a hell of a "buy low" target.

Personally, I'd add draft picks to the deal on our side but obviously would rather not.

If we had Rondo, Anthony AND cap room, do we get Howard? That's a stud trio in their prime for the next 5+ years.

[PosImpos]

There are no words.

[pearljammer10]

Interesting. I dont think the knicks do that straight up at all and Pierce wouldnt be going there unless Dantoni is fired... Anthony gets a lot of crap but he is an incredible ball player. I think his game is very Pierce like so getting a guy who plays very similar to Pierce and is a heck of a lot younger is certainly something to give a lot of thought to....


However, Ive said it before and ill continue to say it. For me, pierce has to be a lifelong celtics no matter the deal.

[byennie]

There are no words.

Apparently there are - but considering I did provide the rationale, you could try either giving an intelligent response or resisting the temptation to condescendingly dismiss it. It's quite easy to find a way to shoot down ideas that aren't your own:

"Anthony is overpaid and a cancer, I would NEVER trade Pierce for him!"
"The Knicks would hang up and laugh for hours! Anthony is a top-10 player and Pierce is 34!"

There, covered both bases. If you're in the "Knicks would laugh" camp, it's worth pointing out that the Knicks are in desperate need of draft picks (after trading them away for Anthony) and the Celtics have 2 1st rounders plus JJJ (this year's pick).

[PosImpos]

There are no words.

Apparently there are - but considering I did provide the rationale, you could try either giving an intelligent response or resisting the temptation to condescendingly dismiss it. It's quite easy to find a way to shoot down ideas that aren't your own:

"Anthony is overpaid and a cancer, I would NEVER trade Pierce for him!"
"The Knicks would hang up and laugh for hours! Anthony is a top-10 player and Pierce is 34!"

There, covered both bases. If you're in the "Knicks would laugh" camp, it's worth pointing out that the Knicks are in desperate need of draft picks (after trading them away for Anthony) and the Celtics have 2 1st rounders plus JJJ (this year's pick).

Okay, I'll bite.

The Knicks traded away most of their team and a couple of picks in order to get Melo.  They're not going to trade him away to get a 34 year old player at the same position whose only advantage over Melo is his passing.

You'd have to offer Rondo and Pierce to the Knicks to even get them to think about it, and even then I doubt they'd bite.  Throwing in a couple of mid to late 1st round draft picks isn't going to even it out.

As much as the Knicks have struggled, Melo is still one of the best scorers in the league, and he's just entering his prime.

[byennie]

Okay, I'll bite.

The Knicks traded away most of their team and a couple of picks in order to get Melo.  They're not going to trade him away to get a 34 year old player at the same position whose only advantage over Melo is his passing.

You'd have to offer Rondo and Pierce to the Knicks to even get them to think about it, and even then I doubt they'd bite.  Throwing in a couple of mid to late 1st round draft picks isn't going to even it out.

As much as the Knicks have struggled, Melo is still one of the best scorers in the league, and he's just entering his prime.

Fair enough and NBA GMs probably don't work like this, but what the Knicks spent to get 'Melo are sunk costs. They made the Ricky Williams trade and lost. They have no chance of cap room AND are out 3 1st rounders between now and 2016.

Consider this - Stoudemire, Anthony and Chandler are paid more than LeBron, Wade and Bosh, and the Heat actually still own their draft picks. How could the Knicks ever hope to get past the Heat and contend for a title this decade if they don't move someone soon?

That said, I bet they ultimately find a taker for Stoudemire, but that's a LOT of money for bad uninsured knees...

[byennie]

For the sake of argument, suppose the package was this:

Pierce, JJJ, 2 1st rounders (2012), 1st rounder (2014)

I'm not sure I like that for the Cs personally, but don't you think the Knicks would have to consider erasing their cap mess and getting 4 more young players in the next 3 drafts?

Opinions may vary widely here, but I don't think a deal centered around Pierce for Anthony is that far-fetched.

[Corey]

Opinions may vary widely here, but I don't think a deal centered around Pierce for Anthony is that far-fetched.

Of course you dont, you're viewing it from the perspective of a Celtics fan.

[byennie]

Opinions may vary widely here, but I don't think a deal centered around Pierce for Anthony is that far-fetched.

Of course you dont, you're viewing it from the perspective of a Celtics fan.

Geez people, it's getting awfully hard to have fun with trade scenarios around here. The condescension level is deafening.

[chambers]

Knicks would only move Melo for Lebron or Dwight.
I doubt they'd move him for Wade even.

Pierce for Carmelo would simply never happen, and the Knicks would laugh at us for trying.

They view Melo as their money guy for another 7-8 years.

They would possibly move Stoudemire, but none of these guys (Melo, Stat, Chandler) are being moved before Dantoni is fired.
He'll be the first to go.
They'll give these guys 3 years at least together.

They need a point guard somehow, don't know how they'll get one, but hopefully Baron can give them a few seasons of decent pick and roll and they'll be a playoff threat.

I understand where you are coming from with this idea but in all honesty Melo for Pierce is laughable from a Knicks perspective- after everything they've been through to get him.
They would need picks, additional role players etc for it to even make sense on paper- which means it wouldn't be Pierce for Melo any more, and then they'd shut it down after 2 minutes on the phone.
There's more chance of Dwight Howard coming to Boston than Pierce for Melo.

[Bankshot]

No.  Melo didn't make NY a better team, why would he make Boston any better than Pierce could?

[SHAQATTACK]

Mello is one of the greatest alltime "individual" players.  One on one is is in the top five players in the league . Celtic ball is team ball.

HE would screw up the whole team chemistry. Like he did at Denver and NY.

TO the average fan Mello is fun to watch and appears to make the team unbeatable or better. But on a team ball concept he clearly fails and makes a team worse.

I think we have learned his type of player , while being good enough to make a team a playoff team every year , can't carry a team to a Championship in the NBA.  (maybe college)

Mello would have to reinvent himself, or become a more intense deffensive player, intensive rebounder, let the game come to him instead of trying to force his shot /or will on every play.

Mello is the worst of his type of player,  Kobe is the best...with better passing, and overall play .

Mello would be good on the Bobcats ,Wizzards, Raptors, teams that need a clear direction or identity.

[greenpride32]

If NYK decide to break up Stat and Melo it will be Stat going out of town for sure.  I think they're willing to move Stat for the right piece (a CP3, D-Will, DH12 type player).  But more likely they'll have to wait to see if Nash can correct things next season.

[PosImpos]

For the sake of argument, suppose the package was this:

Pierce, JJJ, 2 1st rounders (2012), 1st rounder (2014)

I'm not sure I like that for the Cs personally, but don't you think the Knicks would have to consider erasing their cap mess and getting 4 more young players in the next 3 drafts?

Opinions may vary widely here, but I don't think a deal centered around Pierce for Anthony is that far-fetched.

Think about it from the perspective of Knicks ownership . . . how are you going to sell that to your fans?

If you traded Melo now, you'd get tarred and feathered and run out of town.

[Celts Fan 92]

Mello is one of the greatest alltime "individual" players.  One on one is is in the top five players in the league . Celtic ball is team ball.

HE would screw up the whole team chemistry. Like he did at Denver and NY.

TO the average fan Mello is fun to watch and appears to make the team unbeatable or better. But on a team ball concept he clearly fails and makes a team worse.

I think we have learned his type of player , while being good enough to make a team a playoff team every year , can't carry a team to a Championship in the NBA.  (maybe college)

Mello would have to reinvent himself, or become a more intense deffensive player, intensive rebounder, let the game come to him instead of trying to force his shot /or will on every play.

Mello is the worst of his type of player,  Kobe is the best...with better passing, and overall play .

Mello would be good on the Bobcats ,Wizzards, Raptors, teams that need a clear direction or identity.

I told my brotha this Melo is gonna be a career loser IMO cuz he's too selfish to sacrifice for a ring just a 20,000 point scorer wit no accolades or rings