Pistons should go hard after Melo

[obnoxiousmime]

It would require giving up Monroe but when they signed Josh Smith they created a redundancy. I've done my share of Melo bashing but Detroit has a roster that could hide his deficiencies:

1 Brandon Jennings (offense, athleticism, 3 ability, distribution, drive skills)
2 Player X (preferably: ball defense, 3 ability. Other skills decent enough to keep Ds honest)
3 Carmelo Anthony (offense++, 3 ability, drive skills)
4 Josh Smith (boards, offense, athleticism, occasional 3)
5 Andre Drummond (defense, boards, athleticism)

This potential lineup would cover almost all the bases for me:

Great athleticism at 3, maybe 4 spots.
Offensive firepower with enough 3 pt. threats.
Peak age - All key players except Drummond in their prime.
Good enough defense provided they add a SG who can defend and make up for Jennings and Melo.
Elite Rebounding and rim protection from Smith and Drummond.

They would need a better bench (they do already have Will Bynum signed as a backup PG) but Miami's shown that's not so hard when guys are willing to take a discount to win.

Coaching could be an issue though. Maurice Cheeks? Meh.

To acquire a SG they could package one of their expirings (Jonas Jerebko would probably be involved at 4.5 million) with their 2014 first-rounder and deal it for some ok SG making 6-7 million.

It's not going to happen, but someone like Avery Bradley would be perfect since he plays D and can hit a corner 3. Someone more realistic might be Goran Dragic but he's not really a defense guy. Preferably they keep their mid-level for a backup big or other bench parts.

I think Melo is definitely opting out but there aren't a lot of great options in terms of teams with cap space:

Utah: Talent too young, unsexy location.
Philly: Talent too young, Hinkie likely not interested anyway.
Charlotte: Loser franchise, unsexy location, not enough talent.
Dallas: Not enough talent, Nowitzki too old.
Los Angeles: Talent there too old, will always be "Kobe's team." Gasol would have to take big pay cut to stay, or he could be gone.

The tricky part to this is:

1) Convincing the combustible Dolan to cooperate on a sign-and-trade to an Eastern rival when his star wants to leave. Ask Jeremy Lin about his experience when Dolan feels betrayed.

2) Convincing Monroe to collaborate and go to NYC.

The first task would probably be harder due to the unpredictable Dolan. The young Monroe would be hard to resist though.

The second task would be a little easier because Monroe could get a max extension and get to live in New York City. It's not definite that he's going to be getting a max offer in restricted free agency from another team, so just take billionaire Dolan's money. At age 23 he's not necessarily looking for a contender yet, just to secure his first big deal (this is an assumption on my part).

If there's another logical destination for Melo in a sign-and-trade, let me know. This one seems pretty solid. Of course they could also renounce Monroe outright and sign Melo as a free agent because they would have the cap space. Maybe there's a way to use that option to force the sign-and-trade on New York? I'm not sure how the timing works on renouncing your own RFAs.

The other more sneaky tactic would be to trade Monroe now for an expiring and a first-rounder, with a "wink wink" arrangement that Melo will opt out and sign as a FA. Then you get an extra first rounder to play with. Or, take a risk and do it without a secret agreement. It's not like Melo has a lot of better options.

Imagine the headline: "Dumars atones for Milicic pick and brings Melo to Detroit ten years later"

[guava_wrench]

Jennings + Melo + Smith would be hilarious. It would be an all-time trio for bad shot selection. That would be fun to watch in a guilty pleasure way.

If there was a team that I could see doing this, it is the Pistons led by Dumars. Would fit in well with the Gordon, Charlie V, and Jennings signings.

I do agree that Monroe is a good piece to get offer up. Is Detroit under the cap? If not, how would they make salaries match? Monroe may be good enough that any body might be acceptable consider Melo is a FA.

I don't think this would count as atonement because he would be paying Melo 20+ million. He won't be getting the level of value Melo brought earlier in his career on smaller contracts.

[fitzhickey]

I think Dumars would be ridiculed for bringing Melo there ten years later, but I think that a player like Iman Shumpert would fit well, possibly add him to any deal they make?

Not sure how Jennings, Melo and smith would fit together, be an entertaining team to watch no doubt. TP for the well thought out post.

[obnoxiousmime]

Jennings + Melo + Smith would be hilarious. It would be an all-time trio for bad shot selection. That would be fun to watch in a guilty pleasure way.

If there was a team that I could see doing this, it is the Pistons led by Dumars. Would fit in well with the Gordon, Charlie V, and Jennings signings.

I do agree that Monroe is a good piece to get offer up. Is Detroit under the cap? If not, how would they make salaries match? Monroe may be good enough that any body might be acceptable consider Melo is a FA.

I don't think this would count as atonement because he would be paying Melo 20+ million. He won't be getting the level of value Melo brought earlier in his career on smaller contracts.

They would have enough space if they don't re-sign Monroe.

According to Hoopshype: $41,729,712 (without Jerebko player option picked up)

Let's assume he picks it up, then they're at:
41,729,712 + 4,500,000 = 46,229,712

With an estimated cap of 62.1 million, that leaves slightly less than 16 million in space.

They could probably make some space by buying Jerebko out. If I'm correct the buyout counts against your cap, so depending on what Jerebko thinks he can get on the open market, they could save a couple million maybe? And they need some space for potential draft picks. Either way, Melo would be taking a discount from his current 20 million/year salary.

Anyway it's just a fun idea. I don't know if I'd definitely do it, but the Pistons aren't my team and I only care about an entertaining lineup. And I feel a little bad for Melo too.

Oh, and I was joking about the "atonement" thing.

[Onslaught]

I'm all for it because it keeps him from playing in Boston.

[guava_wrench]

Jennings + Melo + Smith would be hilarious. It would be an all-time trio for bad shot selection. That would be fun to watch in a guilty pleasure way.

If there was a team that I could see doing this, it is the Pistons led by Dumars. Would fit in well with the Gordon, Charlie V, and Jennings signings.

I do agree that Monroe is a good piece to get offer up. Is Detroit under the cap? If not, how would they make salaries match? Monroe may be good enough that any body might be acceptable consider Melo is a FA.

I don't think this would count as atonement because he would be paying Melo 20+ million. He won't be getting the level of value Melo brought earlier in his career on smaller contracts.

They would have enough space if they don't re-sign Monroe.

According to Hoopshype: $41,729,712 (without Jerebko player option picked up)

Let's assume he picks it up, then they're at:
41,729,712 + 4,500,000 = 46,229,712

With an estimated cap of 62.1 million, that leaves slightly less than 16 million in space.

They could probably make some space by buying Jerebko out. If I'm correct the buyout counts against your cap, so depending on what Jerebko thinks he can get on the open market, they could save a couple million maybe? And they need some space for potential draft picks. Either way, Melo would be taking a discount from his current 20 million/year salary.

Anyway it's just a fun idea. I don't know if I'd definitely do it, but the Pistons aren't my team and I only care about an entertaining lineup. And I feel a little bad for Melo too.

Oh, and I was joking about the "atonement" thing.

There is no way Melo signs for $16m. That would be a major pay cut. So a sign and trade or straight trade is the only way Melo moves. Think about it. Why would anyone take a pay cut to play with Smith and Jennings?

I would never feel bad for Melo since he makes his own bed with his play style.

[action781]

Carmelo, Chandler, Shumpert for Monroe, Caldwell-Pope, a ton of filler (Jerebko, Stuckey, Bynum, Villanueva) works in the trade machine.

Detroit would have a starting lineup of:

PG:  Jennings
SG:  Shumpert
SF:  Carmelo
PF:  Josh Smith
C:  Tyson Chandler

While Drummond may not be happy coming out of the starting lineup, he'd still get plenty of minutes behind Chandler (in an effort to preserve Chandler) and some minutes at PF as well.  Smith could play some SF when Carmelo is sitting.  Chauncey Billups could play the backup PG and SG minutes.  Worth noting that Chauncey has played well with Melo in the past.

Now the Knicks just traded away every asset they had, so coming back would have to be Monroe, Caldwell-Pope, a lot of expiring money in Villanueva and Stuckey, and also two future 1st round draft picks.  I think NYK would still say no to that although it might help them turn this mess around.

[Finkelskyhook]

Good enough defense provided they add a SG who can defend and make up for Jennings and Melo.


Since the snitchster plays no defense whatsoever...How would their defense be "good enough"?  Chandler is a good defender....But he's no Mutombo. 

[obnoxiousmime]

There is no way Melo signs for $16m. That would be a major pay cut. So a sign and trade or straight trade is the only way Melo moves. Think about it. Why would anyone take a pay cut to play with Smith and Jennings?

I would never feel bad for Melo since he makes his own bed with his play style.
[/quote]

Well Drummond would be the big draw. Drummond and Anthony Davis are the top young big men in the league (Cousins still doesn't play defense). It's a little bit of a stretch because Drummond is so young, I concede.

If he won't take a pay cut then they can add Jerebko or a different assortment of 5 million in salaries to the sign and trade. They have a lot of small deals that expire in 2015. They would definitely lose their draft pick in a sign and trade, though.

It's not a perfect scenario but what are Melo's alternatives?

[moiso]

Melo wouldn't get enough shot attempts on that team to make him happy.

[Moranis]

I just assumed he meant trading for Melo this year.

Monroe, Villanueva, Stuckey, plus a first or two

for

Melo

Detroit could also alleviate some additional future cap relief by taking on Bargnani and giving up Jerekbo and Datome as well. 

Now granted I can't see NY doing that, but it would at least be a decent offer for Melo.  Obviously Detroit only does this if Melo opts in for next season before the trade.

[slamtheking]

I just assumed he meant trading for Melo this year.

Monroe, Villanueva, Stuckey, plus a first or two

for

Melo

Detroit could also alleviate some additional future cap relief by taking on Bargnani and giving up Jerekbo and Datome as well. 

Now granted I can't see NY doing that, but it would at least be a decent offer for Melo.  Obviously Detroit only does this if Melo opts in for next season before the trade.

not a bad deal but I think NY would have to be able to do a major salary dump with Melo to get them to trade him.  Something like Amare's deal would have to come off their books for them to move Melo.  I just don't know who has that much expiring money and young prospect/picks to offer up for Melo/Amare.  Lakers have Gasol and Nash but no prospects or good picks to send with them.  Detroit doesn't have the contract volume (as far as I know) to match up with Melo and Amare's deals.  They'd have to at least give up Monroe (if not Drummond), Stuckey and some picks.
not nearly the star power NY would want but the cap relief to sign a top FA might entice them.  probably not but maybe.

[Moranis]

I just assumed he meant trading for Melo this year.

Monroe, Villanueva, Stuckey, plus a first or two

for

Melo

Detroit could also alleviate some additional future cap relief by taking on Bargnani and giving up Jerekbo and Datome as well. 

Now granted I can't see NY doing that, but it would at least be a decent offer for Melo.  Obviously Detroit only does this if Melo opts in for next season before the trade.

not a bad deal but I think NY would have to be able to do a major salary dump with Melo to get them to trade him.  Something like Amare's deal would have to come off their books for them to move Melo.  I just don't know who has that much expiring money and young prospect/picks to offer up for Melo/Amare.  Lakers have Gasol and Nash but no prospects or good picks to send with them.  Detroit doesn't have the contract volume (as far as I know) to match up with Melo and Amare's deals.  They'd have to at least give up Monroe (if not Drummond), Stuckey and some picks.
not nearly the star power NY would want but the cap relief to sign a top FA might entice them.  probably not but maybe.

Detroit would need a third team to take Amare.  I'd probably give up Humphries, Bass, and Lee for Amare.  Seems like something NY might do.

I might also do something where Boston gives up Rondo for Monroe in that trade.

BOS - Monroe, Datome, Detroit 1st
DET - Anthony, Bargnani
NY - Rondo, Stuckey, Villanueva, Jerekbo, Detroit 1st

I think that would at least be a reasonable deal for all three teams.  Boston could also still do the Lee, Bass, Humphries for Amare portion as well if that was something NY wanted to do.

[slamtheking]

I just assumed he meant trading for Melo this year.

Monroe, Villanueva, Stuckey, plus a first or two

for

Melo

Detroit could also alleviate some additional future cap relief by taking on Bargnani and giving up Jerekbo and Datome as well. 

Now granted I can't see NY doing that, but it would at least be a decent offer for Melo.  Obviously Detroit only does this if Melo opts in for next season before the trade.

not a bad deal but I think NY would have to be able to do a major salary dump with Melo to get them to trade him.  Something like Amare's deal would have to come off their books for them to move Melo.  I just don't know who has that much expiring money and young prospect/picks to offer up for Melo/Amare.  Lakers have Gasol and Nash but no prospects or good picks to send with them.  Detroit doesn't have the contract volume (as far as I know) to match up with Melo and Amare's deals.  They'd have to at least give up Monroe (if not Drummond), Stuckey and some picks.
not nearly the star power NY would want but the cap relief to sign a top FA might entice them.  probably not but maybe.

Detroit would need a third team to take Amare.  I'd probably give up Humphries, Bass, and Lee for Amare.  Seems like something NY might do.

I might also do something where Boston gives up Rondo for Monroe in that trade.

BOS - Monroe, Datome, Detroit 1st
DET - Anthony, Bargnani
NY - Rondo, Stuckey, Villanueva, Jerekbo, Detroit 1st

I think that would at least be a reasonable deal for all three teams.  Boston could also still do the Lee, Bass, Humphries for Amare portion as well if that was something NY wanted to do.

well, at least you're consistent in your desire to ship out Rondo although this deal is pennies on the dollar for him and really defeats the purpose of getting Monroe.  the point of getting Monroe would be to pair him with an all-star already, not put him on a team that would have no leadership or top, proven talent.