Would you give up a guaranteed top 5 pick for an instant top 4 team? BOS-NYK

[chambers]

KNICKS SEND:
Carmelo (extended contract sign and trade)
Chandler
Shumpert

BOSTON SENDS:

-2014 pick unprotected (at this stage this trade is a draft night trade and the pick is top 5)
-2015 first round pick in 15-20 range (Clippers or Nets)
-Humphries
-Wallace
-Bass
-Bogans
-Olynyk

*Possibly another future first round pick depending how hardball Dolan plays

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=lca6nzq


We still have Brooklyn's 2015 pick, our own 2015 pick, Clippers pick+future Nets picks.
New York might ask for a 2015 first rounder as well but I think you'd have to say yes.

I would then go after Lance Stephenson and forget re-signing Bradley. We'd presumably have to move Green to get Stephenson but that 9 million dollar contract is perfect in a sign and trade for Stephenson with Indiana or working a three team deal.
If we can't get Lance, or Indiana matches, we still have Green.

In this scenario we end up with a brutal team of:
PG Rondo/Crawford
SG Stephenson/Shumpert
SF Melo/Veteran (Pierce?)
PF Sully/Kenyon Martin
C Tyson Chandler


Do we really have a better shot at winning a title than that while we still have Rondo?

[Nerf DPOY]

To the question in the OP, yes I would. I'm greedier than you though and would prefer to move Green and Bass, trade the pick with Wallace for another all star, and sign Melo outright. Dream big!

[diconzo]

Wouldn't we not be able to trade Hump/Bogans since this is a draft night trade?



Edit: Bogans yes, but I think Humphries couldn't be?

[greg683x]

i would under two conditions.  that we'd be a top 4 team that is a legit threat to win a title.  Usually thats implied but this year......


and the other condition is that it would have to be a different trade than the one you proposed.

[diconzo]

Actually there is a lot of potential with this scenario. I thought of an elaborate trade machine scenario that would turn us in to a contender next season :

1.  Trade Deadline: Humphries+Crawford for Eric Gordon
Pelicans are shopping Gordon and Humphries+Crawford are both expiring deals and quality players. Can't see the Pelicans turning that down.

2. Draft Night: Our 2014 first+Wallace+Bass+Bogans+Olynyk+Brooklyn 2016 first for Carmelo Anthony
This might not be enough to convince them to move Melo    Depends where our pick lands. The Knicks do have their own 2015 first so they could be envisioning a "development year"  and it also gives them a first in 2016, which they currently don't have.

3. Jeff Green for Omer Asik
Lastly, Green for Asik gives us a center for this team where Green is somewhat redundant.

Rondo/(Resigned Bayless?)/Pressey
Gordon/(Resigned Bradley?)/Brooks
Melo/?(Brooklyn '14 first?)
Sully/?(Brooklyn '14 first?)
Asik/Faverani

Leaves a hole at either backup 3 or 4 depending on how Danny drafts. I'm sure if Danny had that team though, Owners would be more inclined to be tax payers and use Pierce's TE.

[lon3lytoaster]

Top-4 team isn't good enough to win. So, no.

[SHAQATTACK]

If it has anything to do with JR or Anthony

NO

Not with a ten foot pole




Lakers don't want Melo anymore  either

[KGs Knee]

Top-4 team isn't good enough to win. So, no.

What???

Generally the eventual champ almost always is one of the top 4 teams.


Also, I'd be thrilled to get Melo. Getting Melo by way of sign and trade would be tough. Teams in the lux tax cannot complete sign and trades.

[chambers]

Top-4 team isn't good enough to win. So, no.

Well by top 4 team I mean we get to the Eastern conference finals and go from there...hopefully our defense and ball movement and chemistry are all clicking and we can go all the way.

[chambers]

If it has anything to do with JR or Anthony

NO

Not with a ten foot pole




Lakers don't want Melo anymore  either

I wouldn't want anything to do with JR Smith.either, but Melo is a top 3 scorer in the NBA. Actually last night Lebron said Melo is the hardest guy in the league to guard, followed by Durant.
His defense has gotten so much better too.
And remember, the point of this trade isn't just getting Melo - it's getting a top 5 defensive center in Chandler too WHILE keeping Rondo and Sully.

[lon3lytoaster]

Top-4 team isn't good enough to win. So, no.

What???

Generally the eventual champ almost always is one of the top 4 teams.


Also, I'd be thrilled to get Melo. Getting Melo by way of sign and trade would be tough. Teams in the lux tax cannot complete sign and trades.

I don't think there's anyone short of LeBron that would get us by Miami or Indiana. I'm not under the belief you're a contender if you don't have a realistic chance of winning a championship. I don't think we would have that chance with Melo.

So, no I just don't think being a top-4 team in the east, or even the league as a whole is a good enough return for a top-5 pick this year.

[freshinthehouse]

KNICKS SEND:
Carmelo (extended contract sign and trade)
Chandler
Shumpert

BOSTON SENDS:

-2014 pick unprotected (at this stage this trade is a draft night trade and the pick is top 5)
-2015 first round pick in 15-20 range (Clippers or Nets)
-Humphries
-Wallace
-Bass
-Bogans
-Olynyk

*Possibly another future first round pick depending how hardball Dolan plays

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=lca6nzq


We still have Brooklyn's 2015 pick, our own 2015 pick, Clippers pick+future Nets picks.
New York might ask for a 2015 first rounder as well but I think you'd have to say yes.

I would then go after Lance Stephenson and forget re-signing Bradley. We'd presumably have to move Green to get Stephenson but that 9 million dollar contract is perfect in a sign and trade for Stephenson with Indiana or working a three team deal.
If we can't get Lance, or Indiana matches, we still have Green.

In this scenario we end up with a brutal team of:
PG Rondo/Crawford
SG Stephenson/Shumpert
SF Melo/Veteran (Pierce?)
PF Sully/Kenyon Martin
C Tyson Chandler


Do we really have a better shot at winning a title than that while we still have Rondo?

I hate(love) to nit-pick, but we don't have New Jersey's 2015 first rounder, so we can't offer it in any trades.

While this would make us a much better team in the short run, that team is still not beating Indiana or Miami in a seven game series, let alone winning a title.  This definitely wouldn't be a top four team. 

I'd much rather keep the pick and build a true contender than pay Carmelo Anthony 25 mill a year for the next 5 years to lose in the 2nd round.

[chambers]

KNICKS SEND:
Carmelo (extended contract sign and trade)
Chandler
Shumpert

BOSTON SENDS:

-2014 pick unprotected (at this stage this trade is a draft night trade and the pick is top 5)
-2015 first round pick in 15-20 range (Clippers or Nets)
-Humphries
-Wallace
-Bass
-Bogans
-Olynyk

*Possibly another future first round pick depending how hardball Dolan plays

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=lca6nzq


We still have Brooklyn's 2015 pick, our own 2015 pick, Clippers pick+future Nets picks.
New York might ask for a 2015 first rounder as well but I think you'd have to say yes.

I would then go after Lance Stephenson and forget re-signing Bradley. We'd presumably have to move Green to get Stephenson but that 9 million dollar contract is perfect in a sign and trade for Stephenson with Indiana or working a three team deal.
If we can't get Lance, or Indiana matches, we still have Green.

In this scenario we end up with a brutal team of:
PG Rondo/Crawford
SG Stephenson/Shumpert
SF Melo/Veteran (Pierce?)
PF Sully/Kenyon Martin
C Tyson Chandler


Do we really have a better shot at winning a title than that while we still have Rondo?

I hate(love) to nit-pick, but we don't have New Jersey's 2015 first rounder, so we can't offer it in any trades.

While this would make us a much better team in the short run, that team is still not beating Indiana or Miami in a seven game series, let alone winning a title.  This definitely wouldn't be a top four team. 

I'd much rather keep the pick and build a true contender than pay Carmelo Anthony 25 mill a year for the next 5 years to lose in the 2nd round.

Sorry, I'll make that the Clippers 2015 pick- and we may have to give up a future first rounder from the Nets.

I beg to disagree regarding this teams long term competitiveness. To say this team doesn't compete neck and neck, potentially beating both Indiana and Miami in a 7 game series means you're opinion is different to mine regarding Carmelo or Rondo or both.
If Sullinger continues to improve and Carmelo can maintain his scoring (which I believe he would benefit greatly from playing with Rondo).

It's an incredible starting 5 particularly if we can get Stephenson here at age 23. If we can't get Stephenson here, keeping Green at the SF and putting Melo at PF in a small ball line up, with Rondo manning the point would be a devastating team from three point range and wing scoring threats, with enough size and speed to go with anyone.
Defensively we'd be brutal with Rondo, Stephenson and Chandler being the main anchors- Sully and Carmelo can hold their own and with excellent team defenders around them will benefit greatly again.
The best 'point guard' we've seen Melo with is Chauncey Billups at age 32, which for a chunk was whilst he was playing with Allen Iverson.
Felton is okay, but he's no Rondo.
Anyway, it's all opinion at the end of the day, but to me, this team has defense, scoring and super depth with 2 All Stars and Sully and Stephenson developing under the three veterans.

I am a pro draft Celtics fan. I want nothing to do with the playoffs this year and my first preference is to secure a top 3 pick to develop with Rondo.
BUT, if the opportunity to do something like this came up, I'd have to seriously long and hard.
Rondo doesn't consider leaving Boston if we do this, and we get a star that hasn't been given as much help in his career as he deserves to carry a team. Carmelo with some legitimate help is something we've never seen- he only had Amare for 5 months.
Pierce got KG and Ray. Lebron got Bosh and Wade. Wade got Shaq. Durant got Westbrook etc...
Two guys who haven't been given enough help? Carmelo and Derrick Rose.

/End rant.

[chambers]

Top-4 team isn't good enough to win. So, no.

What???

Generally the eventual champ almost always is one of the top 4 teams.


Also, I'd be thrilled to get Melo. Getting Melo by way of sign and trade would be tough. Teams in the lux tax cannot complete sign and trades.

I don't think there's anyone short of LeBron that would get us by Miami or Indiana. I'm not under the belief you're a contender if you don't have a realistic chance of winning a championship. I don't think we would have that chance with Melo.

So, no I just don't think being a top-4 team in the east, or even the league as a whole is a good enough return for a top-5 pick this year.

I'm not sure why you don't think we'd compete with Miami and Indiana.
Compare Indiana's starting 5 to this starting 5.

Rondo vs George Hill
Stephenson or Green vs (Stephenson? I doubt Indiana can afford Stephenson's salary next year, and I'm not sure how they replace him).
Carmelo vs Paul George
Sully vs David West
Chandler vs Hibbert

I can't see how we're not competing there.
If you're worried that Melo can't guard Lebron or George you're not giving him enough credit nor the teams credit at keeping the paint protected and the perimeter pressure. If we keep Jeff Green to specifically guard those guys instead of Stephenson then that's an option too.
Just remember Pierce was okay with help from the rest of the team- with Green or Stephenson helping Carmelo we'd be very prepared.
Only real need to add to this roster is a rim protector off the bench. K Mart is okay but you can't rely on his corpse for a whole season/playoff run.