Time for Ainge to make a deal for Melo

[Moranis]

Iverson took Philly to the finals and AI was a selfish chucker. That Philly team had no one on it.

Yep and they were crushed 4-1 I might add.

Here are Melo's  playoff stats.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/1975/seasontype/3/carmelo-anthony

Note that he only made it out of the first round, twice.  Most of the time he got you there and wilted.

.42 career shooter in the playoffs for Melo.    Iverson also got his team out of the first round, three times.

Melo is the pyrite of basketball; Fool's Gold.  Looks all nice and shiny and attracts people but worth nothing in the big picture.

Before Boston, Garnett had won exactly 2 playoff series and didn't even make the playoffs his last 3 years in Minnesota.  I guess he was fools gold as well.

But Garnett is not known to be a chucker and selfish like Melo

Garnett's problem why they can't advanced to the playoffs was the poor management and the talent in his roster

And Denver and New York didn't have poor management or talent?

[beklog]

Denver and NY got talent... they got one of the most talented roster last year... the problem is more on mental..

[Tr1boy]

Danny will never make a trade for crybaby melo

If nyn will take green, bass, bradley and or humphries then I dont mind receiving an expiring contract. But once they start asking for picks, the phone sb hung up

[bleedGREENdon]

Do any of you guys even watch Knicks games?
Carmelo is the only player playing basketball over there. Guy is just amazing on offense, he shoots can drive, and Is probably the best player in the nba in a post up situation. I've seen him play plenty of times and every time I see him in the post and he gets doubled he makes the right basketball play almost everytime. It's just his teammates around him blow. Felton is 5'2" and guy runs a PnR 60% of the time and takes the show in traffic, when smith is on the court all he does is chuck chuck chuck.

Whenever a play is called for Melo they score some type of way or get a good look. Only time he chucks is when the team is doing terrible and as a star that's what you want out of your best player to take shots. I mean it's incredible this site, they hate Jeff green, hate this guys that guy. But would want lance Stephenson for 12million a year instead of Carmelo Anthony probably the best scorer in the league for what 16-17? Lol.

Also I could only imagine the looks he would get playing alongside Rondo. Guy is a perfect fit for a turnaround. Would also attract other big name big men.

I could see us trading Jeff Green and Wallace for future cap space and a 1st round pick this year from a contending team whether it's a 25-30th pick doesn't matter, we would have 3 1st this year and could trade two of them to either move up in the draft or make a draft day trade for Carmelo via Sign and Trade with Humphries.
Have our top 10 pick as we'll as a Rondo,Melo,Sully core...

[hwangjini_1]

this thread is a bit too long for me to check each individual post, (yes, i am lazy) but has the topic of anthony's age and the celtics' rebuild schedule been touched upon yet?

at the start of next season, anthony will be 30 years old. this rebuilt for the celtics, regardless of melo being in boston or not, will not really make the celtics contenders for 3 more years, if that.

my question is this...

are the celtics best served by having a marginal playoff team (one who makes the playoffs, but cant really contend for a championship) for the next few years of rebuild when the price will be paying a max salary player (loss of flexibility in the rebuild) who will be 33 years old when the team may be ready to contend?

it seems to me that there are better ways to spend that money over the next few years than paying anthony to put up points in a way that stops the rest of the team's offensive flow.

anthony would be an immediate upgrade to the celtics' offensive numbers (not team offensive flow), but one that will expire in 3-5 years. ainge is aiming for a celtics team that will begin to contend in 3-5 years, not immediate wins today.

i apologize is these questions and points were raised earlier in this thread.

[D.o.s.]

Iverson took Philly to the finals and AI was a selfish chucker. That Philly team had no one on it.

Yep and they were crushed 4-1 I might add.

While they did lose the series 4-1 they were the only team that was able to beat the Lakers,even if they only won one game, during LA's entire playoff run. As Boston fans, we should be happy that they won at least one game.

[Chris]

Melo would be great with Rondo.  He is at his best when he has a PG who can set him up, and allow him to just be a shot-maker, and he trusts Rondo enough to not worry about his touches. 

Melo has gotten a bum rap IMO, and I think if he can get in the right situation, could have a Pierce-like mid to late career renaissance. 

He is one of just a handful of guys in the league, that can truly carry the load as an end of game, alpha scorer, and that is exactly what this team needs if they want to win with Rondo.

If Danny can get him, and convince him to resign, then I think it's a no brainer (well, depending on the price of course).

I would offer something like Green/Hump/Sully OR 2014 pick (either top 6 protected, or the lesser pick)/future first rounder

I also think you could talk them into including Chandler (might need a third team), which would make it even better, and would give this a hell of a team.

Maybe something like:

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=lo37tg8

Boston gets: Melo and Chandler
New York gets: Hump, Green, Bogans, Jason Smith, Austin Rivers, Boston 2014 first rounder, Nets 2016 first rounder top 3 protected
New Orleans gets: Bass

That sets up the C's with a lineup of:
Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Sully, Chandler with Wallace, Bayless, and Anthony off the bench, while still having plenty of draft picks, including a mid first rounder this year.

New York saves money this year, and next, while giving them some assets to start building with, as they wait to clear the books to reload in 2015 when Amare comes off the books.

New Orleans gets much needed front court depth (and a home town guy), while giving up someone who is injured anyway, and a young player who is just simply blocked. 

[D.o.s.]

Melo would be great with Rondo.  He is at his best when he has a PG who can set him up, and allow him to just be a shot-maker, and he trusts Rondo enough to not worry about his touches. 

Melo has gotten a bum rap IMO, and I think if he can get in the right situation, could have a Pierce-like mid to late career renaissance. 

He is one of just a handful of guys in the league, that can truly carry the load as an end of game, alpha scorer, and that is exactly what this team needs if they want to win with Rondo.

If Danny can get him, and convince him to resign, then I think it's a no brainer (well, depending on the price of course).

I would offer something like Green/Hump/Sully OR 2014 pick (either top 6 protected, or the lesser pick)/future first rounder

I also think you could talk them into including Chandler (might need a third team), which would make it even better, and would give this a hell of a team.

Maybe something like:

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=lo37tg8

Boston gets: Melo and Chandler
New York gets: Hump, Green, Bogans, Jason Smith, Austin Rivers, Boston 2014 first rounder, Nets 2016 first rounder top 3 protected
New Orleans gets: Bass

That sets up the C's with a lineup of:
Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Sully, Chandler with Wallace, Bayless, and Anthony off the bench, while still having plenty of draft picks, including a mid first rounder this year.

New York saves money this year, and next, while giving them some assets to start building with, as they wait to clear the books to reload in 2015 when Amare comes off the books.

New Orleans gets much needed front court depth (and a home town guy), while giving up someone who is injured anyway, and a young player who is just simply blocked.

That's not a bad trade at all--I think New Orleans would ask for a little bit more than just Bass as compensation for facilitating the trade.

[manl_lui]

Iverson took Philly to the finals and AI was a selfish chucker. That Philly team had no one on it.

Yep and they were crushed 4-1 I might add.

While they did lose the series 4-1 they were the only team that was able to beat the Lakers,even if they only won one game, during LA's entire playoff run. As Boston fans, we should be happy that they won at least one game.

I believe LA swept everyone before reaching the Finals no? Of course, as a Celtics fan, I don't want to see Lakers breaking any records, so yes seeing the 76ers take one game and preventing them from making history is pretty awesome

as for Melo, I am still 50/50. He is definitely better than Green but don't know if this is the right situation for him. While I agree Rondo and Melo makes a pretty good combo, I am still hesitant on Melo's competitiveness.

[Moranis]

Denver and NY got talent... they got one of the most talented roster last year... the problem is more on mental..

what are you talking about? New York's starting lineup in the playoffs was Felton, Prigioni, Shumpert, Anthony, and Chandler.  Look at all that talent.  It is overflowing (and yes that was sarcasm).  The rotation includes the ultimate headcase JR Smith, 90 year old Kenyon Martin, and Chris Copeland.

[D.o.s.]

Iverson took Philly to the finals and AI was a selfish chucker. That Philly team had no one on it.

Yep and they were crushed 4-1 I might add.

While they did lose the series 4-1 they were the only team that was able to beat the Lakers,even if they only won one game, during LA's entire playoff run. As Boston fans, we should be happy that they won at least one game.

I believe LA swept everyone before reaching the Finals no? Of course, as a Celtics fan, I don't want to see Lakers breaking any records, so yes seeing the 76ers take one game and preventing them from making history is pretty awesome

as for Melo, I am still 50/50. He is definitely better than Green but don't know if this is the right situation for him. While I agree Rondo and Melo makes a pretty good combo, I am still hesitant on Melo's competitiveness.

Yeah, LA went 15-1 in the 2000-2001 playoffs. Shaqobe was in their prime as a duo. That game--2001 Finals Game 1--is on youtube, and it's crazy to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2meq3b5iYw

As for 'Melo, if you can convince him to play like he did in the Olympics, you're going to be perfectly fine.

[PaulAllen]

You would need to make another move for Melo to stay and make an extension... Hes buddies with Rondo but im sure he wants a better team... Melo and Love would be a nice package if Stevens can coach them..

[Chris]

Melo would be great with Rondo.  He is at his best when he has a PG who can set him up, and allow him to just be a shot-maker, and he trusts Rondo enough to not worry about his touches. 

Melo has gotten a bum rap IMO, and I think if he can get in the right situation, could have a Pierce-like mid to late career renaissance. 

He is one of just a handful of guys in the league, that can truly carry the load as an end of game, alpha scorer, and that is exactly what this team needs if they want to win with Rondo.

If Danny can get him, and convince him to resign, then I think it's a no brainer (well, depending on the price of course).

I would offer something like Green/Hump/Sully OR 2014 pick (either top 6 protected, or the lesser pick)/future first rounder

I also think you could talk them into including Chandler (might need a third team), which would make it even better, and would give this a hell of a team.

Maybe something like:

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=lo37tg8

Boston gets: Melo and Chandler
New York gets: Hump, Green, Bogans, Jason Smith, Austin Rivers, Boston 2014 first rounder, Nets 2016 first rounder top 3 protected
New Orleans gets: Bass

That sets up the C's with a lineup of:
Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Sully, Chandler with Wallace, Bayless, and Anthony off the bench, while still having plenty of draft picks, including a mid first rounder this year.

New York saves money this year, and next, while giving them some assets to start building with, as they wait to clear the books to reload in 2015 when Amare comes off the books.

New Orleans gets much needed front court depth (and a home town guy), while giving up someone who is injured anyway, and a young player who is just simply blocked.

That's not a bad trade at all--I think New Orleans would ask for a little bit more than just Bass as compensation for facilitating the trade.

Well, they aren't so much facilitating it, as weaseling their way into it.  They desperately need front-court help, and Bass would be a nice fit for them.  I think they would make that trade straight up.

[Moranis]

You would need to make another move for Melo to stay and make an extension... Hes buddies with Rondo but im sure he wants a better team... Melo and Love would be a nice package if Stevens can coach them..

Don't see the assets for both Melo and Love, but I do agree that bringing on Melo doesn't make a lot of sense as Boston won't compete.  Now if Chandler came over or Asik was acquired, then that team would be a pretty solid start to a title team with a starting 5 of Rondo, Bradley, Anthony, Sullinger, and Chandler/Asik.

[Jon]

As I said in another thread, I've never been a big Melo fan.  I've always felt he was somewhat of a one-dimensional star who didn't do enough to make his teammates better and didn't play hard enough on the defensive end.  That said, similar things could have been said about PP earlier in his career, and things shaped out just fine when he was united with KG and Ray. 

Is Melo perfect?  Absolutely not.  But if he was the player people expected him to be, he'd essentially be LeBron or Durant and there'd be absolutely zero shot we could get him. 

So while it's no sure thing that Melo would instantly click with Rondo and then DA surrounds them with a good enough cast to be a contender, it might actually be the most plausible scenario to get back in title contention.

What are the other options?  Land a top lottery pick?  There's low odds on doing that to begin with and even lower odds when you factor in that the pick actually has to pan out too.  Accumulate assets and trade for a superstar?  Sure, but who actually has more upside than Melo and is realistically available? 

For better or for worse, the NBA is a league dominated by superstars and you need to have a top one (or two or three) to be a title contender.  Unfortunately, there are only so many out there and when Melo is at his best, he is one.