Wojo: Carmelo Leaning Towards Leaving NY

[BleedGreen1989]

I think he'd fit more naturally in Chicago than Houston and hopefully it is the Bulls that get him. That would take them out of the Love competition and Houston doesn't have the assets to Love without Parsons cooperation.  So yeah, Melo to the Bulls please.

That's a good point. Didn't really think of that tbh.

[Mencius]

dont see how houston pulls this off clearing cap space for a superstar everyone wants why would any team help.

they would have to get rid of both lin and asik.. now parsons is a free agent when he was only making around 900k doesnt make any sense to me.

Keep in mind that in addition to teams (ie BOS, Etc) willing to take on Asik (and to a lesser extent Lin) for a future 2nd rounder, HOU could also arrange a trade to NYK of Asik, Lin and, say, T. Jones for Melo if Melo says to NYK "I'm gone..."  Lin was a fan fave and adding afaik would allow them to trade Chandler to kickstart their rebuild.

Seeing as money never seems to be an object with the Knicks, from their perspective, getting Asik, Link, and Jones for Melo is far preferable to losing him for nothing.  I regard the Knicks doing just such a trade as the biggest threat to us trading for Asik and Lin.  Of course, from Houston's perspective, simply clearing cap space without having to give up Jones too, would be slightly better. 

I didn't read the whole thread.  What is the date by which Melo must opt out if he's going to do so, and if NY were to trade him, they have to do so prior to his opt out, yes?

[Lucky17]

I didn't read the whole thread.  What is the date by which Melo must opt out if he's going to do so, and if NY were to trade him, they have to do so prior to his opt out, yes?

Melo must decide by June 23 whether to opt in or out.

He cannot be traded until after he makes his decision. If he opts in, it means he's staying with New York (no trade). If he opts out, he'd have to be resigned to be traded to Houston (via sign and trade).

[LarBrd33]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--carmelo-anthony-leaning-toward-leaving-knicks--bulls--rockets-in-contention-161206919.html

From the story: New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony is leaning toward leaving in pursuit of immediate championship contention, and awaits the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets to clear the necessary salary-cap space to sign him in free agency, league sources told Yahoo Sports.


My thoughts:

1) Two less suitors for Kevin Love

2) Taj Gibson & Omer Asik are officially available...for likely not a ton in return.

Thoughts on this...

What if the Rockets and Bulls DO clear enough cap space?  I'd try hard as heck to get Kevin Love... because if the Knicks are faced with the very real possibility of losing Melo to the Rockets/Bulls for NOTHING... the prospect of a sign-and-trade with Boston sending back assets starts to look pretty appealing. 

Option 1:  Melo leaves the Knicks and signs with the Rockets or Bulls .... Knicks get nothing in return.

Option 2:  Melo asks for a sign-and-trade to Boston.  Boston sends back cap filler and whatever picks we have left after landing Love. 

[Mencius]

I didn't read the whole thread.  What is the date by which Melo must opt out if he's going to do so, and if NY were to trade him, they have to do so prior to his opt out, yes?

Melo must decide by June 23 whether to opt in or out.

He cannot be traded until after he makes his decision. If he opts in, it means he's staying with New York (no trade). If he opts out, he'd have to be resigned to be traded to Houston (via sign and trade).

Thanks, Lucky

[KGs Knee]

Howard could not co-exist with Kobe what makes you think he will with the ball dependent Melo?

Melo and Howard are actually good friends off the court.  Rumor has it Melo sought advice from Howard on his potential free agent decision this summer.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rockets/2014/02/25/dwight-howard-james-harden-houston-rockets-hot-team-nba/5816795/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1973697-report-dwight-howard-privately-advising-carmelo-anthony-on-upcoming-free-agency

[Smokeeye123]

Chicago would be ideal for him. Houston already has a chucker who doesnt play D.

[KGs Knee]

I just think Rose is done as an elite player, thus Chicago isn't the right fit if Melo wants to win a ring.

Houston offers a much better opportunity.  Howard, Melo and Harden would be lethal, and yes they could make it work, to think otherwise is ludicrous.  Harden is actually a fairly decent distributor when he wants to be and if they could keep Beverly, he's s decent option as well.

Maybe McHale isn't the right coach though.

[Lucky17]

Chicago can put terrific defenders around Melo, though. Gibson and Noah frontline, Butler on the wing.

Obviously, Rose is a huge question mark.

[KGs Knee]

Chicago can put terrific defenders around Melo, though. Gibson and Noah frontline, Butler on the wing.

Obviously, Rose is a huge question mark.

I mean, yeah if by some miracle Rose is able to regain his past form (or atleast 90% of it), Chicago probably would have a more complete and well-balanced team.

I just think it's a long shot for Rose to get back what he had.  Those knees have been through quite a lot over the last couple of years.

[GreenWarrior]

I think Chicago is a huge risk for anyone to go to. if anyone is expecting Rose to return to form they're kidding themselves. he's an athlete that has pretty much missed 2 seasons, athletes are like cars if you don't run 'em they break down.

i'll go out on a limb and say within 3 months of coming back Rose will have another injury.

[cman88]

rose has played 49 games out of a possible 246 the past 3 seasons. I would love to see him come back and be the same player, but sadly odds say he wont

[RJ87]

In all honesty after what the Bulls might have to give up for Melo in Gibson, Butler, and Mirotic I'm not sure the Bulls situation will be better than ours for him.  I mean Rose has hardly played in the last 2 years.  My guess is he most likely be a shell of his former all NBA self.  It's a risk on Melo's part if he wants to play for a true contender.

Far be it for me to contradict the all-knowing Woj but this is the first I've heard of the Bulls having to get rid of Taj to add Melo.

The cap will be ~$63M next season and the Bulls are at $63M with Boozer at ~$16m. If they got rid of Boozer (amnesty), M.Dunleavy (salary dump to a team like CHA), that frees up ~$19-20M. Melo might not get MAX then but pretty dern close for playing on a title contender alongside Rose, Butler,Gibson & Noah.

CHI could also trade Boozer + Dunleavy to NYK if Melo says "I'm outta here". I'd rather get 2 large expirings than nothing for Melo if I'm NYK....

Yeah, this makes much more sense - there should be quite a few teams interested picking up Dunleavy. I think OKC still has the Kevin Martin trade exception they can absorb him into. Memphis could use him, but I'm not sure of their cap situation. Charlotte could use him as well and they'll have plenty of cap space.

[GreenWarrior]

also if he goes to Houston that's another bad fit. no pg still and I have a hard time believing harden can play with another ball hog.

but then again carmello has already proven he's not that bright.

[317]

dont forget Melo taking $20 million in Houston might be equal to taking $23 million in New York. no state income tax, play more then half your games in Texas with 41 in Houston and 2 in both San Antonio and Dallas for a total of 45/82 game checks without state income tax taken out. so he could take 'less' and earn the same in Houston and they could keep Parsons.