Sources: Frustration Building in NY

[csfansince60s]

Carmelo Anthony is not one of my favorite players but I think I would be willing to trade for him, assuming we keep Rondo, Smart, Sullinger, and enough of the rest to have a core team.  That would leave us giving up:

Wallace, Green, Thornton, Bass, Faverani ($37M)

and we would take back

Anthony, Bargnani, and 2 or 3 Min Salary guys to keep roster balanced (about $35M)

And then we throw in 2 future first round picks, maybe clips this year and a future Brooklyn of their choice.

I don't see it likely that NYK would do this though

KO for sure would have to be included, too. But I agree, I still think they don't bite on this either.

[D Dub]

Carmelo Anthony is not one of my favorite players but I think I would be willing to trade for him, assuming we keep Rondo, Smart, Sullinger, and enough of the rest to have a core team.  That would leave us giving up:

Wallace, Green, Thornton, Bass, Faverani ($37M)

and we would take back

Anthony, Bargnani, and 2 or 3 Min Salary guys to keep roster balanced (about $35M)

And then we throw in 2 future first round picks, maybe clips this year and a future Brooklyn of their choice.

I don't see it likely that NYK would do this though

KO for sure would have to be included, too. But I agree, I still think they don't bite on this either.

We'd have to get a third team involved, but if NYK wants to deal surely we are on their short list of potential partners thanks to all the assets Ainge has accumulated. 

IMO, if we can route them a starter level player early in his prime-- along with Green & Olynyk-- we can get it done. 
Lawson or Faried perhaps?  Kantor or Favors?  Thad Young?  Al Jefferson? 

not sure, but it would be a coup if Danny could pull it off. 
Imagine having Rondo/Melo and 2 of our 3 best young prospects-- all without giving up any future pick?  Dynasty.   

[2short]

Carmelo is a great scorer but someone remind me why he is thought of as that good of basketball player???
This is the guy who came out as the number 2 guy behind Lebron.  Not only has Lebron separated himself by a pretty far margin but a group of other nba players have risen while carmelo plays half hearted defense, doesn't dominate rebounding like he should for his position/size and has glue on his hands for moving the ball.

[D Dub]

Carmelo is a great scorer but someone remind me why he is thought of as that good of basketball player???
This is the guy who came out as the number 2 guy behind Lebron.  Not only has Lebron separated himself by a pretty far margin but a group of other nba players have risen while carmelo plays half hearted defense, doesn't dominate rebounding like he should for his position/size and has glue on his hands for moving the ball.

in my opinion, its his size.  most of the NBA players rising to stardom these days are guards.  Not many dominate swingmen--- although its pretty clear you can't win it all without one.  Outside of KD and Lebron, who is a better wing forward than Carmelo?

Rudy Gay?
Parsons?
Leonard?
Jabari Parker?
How about Green or Pierce?

To me, that's why he's more valuable than a Chris Paul or a Rondo.  The unique mix of skill and size makes Melo desirable especially if you already have a top pg to pair with him. 

[csfansince60s]

Carmelo is a great scorer but someone remind me why he is thought of as that good of basketball player???
This is the guy who came out as the number 2 guy behind Lebron.  Not only has Lebron separated himself by a pretty far margin but a group of other nba players have risen while carmelo plays half hearted defense, doesn't dominate rebounding like he should for his position/size and has glue on his hands for moving the ball.

Not sure if the James comparison is completely fair, although it does deserve some merit.

A player can make a team, but a team can certainly make or brake a player also. Forget the cHeat, we know their lineup, but the Cavs had Ilgauskas, Verajao, Mo Williams, Gooden/Hickson and Gibson. Everybody says James had no help there and that's why he didn't win.

That Cavs team that James couldn't win with had a ton more talent than ANY team Melo has played on. Far, far more.

Rondo will be the best player  that he has ever played with. (AI  was fading) and a perfect complimentary player for him and will make him even better. ...and Melo won't have JR Smith to compete for shots with like he did in BOTH Denver and NY.

He's a star. We need stars.

[2short]

Leonard is playing within pops system
Healthy Paul George

Shouldn't a big 6'8" good shooting sf be doing more?   Remember when pierce "turned the corner" from shot jacking pouty player to the great all around team player sf we all love?

I don't see Carmelo making the change

[PickNRoll]

Leonard is playing within pops system
Healthy Paul George

Shouldn't a big 6'8" good shooting sf be doing more?   Remember when pierce "turned the corner" from shot jacking pouty player to the great all around team player sf we all love?

I don't see Carmelo making the change

Was that roughly the same time we added two hall of famers to the roster?

[csfansince60s]

Leonard is playing within pops system
Healthy Paul George

Shouldn't a big 6'8" good shooting sf be doing more?   Remember when pierce "turned the corner" from shot jacking pouty player to the great all around team player sf we all love?

I don't see Carmelo making the change

Was that roughly the same time we added two hall of famers to the roster?

Exactly. PP was injured the year before, and embarrassingly had a bandage on his head in a postgame press conference before that.

This from a great Globe article in '08:

He can talk about it now. He knows it's a long list. Walking around with a scowl on his face was dumb. Trying to do too much at the end of games by himself was dumb. Getting stabbed and almost killed in a Boston nightclub wasn't dumb, but it taught him a lesson about the road rules for star athletes.

It was dumb to get on the bad side of Team USA coaches George Karl and Gregg Popovich when our lads finished an embarrassing sixth at the Worlds in 2002. And the Paul Pierce of 2008 might not wear hideous fake bandage he strapped on his head for a press conference when the Celtics were beaten by the Pacers in the 2005 playoffs. Then there was that unfortunate statement he made to the Globe's Jackie MacMullan in March of 2007: "I'm the classic case of a great player on a bad team, and it stinks."

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/06/05/moment_of_truth/?page=full

Look, I'm not comparing Melo's heart to PPs. He hasn't been truly tested yet. PP got stabbed and came back, he fell face first into the Garden floor and lost a few teeth and came back later in the same game. Big Heart.

Melo's got more talent though. I'd take a chance on his heart.

[Beat LA]

Melo is a winner.

Sure you didn't mean whiner? What has he won?

An NCAA championship.

What has Marcus Smart won? Is he not a winner?

How about KG pre-Celts?

Um, an MVP in 2003-04 and Minnesota had the best record in the league that year.  Unless that was supposed to be a joke.

[Beat LA]

Leonard is playing within pops system
Healthy Paul George

Shouldn't a big 6'8" good shooting sf be doing more?   Remember when pierce "turned the corner" from shot jacking pouty player to the great all around team player sf we all love?

I don't see Carmelo making the change

Was that roughly the same time we added two hall of famers to the roster?

Exactly. PP was injured the year before, and embarrassingly had a bandage on his head in a postgame press conference.

This from a great Globe article in '08:

He can talk about it now. He knows it's a long list. Walking around with a scowl on his face was dumb. Trying to do too much at the end of games by himself was dumb. Getting stabbed and almost killed in a Boston nightclub wasn't dumb, but it taught him a lesson about the road rules for star athletes.

It was dumb to get on the bad side of Team USA coaches George Karl and Gregg Popovich when our lads finished an embarrassing sixth at the Worlds in 2002. And the Paul Pierce of 2008 might not wear hideous fake bandage he strapped on his head for a press conference when the Celtics were beaten by the Pacers in the 2005 playoffs. Then there was that unfortunate statement he made to the Globe's Jackie MacMullan in March of 2007: "I'm the classic case of a great player on a bad team, and it stinks."

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/06/05/moment_of_truth/?page=full

Look, I'm not comparing Melo's heart to PPs. He hasn't been truly tested yet. PP got stabbed and came back, he fell face first into the Garden floor and lost a few teeth and came back later in the same game. Big Heart.

Melo's got more talent though. I'd take a chance on his heart.

1).  Pierce getting tossed in that game was complete and utter bull.  Tinsley was practically molesting him, and then earned Best Actor for that flop he did when Pierce turned around.  Sure, Paul's arm was a bit extended, but only to protect the ball, and there's no way that his movement could have caused such a reaction from Tinsley.  That dude looked like Lebron on that play.  Besides, that whole series was crap, in terms of officiating.  I honestly don't know why that was such a big deal.  At least he didn't charge into the stands and deck some guy in the face.  I honestly thought that Pierce had gotten hit in the exchange with Tinsley, but even if he didn't, who cares.  It's not that big of a deal, imo.

2).  There was nothing wrong with him making that statement, again, imo, lol .  By 2007, he had been carrying us on his back through a tough period in our history, and Ainge had offered him for Chris Paul in 2005, iirc, and Brandon Roy the next year, only Paul refused to go to the Blazers.  Awesome.  Fight the power, lol .  I mean, sure, we had some good young players, but we weren't close to being any kind of contender, even in our conference, and it looked like we weren't going anywhere, while the best years of his career were being wasted. 

[csfansince60s]

Leonard is playing within pops system
Healthy Paul George

Shouldn't a big 6'8" good shooting sf be doing more?   Remember when pierce "turned the corner" from shot jacking pouty player to the great all around team player sf we all love?

I don't see Carmelo making the change

Was that roughly the same time we added two hall of famers to the roster?

Exactly. PP was injured the year before, and embarrassingly had a bandage on his head in a postgame press conference.

This from a great Globe article in '08:

He can talk about it now. He knows it's a long list. Walking around with a scowl on his face was dumb. Trying to do too much at the end of games by himself was dumb. Getting stabbed and almost killed in a Boston nightclub wasn't dumb, but it taught him a lesson about the road rules for star athletes.

It was dumb to get on the bad side of Team USA coaches George Karl and Gregg Popovich when our lads finished an embarrassing sixth at the Worlds in 2002. And the Paul Pierce of 2008 might not wear hideous fake bandage he strapped on his head for a press conference when the Celtics were beaten by the Pacers in the 2005 playoffs. Then there was that unfortunate statement he made to the Globe's Jackie MacMullan in March of 2007: "I'm the classic case of a great player on a bad team, and it stinks."

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/06/05/moment_of_truth/?page=full

Look, I'm not comparing Melo's heart to PPs. He hasn't been truly tested yet. PP got stabbed and came back, he fell face first into the Garden floor and lost a few teeth and came back later in the same game. Big Heart.

Melo's got more talent though. I'd take a chance on his heart.

1).  Pierce getting tossed in that game was complete and utter bull.  Tinsley was practically molesting him, and then earned Best Actor for that flop he did when Pierce turned around.  Sure, Paul's arm was a bit extended, but only to protect the ball, and there's no way that his movement could have caused such a reaction from Tinsley.  That dude looked like Lebron on that play.  Besides, that whole series was crap, in terms of officiating.  I honestly don't know why that was such a big deal.  At least he didn't charge into the stands and deck some guy in the face.  I honestly thought that Pierce had gotten hit in the exchange with Tinsley, but even if he didn't, who cares.  It's not that big of a deal, imo.

2).  There was nothing wrong with him making that statement, again, imo, lol .  By 2007, he had been carrying us on his back through a tough period in our history, and Ainge had offered him for Chris Paul in 2005, iirc, and Brandon Roy the next year, only Paul refused to go to the Blazers.  Awesome.  Fight the power, lol .  I mean, sure, we had some good young players, but we weren't close to being any kind of contender, even in our conference, and it looked like we weren't going anywhere, while the best years of his career were being wasted.

I'm with you on the PP love. But it took till KG got here for him to mature. And Melo will mature with Rondo. But back to my 3rd favorite Celtic of all time (Russ and Bird 1st and second).

From the Globe article:

And we wonder how Paul Pierce became a leader, almost overnight, at the end of his 10th season in Boston.

This admission by the Captain from the same article in 2008:

"It's about maturing," he acknowledged. "That's all it is. When I look back at all the dumb stuff I did - that's me, but hey, I was a young player, you're still learning the NBA. That's what helps you grow, learning from your mistakes."

All the dumb stuff.

[Vermont Green]

Carmelo is a great scorer but someone remind me why he is thought of as that good of basketball player???
This is the guy who came out as the number 2 guy behind Lebron.  Not only has Lebron separated himself by a pretty far margin but a group of other nba players have risen while carmelo plays half hearted defense, doesn't dominate rebounding like he should for his position/size and has glue on his hands for moving the ball.

I look at it this way, several teams (including Boston) went Ga-Ga over a chance to get Kevin Love.  I think Carmelo is a more valuable player than Kevin Love.  So if Ainge was ready to make a big play for Love, why not do it for Carmelo?

[gpap]

Carmelo is a great scorer but someone remind me why he is thought of as that good of basketball player???
This is the guy who came out as the number 2 guy behind Lebron.  Not only has Lebron separated himself by a pretty far margin but a group of other nba players have risen while carmelo plays half hearted defense, doesn't dominate rebounding like he should for his position/size and has glue on his hands for moving the ball.

I look at it this way, several teams (including Boston) went Ga-Ga over a chance to get Kevin Love.  I think Carmelo is a more valuable player than Kevin Love.  So if Ainge was ready to make a big play for Love, why not do it for Carmelo?

I agree.

To me, the biggest hurdle in getting Melo would be whether or not New York would deal their star player to Boston.

That's a hard scenario to imagine. If that obstacle was overcome, then getting Melo should be a no-brainer.

[moiso]

Carmelo is a great scorer but someone remind me why he is thought of as that good of basketball player???
This is the guy who came out as the number 2 guy behind Lebron.  Not only has Lebron separated himself by a pretty far margin but a group of other nba players have risen while carmelo plays half hearted defense, doesn't dominate rebounding like he should for his position/size and has glue on his hands for moving the ball.

I look at it this way, several teams (including Boston) went Ga-Ga over a chance to get Kevin Love.  I think Carmelo is a more valuable player than Kevin Love.  So if Ainge was ready to make a big play for Love, why not do it for Carmelo?

He's a lot older and might need knee surgery.  And we would have to acquire another star to go with him who is still in his prime.

[Moranis]

I wouldn't mind Melo here, but you have to keep Rondo or it doesn't make sense.

Boston - Anthony
New York - Green, Smart, Bass, LAC 2015 1st, BOS 2016 1st (top 5), maybe another future pick

Separate Trade
Boston - Smith, Prigioni
New York - Thornton

On a funny side note, on trade machine the second trade says Boston decreases its wins by 3, however New York also decreases its wins by 4.  Talk about a trade that hurts both teams.

So post trades

Boston
PG - Rondo, Prigioni, Pressey
SG - Turner, Bradley, Young
SF - Anthony, Smith, Wallace
PF - Sullinger, Olynyk
C - Zeller, Faverani

Still hurting at center, but that would be a fun team.