Isn't Carmelo to old to build around?

[incoherent]

What exactly is going on with the Knicks? What am I missing?  They are tanking but they are keeping their 30 year old All-Star in hopes to have a competitive team to surround him in a few years?  Seems like a crazy strategy to me.

Can the Knicks really reload before Melo gets to old?  They have Carmelo locked up for the next 5 years. Wouldn't they be better off trading him and rebuilding around a young core.

That's probably what every other franchise would have done.

But the Knicks are run by Phil Jackson, and there is ZERO PERCENT CHANCE he has the patients for a regular rebuilding.

Phil is going to swing for the fences, hard. He's going to risk this franchise's future on a 30+ year old non championship proven player and everyone in NY is going to let him, against all logic, because he is Phil Jackson.

Im pretty sure whatever pick the Knicks get, Phil is going to try his hardest to trade it and try to pull a Cavs summer of 2014.

[hpantazo]

Sure Melo is old, but getting a top 5 pick by tanking to combine with the contracts of Amare and Bargain could get them a top tier player to pair with Melo. With Melo's huge contract, they will not get good value for him in a trade, and they still need to sell tickets at MSG.

[Clench123]

I know.  It's pretty stupid.

[rondohondo]

Well they have cap room to sign 2 max free agents I believe . Say they can sign Hibbert and Jimmy Butler , they then have a top 3 pick to add to that, or can trade the pick for more help.

That gives them a 3-5 year window to compete .

In NY they are looking to be a contender immediately and not looking to rebuild .

[Roy H.]

Rebuild, I'd say yes, he's too old.

I think he's not too old to "reload" around him, though.  The Celtics' example with Pierce is the best example of that, I think.  He was about the same age in 2008 as Carmelo is now.

Now, I'm skeptical that the Knicks can put a couple of Hall of Famers around Carmelo, but if the Knicks can then Carmelo has plenty left in his tank.

[bobbyv]

If they miss out on free agency (which I think they will), they are screwed as a franchise for the next several years.

[hpantazo]

If they miss out on free agency (which I think they will), they are screwed as a franchise for the next several years.

Well, if they can't get any better options, they can always take Brook Lopez and Derron Williams from the Nets. Heck, I think they would give them Joe Johnson too.

[Who]

For a long rebuild through youth and draft picks? Yes, probably so.

For a quick rebuild through trades and free agency? Nope.

[Csfan1984]

Think they are hoping for a core set up next year then a championship run in 2017 using exemptions and trades to fill out roster. So this off-season they manage a high level sign like Reggie Jackson or Jimmy Butler then flip their high top 5 pick for maybe a top big for the triangle (Jackson, Melo, Cousins) they have built the core to a championship contender in one off-season. Melo not too old for a 2017-2020 run.

[KGs Knee]

Well, first of all, Melo has a no-trade clause, so he could easily just say no to any trade if he doesn't want to leave NY. But, even if he is willing to accept a trade, it likely only going to be for a few select destinations.

What would be silly, would be to trade away your franchise superstar for pennies on the dollar, which is what teams would likely offer, without ever even trying to rebuild around him. It's also silly to act like being 30 is some sort of death sentence. Melo is still a highly productive player.

If in a year or two, it appears the Knicks are still going nowhere, I would expect the Knicks to seriously look a trading Melo, though.  And i'd be willing to bet the offers wouldn't likely be much different.