I don't believe for a second that Boston is a firm no on Melo, because of Melo. He's an all-star level player who is averaging 22.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3 assists with 43%/37%/83% shooting.... shooting percentages up to 46% from the field and 42% from three this month.
It's not the age.
This is the same GM who gave up a top 5 pick, a starter-level 29 year old (Wally) and a quality 23 year old prospect averaging 12 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds (Delonte) for a 32 year old Ray Allen when Ray was coming off an injury-riddled season putting up Melo-esque 44% shooting with 37% from three. It's not like Ray was known for his defense either.
I've said it before, but the modern equivalent of that Ray trade would be trading Jaylen Brown (top 5 pick - though most think he'd be picked no higher than 7th in this upcoming draft), Amir Johnson (the 29 year old starter) and Kelly Olynyk (the quality youngish prospect) for 32 year old Melo. We'd presumably get Melo for significantly less than that.
I've also long disagreed with the idea Melo is inefficient or a career loser. Neither has any basis in reality. This is a couple years old now, but here's what I said on this subject back in 2015:
This idea that he's inefficient is nonsense. He's a fairly efficient go-to scorer that you can absolutely build an offense around. He's also known as one of the most clutch end-of-game performers in the entire league (frequently ranked towards the top in 82games sortable clutch stats). The idea that he's a perennial loser is also equally nonsensical. While Melo was a Freshman at Syracuse leading them to the NCAA Championship, the Nuggets were on their way to a 17 win season. After drafting Melo, the Nuggets proceeded to make the playoffs 7 years in a row with between 43-54 wins each season (culminating with the Nuggets making the Western Conference finals in 2009). Melo's arrival in New York saw them go from a 29 win team to three straight playoff appearances. Think about this when you look at our own "star" player Rajon Rondo and his failure to thus-far lead a team even to a .500 record as the team's best player (we were a whopping 6-24 last season with Rondo at the helm). Yes, Melo ultimately felt like the supporting cast in Denver wasn't enough for him to compete... which should be a story all too familiar to Celtic fans *cough* KG *cough*. Yes, Melo finally missed the playoffs for the first time in his entire career last season for the woefully mis-managed Knicks and the media is abuzz with speculation he'll want out. Personally, I never understood how my fellow Celtic fans could bash Carmelo Anthony without realizing the vast similarities to our hero Paul Pierce. Want to talk about inefficient? In 2004, Pierce shot 40%/29%/82%. That's inefficient. Want to talk about a "perennial loser"? In the 9 pre-KG years Pierce played for Boston, they made the playoffs a total of 4 times... not once cracking 50 wins. And say what you want about 'Toine, but let's note that Pierce's failure happened WITH another all-star caliber player alongside him. In the two seasons prior to the arrival of KG the savior, we won 33 and 24 games. Pierce was frequently labelled a malcontent. Several fans wanted to see him traded. The worst moment of his career likely took place in his final playoff appearance as the "best player" in Boston... where he had a flagrant offensive foul in the final seconds of a playoff game we were WINNING, had himself ejected, and responded by ripping off his jersey and swinging around his head like a classless loser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbwm2tolAHo ... Now look, I freakin love Paul Pierce. I adore him. He's my favorite player of the modern era. I named my cat after him. But let's be real here... how is Melo worse than pre-KG Paul Pierce?
Melo's career numbers: 30 years old, 25.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 46%/35%/81%, 10 playoff appearances, 7x All-star, 1 WCF Appearance.
Pierce (pre-KG) numbers: 30 years old 23.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals 44%/36%/79%, 4 playoff appearances, 5x All-star, 1 ECF Appearance.
Melo has slipped a little in the two years since I wrote that, but I stand by all of it. I have no doubt that in a quality system with a quality coach, Melo (even at the same age Ray was when we acquired him) would see his efficiency take a leap in the same way Avery, Thomas and Jae have seen their efficiency take a leap with the addition of Al Horford.
I also don't buy the idea that we'd say no to Melo, because we have more pressing needs ... rebounding and interior defense. Yes, it's true that we have more pressing needs... but that's not the reason you tell the Knicks you're completely uninterested.
We can assume that a trade for Melo would be a lowball acquisition where we give up something like Amir's expiring, Zeller's expiring, Jerebko's expiring and one or two of the non-Brooklyn picks. Obviously it's a firm no if it's costing you significant assets. In that scenario, maybe you move either Melo or Jae to the PF slot. You'd still have an issue with interior defense and rebounding, but that's not why you'd say no to the lowball hypothetical.
If you're Ainge, you don't tell New york you're flat out uninterested for ANY of the above reasons...
Here's the real reason they'd say no. It has nothing to do with Melo, his fit or our needs. The real reason you say no is simple... The belief that something better will present itself. In terms of having assets, we're loaded. Especially in regards to draft assets. Our pre-lottery draft assets are historically valuable. We own picks for the next two years belonging to a team that is likely going to end up with the worst record in the league. You can acquire those picks without sabotaging the pick since the players you send out will not be improving the team the pick belongs to. That's a unique situation. We also have an perfectly curated collection of expiring contracts. That means if a major player becomes available... Blake, Westbrook, Boogie, Paul George, Butler, ANthony Davis, etc... Boston is the frontrunner to grab them. You don't want to blow your chance by using up your expirings to acquire Melo. Yes, it's unlikely that a guy like Davis will become available, but Boston is a Top 3 team in the East with quality play from Melo's position. They are in no rush. In the off chance a major (far younger) player becomes available, you want to make sure you have everything possible to grab that guy. Jumping at Melo would hurt our trade flexibility for the mythical trades that might present themselves.
The other reason you say no is because it would likely kill your chance to have max cap space this Summer. We're in a very good position to add someone. Blake? Hayward? It's very possible. You'd add one of those guys without losing anything. If you have 20+ mil locked up for Melo, you essentially eliminate that possibility.
If Ainge pulls the trigger it means he has to get creative including Avery/Jae in any deals that might present themselves (for salary matching)... or it means that Ainge is confident acquiring Melo is the best option we have/he's just too good to pass up for that cheap.
In short: It has nothing to do with Melo as a person or a player. Has everything to do with maintaining flexibility for a better trade or free agency.
Topic: Report: Melo would waive no-trade for C's; Stevens would like him, Ainge doesn't (Read 44547 times)