Report: Melo would waive no-trade for C's; Stevens would like him, Ainge doesn't

[Cman]

I never quite understood the dislike for Carmelo on these boards.

You don't want this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfvWGs_LlE0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqIl6IZBk_U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE2_OKHToMA


Look. He has his flaws. Character and locker room problems, arguments with coach, ball stopper, doesn't play defense, selfish, etc.

Whatever.

I don't care.

Players don't start issues similar to the above if their consistently winning games and going somewhere. Carmelo may not have led any of his teams to the playoffs in the NBA, in the past few years. But I think it only provides evidence there just isn't enough talent on the Knicks, aside KP.

Carmelo reminds me eerily of Paul Pierce. He has a similar game, and Carmelo's beautiful stroke that he developed over time isn't going to go away. Crowder is having an excellent season efficiency wise, but...

Carmelo would be able to put up similar numbers this year, and probably more and a better %.

Crowder is a direct result of our system, and benefiting from being next to great scoring options.

Now maybe I'm just jumping the gun, but if we can get Melo for Crowder, and maybe a few other things, why not? Especially without sacrificing our Brooklyn picks, which Jackson is deluded if he expects any of that in return.

I wanted Melo last year, and I still want this year. Isaiah Thomas and Horford need a 3rd guy. Melo may be selfish, but he's not that SELFISH. He already averages more assists than 3/4 of the team, and provides the deadly spacing we need.

Ditto to your first sentence. I've never understood the Melo hate.

Melo is a really good basketball player and would make the Cs better. The elusive summer free agent? We are no longer talking about a Kevin Durant. We are talking about a player like Hayward. It's different. I think the better bet at this point is to use the cap space in a trade. 

[oldtype]

I am amazed by people who think Carmelo Anthony is a more valuable asset than Jae Crowder.  They're not even close.

Crowder has far more value than Anthony, but Crowder is not a better player.

I would ideally try to avoid giving up Crowder though. Obviously Amir Johnson and Zeller are up for grabs any time. We have plenty of draft picks that we can use. We can still keep Crowder, and I would like to.

Not a better player of course, but he's worth so much more.  Trading him for Anthony wouldn't be much better than trading a Brooklyn pick.

[chilidawg]

I think not only is Crowder the better value, but he's also the better player.  Far better defender and he's become a very efficient shooter.  Really fits what we're trying to do.  Carmelo doesn't.  I don't do the trade straight up.

[ThePaintedArea]

I think not only is Crowder the better value, but he's also the better player.  Far better defender and he's become a very efficient shooter.  Really fits what we're trying to do.  Carmelo doesn't.  I don't do the trade straight up.

I agree that Crowder is the better player, the better fit - and, obviously, the better value. Not just a better defender but a more versatile one.  He's young, just entering his prime years. Melo turns 33 this season. Boston has a chance for its young guys to peak together, and the beauty of Crowder is his ability to share the floor with anyone. No wonder Phil Jackson, according to reports, has his eye on him.

 Anthony cramps your salary flexibility, while it's hard to see him getting your team over the top. Definitely don't trade for him.

[cltc5]

Could we get him for a box of honey nut cheerios?

[RockinRyA]

I think not only is Crowder the better value, but he's also the better player.  Far better defender and he's become a very efficient shooter.  Really fits what we're trying to do.  Carmelo doesn't.  I don't do the trade straight up.

I agree that Crowder is the better player, the better fit - and, obviously, the better value. Not just a better defender but a more versatile one.  He's young, just entering his prime years. Melo turns 33 this season. Boston has a chance for its young guys to peak together, and the beauty of Crowder is his ability to share the floor with anyone. No wonder Phil Jackson, according to reports, has his eye on him.

 Anthony cramps your salary flexibility, while it's hard to see him getting your team over the top. Definitely don't trade for him.

BINGO!

All these people who said Player X and Player Y wont be available so let's use our Cap Space for melo, how many of you though Melo would be available? Thing is, you don't know who will be available, so why make a move that doesnt help you much if at all, to lose the chance to sign a potential better player?

[MBunge]

Melo does not make the C a contender able to beat Cavs, Spurs and GS. On the other hand, Melo's salary completely shuts down the possibility of improving dramatically in free agency during next years. Signing him would be a huge mistake. period.

Who's Boston going to sign this summer that's going to make them better than Golden State? The fact of the matter is Boston's going to need to trade into contention - and Carmelo helps this by making Crowder and Avery Bradley easier to part with - or just punt on the next couple years and try to develop young guys drafted through the Brooklyn picks, which Carmelo doesn't affect either way because he wouldn't cost a Nets pick in trade. He's not a cure-all for the C's problems, but if you can get him at a sufficiently inexpensive price there's something to be said for a non-contender just adding more talent.

Trading for Melo isn't a no brainer because he's aging, had injury issues, will eat up all out cap space and has a deserved reputation of a ball stopper who expects the entire offense to be him shooting jumpers.  If we were talking about giving up serious assets for him, that's an easy "no."

But he's still good enough to make this team a lot better and if the price is...

1.  A bunch of guys who are on the roster specifically as trade bait for someone like Melo.
2.  A 2018 first in the mid 20s and a future first that could become a couple of seconds.
3.  Filler that depends on what else the trade involves.

...it might be time to remember a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Mike

Who are you willing to part with to get him? Just asking. What you suggest is certainly reasonable from the Celtics' end but it's hard to believe the Knicks won't want more.

When I see the word Melo my first thought is Fab, another Syracuse guy whose fate was not nearly so sanguine as Carmelo's, as we all know only too well. This, in turn, is followed by a monstrous headache.

I wouldn't give up Crowder, Smart, Brown or any Brooklyn picks.  Trading for Melo only makes sense if it gives us a legit, though small, chance to be a contender now while not sacrificing the future. 

My deal is Amir, Zeller, Jerebko, Rozier, Young, Boston 2018 first, the Clippers first we own for Melo and Kyle O'Quin.  I'd prefer Hernangomez over O'Quin but that seems unlikely and I'd rather not add the Memphis first we own, but that might be necessary.

In most situations, that wouldn't be nearly enough to get someone like Melo, even the 32-year-old version, but Melo has that no trade clause and wants to go to a team with enough talent to contend.

Mike

[MBunge]

I think not only is Crowder the better value, but he's also the better player.  Far better defender and he's become a very efficient shooter.  Really fits what we're trying to do.  Carmelo doesn't.  I don't do the trade straight up.

I agree that Crowder is the better player, the better fit - and, obviously, the better value. Not just a better defender but a more versatile one.  He's young, just entering his prime years. Melo turns 33 this season. Boston has a chance for its young guys to peak together, and the beauty of Crowder is his ability to share the floor with anyone. No wonder Phil Jackson, according to reports, has his eye on him.

 Anthony cramps your salary flexibility, while it's hard to see him getting your team over the top. Definitely don't trade for him.

BINGO!

All these people who said Player X and Player Y wont be available so let's use our Cap Space for melo, how many of you though Melo would be available? Thing is, you don't know who will be available, so why make a move that doesnt help you much if at all, to lose the chance to sign a potential better player?

Who is better than Melo and why would they be available?  Hayward is not better than Melo, just younger, and why would he take less money and leave a playoff team?  Is Blake Griffin better than Melo, given his injury history?  And getting Cousins would cost far more than Melo's current price.

I'm not a "Get Melo at all costs" guy.  I don't think anyone is.  But you have to weigh the certainty of adding that kind of talent at a very reasonable price vs. the likelihood of missing out on all big name free agents.

Mike

[Kuberski33]

I would take him if you could get him and not affect the core of the team.  This means you don't move: Bradley, Crowder, Brown, Smart, Brooklyn picks.  And of course not Thomas or Horford.

if you're committing to IT - which you have to - you need the top of your rotation to be above average defenders. Bring in Carmelo and you weaken the D - more so if you give up Crowder, Smart, Brown (who's eventually going to be a very good defender) etc.

But...keep the core intact, add him, find a reasonably priced rebounder/defender to play the 4/5 against teams that currently cause us problems..why not?  We'd be very, very hard to guard in the 4Q.

[nostar]

I would take him if you could get him and not affect the core of the team.  This means you don't move: Bradley, Crowder, Brown, Smart, Brooklyn picks.  And of course not Thomas or Horford.

I agree in principle. Unfortunately we can't just say "Hey NYK, take AJ, Zeller and Young for your 9x All Star, who is averaging 23/6/3". That isn't realistic, even considering Anthony's personality and contract situation. He still has value around the league, and the reports that he was willing to waive his trade clause to play in BOS are actually really great news. Good players want to play in Boston. That is neat.

Of that core, I'd probably only consider moving Bradley in a deal for Melo. Something like Amir and AB for Melo isn't unreasonable, and the Knicks will want a pick included. Depending on the pick I'm not opposed to that cost. Nothing crazy like the BKN picks, but maybe our 2018 pick lotto protected would be reasonable. Anything more and it's an easy pass. AB will get expensive next season anyway and Melo's deal is likely only one more season after this one. That isn't too much of an investment in a guy that could make us title opportunists the next 1.5 seasons.

I really like the lineup of IT/Smart/Crowder/Melo/Horford. If the cost is AB and a protected pick, I'm probably willing to roll dice on that going in to the playoffs. Anything higher than that and I'd be happier swinging at rim protection around the deadline and holding for a FA this summer.

[jpotter33]

I would take him if you could get him and not affect the core of the team.  This means you don't move: Bradley, Crowder, Brown, Smart, Brooklyn picks.  And of course not Thomas or Horford.

I agree in principle. Unfortunately we can't just say "Hey NYK, take AJ, Zeller and Young for your 9x All Star, who is averaging 23/6/3". That isn't realistic, even considering Anthony's personality and contract situation. He still has value around the league, and the reports that he was willing to waive his trade clause to play in BOS are actually really great news. Good players want to play in Boston. That is neat.

Of that core, I'd probably only consider moving Bradley in a deal for Melo. Something like Amir and AB for Melo isn't unreasonable, and the Knicks will want a pick included. Depending on the pick I'm not opposed to that cost. Nothing crazy like the BKN picks, but maybe our 2018 pick lotto protected would be reasonable. Anything more and it's an easy pass. AB will get expensive next season anyway and Melo's deal is likely only one more season after this one. That isn't too much of an investment in a guy that could make us title opportunists the next 1.5 seasons.

I really like the lineup of IT/Smart/Crowder/Melo/Horford. If the cost is AB and a protected pick, I'm probably willing to roll dice on that going in to the playoffs. Anything higher than that and I'd be happier swinging at rim protection around the deadline and holding for a FA this summer.

Completely disagree. His value is really not high at all with that no-trade clause. There's a real chance we can get him for that type of package, meaning something like Amir, Zeller, Rozier, Young, and a couple of non-Brooklyn picks. In fact, we're only really competing with LAC, who at last report had legitimately only offered Rivers, Crawford, Johnson, and minimal other assets, such as 2nd round picks, for Melo. I think our poo-poo platter trade offer is still significantly higher than their poo-poo platter trade offer.

[MBunge]

I would take him if you could get him and not affect the core of the team.  This means you don't move: Bradley, Crowder, Brown, Smart, Brooklyn picks.  And of course not Thomas or Horford.

I agree in principle. Unfortunately we can't just say "Hey NYK, take AJ, Zeller and Young for your 9x All Star, who is averaging 23/6/3".

Actually, we can.  The Clippers have been linked to Melo and with a lowball offer of Crawford and Austin Rivers.  But they are both on contract for $24 million next season.  That's $24 million in cap space a rebuilding Knicks team desperately needs and that Boston can give them.  And Rivers and Crawford could even be eating up another $14 million in cap space two years from now.

Now, we'd have to throw in at least two firsts but we can and that's all NY really wants.  Would they even want Bradley, a guy who will eat up their cap space and hinder their tanking efforts?

Mike

[86MaxwellSmart]

If Danny wanted---he could get Melo/O'Quinn for Amir/Zeller/Young/Jackson/2018 Bos/future 1st/2-2nd rounders.

NY would do it, cause Amir/Young/Zeller clear almost $22Mil this summer...plus they get rid of Melo's $24+Mil...Frees up a ton of FA money.

We'd still have:
IT/Smart/Rozier
Bradley/Brown
Crowder/Green
Melo/Olynyk/Jerebko
Horford/O'Quinn/Mickey

Plus a spot to sign a released Vet for playoffs....we could probably trade Bradley/Crowder/Rozier for Butler if you wanted to after that...and keep both Brooklyn picks.

IT/Smart
Butler/Brown
Melo/Green
Olynyk/Jerebko
Horford/O'Quinn/Mickey
Zizic coming...plus Both Bk picks....not bad....ha

[SparzWizard]

If Danny wanted---he could get Melo/O'Quinn for Amir/Zeller/Young/Jackson/2018 Bos/future 1st/2-2nd rounders.

NY would do it, cause Amir/Young/Zeller clear almost $22Mil this summer...plus they get rid of Melo's $24+Mil...Frees up a ton of FA money.

We'd still have:
IT/Smart/Rozier
Bradley/Brown
Crowder/Green
Melo/Olynyk/Jerebko
Horford/O'Quinn/Mickey

Plus a spot to sign a released Vet for playoffs....we could probably trade Bradley/Crowder/Rozier for Butler if you wanted to after that...and keep both Brooklyn picks.

IT/Smart
Butler/Brown
Melo/Green
Olynyk/Jerebko
Horford/O'Quinn/Mickey
Zizic coming...plus Both Bk picks....not bad....ha

I'd like to see Olynyk part of the package. And keep Crowder at SF. Melo to PF.

[KG Living Legend]

If Danny wanted---he could get Melo/O'Quinn for Amir/Zeller/Young/Jackson/2018 Bos/future 1st/2-2nd rounders.

NY would do it, cause Amir/Young/Zeller clear almost $22Mil this summer...plus they get rid of Melo's $24+Mil...Frees up a ton of FA money.

We'd still have:
IT/Smart/Rozier
Bradley/Brown
Crowder/Green
Melo/Olynyk/Jerebko
Horford/O'Quinn/Mickey

Plus a spot to sign a released Vet for playoffs....we could probably trade Bradley/Crowder/Rozier for Butler if you wanted to after that...and keep both Brooklyn picks.

IT/Smart
Butler/Brown
Melo/Green
Olynyk/Jerebko
Horford/O'Quinn/Mickey
Zizic coming...plus Both Bk picks....not bad....ha

 Except we are not getting Butler. I don't want him for the price.