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

[crimson_stallion]

I guess my perspective on things is this...

In 2008, Danny Ainge took a gamble.   He had a Celtics team that wasn't going far,  with a star player who had a few years of prime play left.   He had just drafted a very talented big who seemed to have great upside (Jefferson)  and had some other nice pieces too.  He probably could have tried to develop some of his young guys,  and maybe the Celtics would have been a first round exit playoff team for the next 4 or 5 years.

But he took a gamble.  Traded away half hours team of role players and prospects for two 30 years old all stars.   From day one,  the team really only had a 3 or 4 year window,  given Ray's age.  It was a pretty big risk.  If it doesn't work or then Boston could be bad for a long time,  for nothing.

But it does work out.  The Celtics with banner 18, made a couple of finals appearances,  3 or 4 deep playoffs runs.   It was an amazing time to be a Celtics fan,  it really was.

Then after it he traded in those stars while they still had some value,  and got back some assets that helped establish a future.   The Celtics studied bad for a couple of years,  then head a couple of years of first round exits - not optimal.

But,  if I had a chance to take back the kg/ray trades in order to eliminate those couple of Lottery seasons we ensured,  wound I do it?   No way.   Banner 17 is worth more to me then two or three years of stinking lottery ball.

So,  if  I had to sacrifice the future a little for a chance to have two or three more shots at a title,  then by golly I'd do it. 

Melo puts us there.   As we are now,  we are not a team Cleveland wants to face in the playoffs.  They're better then us and they know that,  but they also know any series against us is going to be hard fought,  emotional,  and a battle every step of the way.   We add Melo and suddenly we become 'that team' that they know full well it's capable of beating then in a 7 game series.   If we then add Vucevic as well, suddenly our roster is arguable better then theirs is.   Now,  we make the Cavs sweat a little.

And we become a far more attractive player destination too.  GS and Cleveland wouldn't pull the personalities they do if they weren't so stacked.   Veteran players will start wanting to come to Boston on cheap contacts for a shot at a title,  etc.   Our fortunes go up.

[tankcity!]

I guess my perspective on things is this...

In 2008, Danny Ainge took a gamble.   He had a Celtics team that wasn't going far,  with a star player who had a few years of prime play left.   He had just drafted a very talented big who seemed to have great upside (Jefferson)  and had some other nice pieces too.  He probably could have tried to develop some of his young guys,  and maybe the Celtics would have been a first round exit playoff team for the next 4 or 5 years.

But he took a gamble.  Traded away half hours team of role players and prospects for two 30 years old all stars.   From day one,  the team really only had a 3 or 4 year window,  given Ray's age.  It was a pretty big risk.  If it doesn't work or then Boston could be bad for a long time,  for nothing.

But it does work out.  The Celtics with banner 18, made a couple of finals appearances,  3 or 4 deep playoffs runs.   It was an amazing time to be a Celtics fan,  it really was.

Then after it he traded in those stars while they still had some value,  and got back some assets that helped establish a future.   The Celtics studied bad for a couple of years,  then head a couple of years of first round exits - not optimal.

But,  if I had a chance to take back the kg/ray trades in order to eliminate those couple of Lottery seasons we ensured,  wound I do it?   No way.   Banner 17 is worth more to me then two or three years of stinking lottery ball.

So,  if  I had to sacrifice the future a little for a chance to have two or three more shots at a title,  then by golly I'd do it. 

Melo puts us there.   As we are now,  we are not a team Cleveland wants to face in the playoffs.  They're better then us and they know that,  but they also know any series against us is going to be hard fought,  emotional,  and a battle every step of the way.   We add Melo and suddenly we become 'that team' that they know full well it's capable of beating then in a 7 game series.   If we then add Vucevic as well, suddenly our roster is arguable better then theirs is.   Now,  we make the Cavs sweat a little.

And we become a far more attractive player destination too.  GS and Cleveland wouldn't pull the personalities they do if they weren't so stacked.   Veteran players will start wanting to come to Boston on cheap contacts for a shot at a title,  etc.   Our fortunes go up.

Offer the Memphis pick. Would be the best asset among the three teams interested

[mr. dee]

I guess my perspective on things is this...

In 2008, Danny Ainge took a gamble.   He had a Celtics team that wasn't going far,  with a star player who had a few years of prime play left.   He had just drafted a very talented big who seemed to have great upside (Jefferson)  and had some other nice pieces too.  He probably could have tried to develop some of his young guys,  and maybe the Celtics would have been a first round exit playoff team for the next 4 or 5 years.

But he took a gamble.  Traded away half hours team of role players and prospects for two 30 years old all stars.   From day one,  the team really only had a 3 or 4 year window,  given Ray's age.  It was a pretty big risk.  If it doesn't work or then Boston could be bad for a long time,  for nothing.

But it does work out.  The Celtics with banner 18, made a couple of finals appearances,  3 or 4 deep playoffs runs.   It was an amazing time to be a Celtics fan,  it really was.

Then after it he traded in those stars while they still had some value,  and got back some assets that helped establish a future.   The Celtics studied bad for a couple of years,  then head a couple of years of first round exits - not optimal.

But,  if I had a chance to take back the kg/ray trades in order to eliminate those couple of Lottery seasons we ensured,  wound I do it?   No way.   Banner 17 is worth more to me then two or three years of stinking lottery ball.

So,  if  I had to sacrifice the future a little for a chance to have two or three more shots at a title,  then by golly I'd do it. 

Melo puts us there.   As we are now,  we are not a team Cleveland wants to face in the playoffs.  They're better then us and they know that,  but they also know any series against us is going to be hard fought,  emotional,  and a battle every step of the way.   We add Melo and suddenly we become 'that team' that they know full well it's capable of beating then in a 7 game series.   If we then add Vucevic as well, suddenly our roster is arguable better then theirs is.   Now,  we make the Cavs sweat a little.

And we become a far more attractive player destination too.  GS and Cleveland wouldn't pull the personalities they do if they weren't so stacked.   Veteran players will start wanting to come to Boston on cheap contacts for a shot at a title,  etc.   Our fortunes go up.

That team prior to the KG trade was way worse than our current team. You don't easily give up our current core pieces (which contributes in winning) just because a star is available, especially if you're on the top of the standings. All that 2007 team had was potential and it was a no brainer to pull the trigger. Paul Pierce wasn't a spring chicken either and could have bolt out anytime soon.

And KG was miles ahead in terms of team impact and talent. Melo maybe a better scorer, but he's not a franchise changer like KG or Lebron. I'm not against trading for him, but you really have to consider what to give up for him as it could ruin the team chemistry of the current core.

[flybono]

Any word on the King trying to get Anthony to Cleveland?

Love to Boston in a 3 way deal?

[MJohnnyboy]

Any word on the King trying to get Anthony to Cleveland?

Love to Boston in a 3 way deal?

Probably not because Carmelo more likely than not doesn't want to go to Sacramento.

[Ilikesports17]

Any word on the King trying to get Anthony to Cleveland?

Love to Boston in a 3 way deal?

Probably not because Carmelo more likely than not doesn't want to go to Sacramento.

King being Lebron here.

Cle already more or less turned this down. Melo doesnt have that kind of value right now.

[MJohnnyboy]

Any word on the King trying to get Anthony to Cleveland?

Love to Boston in a 3 way deal?

Probably not because Carmelo more likely than not doesn't want to go to Sacramento.

King being Lebron here.

Cle already more or less turned this down. Melo doesnt have that kind of value right now.

Whoops. TP to the both of you for the trouble.

[Monkhouse]

I'm all for getting Melo for pennies on the dollar. I don't even know how much interest Ainge has on Melo, but if he ever did, this would be the best time to acquire him.

Jackson literally seems like he just wants a complete rebuild. And at least we have the draft picks to entice Jackson, more than Rivers can...

I'm sure Rivers is talented, but they have to address many issues with Noah, and whether or not Rose comes back. That I'm not entirely convinced Jackson has that much interest, slowly turning his eyes at our stockpile of assets. I certainly wouldn't mind giving up two low first round picks, and a few second rounders. Salary for salary, Anthony is certainly better than Johnson, and Zeller who we most likely give up.

He eats into our cap space.

So what?

If we got Griffin, who I don't think is going to happen, would we really be that much better? Why not roll the dice on Carmelo, who's going to most likely give you great numbers, considering how much better the spacing is.

If Stevens and Ainge can both agree on bringing in Melo, he'd be the second scorer, and the actual offensive threat, as Crimson stated.

[mctyson]

I guess my perspective on things is this...

In 2008, Danny Ainge took a gamble.   He had a Celtics team that wasn't going far,  with a star player who had a few years of prime play left.   He had just drafted a very talented big who seemed to have great upside (Jefferson)  and had some other nice pieces too.  He probably could have tried to develop some of his young guys,  and maybe the Celtics would have been a first round exit playoff team for the next 4 or 5 years.

But he took a gamble.  Traded away half hours team of role players and prospects for two 30 years old all stars.   

You cannot compare the situation in 2007, coming off a 24-win season, to now when the team has 29 wins before the All-Star break.

Danny has a 50+ win team in his hands RIGHT NOW.  No trade required.  With max cap space for a free agent next year...all while sitting on a likely guaranteed top-3 pick in this draft, with probably another lottery pick in 2018, and a bunch of other draft picks (possibly more lottery picks).  This is how dynasties are created.

Apples and Oranges.

[Celtics4ever]

I would rather get Mindaugas Kuzminskas than Melo, he would help, would not kill the team and be much cheaper than Melo.  The dude always kills us. 

Melo, if we can get him cheap I would mind but the price has to be cheap without giving any Brooklyn Picks.  It is a huge, risk, he is not the player he used to be and is not a leader in the locker room and left ruin in the wake of where he has been in terms of the NBA.   He might kill our Chemistry and bring in the "me ball."

I still think we would not beat CLE though but we can't beat them now in a series.

[mctyson]

I'm all for getting Melo for pennies on the dollar. I don't even know how much interest Ainge has on Melo, but if he ever did, this would be the best time to acquire him.

It is not pennies-on-the-dollar in the NBA though. At best it is 80 cents on the dollar.  His future salary will kill this team's cap space and drive them so far into the luxury tax that they won't be able to resign their own players.

[Neurotic Guy]

That 2018-19 player option looms very large to me.  Even a bargain basement price for Melo feels wrong as DA looks to continue building over the next 2-3 years.  IF we were that one scoring option away, it would be great. But that's not the case.

[Celtics4ever]

Melo puts us there.

Several teams in the NBA thought that very thing and how are they doing now?   NOT WELL!

[fairweatherfan]

Melo puts us there.

Several teams in the NBA thought that very thing and how are they doing now?   NOT WELL!

The Nuggets were one of the worst teams in the league when they got him, and the Knicks (stupidly) gutted their young core to trade for him then tried to rebuild around he and Stoudemire. He hasn't played for anyone else. Not really the same situations as ours.

That said I'm not in favor of trading for him, because of the cost in trade assets and future cap space.

[bogg]

Melo puts us there.

Several teams in the NBA thought that very thing and how are they doing now?   NOT WELL!

He's been on two teams. He got the Nuggets to the Conference Finals for the first time since the mid-80s and the Knicks had their best season since Ewing was in town with Carmelo. He's been fine for the teams he's been on.