Carmelo is a 2 years rental for championship illusion.
I hope everybody get that right before throwing any assets.
If we have to give expiring contracts and non nets pick, why not, but other than that, I don't see the urge to be a delusional contender.
If we get him without giving up serious assets like the Nets picks or Brown or Smart then I don't see the problem in this. He's a legit star, top tier scorer and and underrated rebounder. Basically he fills two big needs. If we get Melo and pick up a guy like Bogut we are legit contenders for 2-3 years AND we still build an amazing foundation for the future with Brown, Smart, and both Nets picks.
I'd be fine giving up Brown or Smart if O'Quinn also came with Anthony because frankly I can't see Brown (and Smart to a lesser extent) getting much playing time with Anthony around anyway. Why let a guy that wouldn't play hold a trade that puts Boston up a clear level in talent. It just doesn't make much sense to me.
I agree with you about Melo still being a great player. Imagine if we'd had him when he was 28 or 29 years old a few years ago.
Now what to give up to get him? On this I am in absolute, 120%, universal disagreement with you on that one.
Sending Marcus or Jaylen would be an enormous mistake. In fact we simply won't take him if he costs that much.
They are limited in their options with his enormous salary, no trade clause, trade kicker and the ability to basically to be traded to whoever he wants that wants him.
We are one of a few teams who can do this.
Doc can offer his son, Crawford and Diamond Stone.
We can offer better than that.
At the very most I think something like:
Rozier+
Young+
Amir+Jerebko
2019 Clippers pick.
at an absolute maximum, and I mean absolute max.
Clippers can also add in Redick who would easily fetch a late 1st from someone and Brice Johnson (who I would argue has as much if not more value than Rozier, which isn't much on either account), and if the Knicks really like Rivers, then the Clippers trade easily exceeds that pile of trash from Boston, which is exactly what that trade is. That is why Boston will never acquire Anthony for that and New York would just be better off keeping him and looking to move again this summer when teams will be in a better position to acquire him and have more assets available.
Put it this way, if Boston makes the move you propose, then Brown might as well go to the DLeague as he isn't getting any minutes for the Celtics outside of injuries, and that will destroy his value anyway (so he won't hold much value in some sort of future move and Boston won't have the salaries to acquire a star anyway).
Throw in another 1st rounder and a couple of 2nd rounders! Lol
And I don't see how Brown loses major minutes. With Amir and Jerebko shipped out, that's a lot of minutes to be had. Brown and Melo can play alongside each other. Even Brown at the 2, with Crowder at the 3 and Melo at the 4 will work.
Playoff type rotation
PG - Thomas 38, Smart 10
SG - Bradley 38, Smart 10
SF - Crowder 38, Anthony 10
PF - Anthony 28, Olynyk 20
C - Horford 38, Olnyk 10
Totals
38 - Thomas, Bradley, Horford, Anthony, Crowder
30 - Olynyk
20 - Smart
Maybe Smart gets some of Anthony's SF minutes, which then cut into KO's PF minutes. If O'Quinn also comes with Anthony or the C's pick up another backup center, then that person just gets KO's center minutes.
Now obviously the playoff minutes are a bit higher than the regular season, but those aren't that far off from what you would expect, aside from Smart getting more minutes in the regular season. Brown just isn't going to get time and the C's are better off trading him if someone like Anthony is acquired. I'd just prefer to trade him for Anthony and use Brown to get O'Quinn who would be the perfect backup for Horford and has a very nice contract. Brown, Zeller, Johnson for Anthony, O'Quinn. Keep Jerekbo for depth in that trade as well.