Trade idea/Poll, AB as center piece for Melo.

[Csfan1984]

So the Melo trade is still worth talking about but right now the Nets picks are off the table. So how do you make it happen? Smart is a must keep as he has been the heart of the bench and is still showing some progress. Brown looks like a stud you don't trade him for a declining 32 year old. So my guess it then has to be AB.

AB, AJ, and Jerekbo along with C's 2018, Wolves 2nd, and Clippers 1st.

C's 9 man rotation
Starters=IT, Brown, Crowder, Melo, Horford
Bench=Smart, Green, KO, Zeller

The deal doesn't hurt the C's future and yet NYK land two first rounders, a high second and a impact starter that is still young and can be a leader in the locker room. It's much better than Clippers rumored deal or any deal rumored. C's won't get Melo for peanuts either so don't think any other deal makes sense that keeps the same bright future and makes the team better right now. It has to be done around AB IMO.

[bballdog384]

Maybe if no picks were included. I'd also rather keep Jonas than Zeller.

[saltlover]

New option needed: 1,000 times no.

[Csfan1984]

Maybe if no picks were included. I'd also rather keep Jonas than Zeller.

I'd rather keep Zeller as KO, Horford, Crowder and Melo can all play at PF. Zeller is the only true Center and only Horford and KO can also play Center. Also Zeller has a team option to retain him. With less cap space from getting Melo that option may be needed.

[Csfan1984]

New option needed: 1,000 times no.

So you are just no on Melo or the idea of AB for Melo? Look at it this way its a former top 5 player in the league who is still top 20 for AB, cap space, and picks. AB is a good starter but never has he been in the class of Melo even right now.

[Big333223]

I haven't been in favor of a deal for Melo but I've come around to the idea that if we're bidding against the Clippers and Melo could be had on the super-cheap, it would be worth doing. But "super cheap," to me, means no core assets. Bradley is definitely a core asset, so no.

[A Future of Stevens]

I am just not convinced that as an overall player Melo at this stage is better than Bradley. For almost his entire career Melo has been not just bad, but awful on defense. Now Bradley is having a down year on that end, but he is in no way Melo. Melo would be a second player in our starting lineup we would have to hide on the defensive end.

This is before we even count the age in the equation.

And on top of all of that you want to give away picks with it too? NY is getting major help here in terms of cap relief which matters.

I would rather have AB instead of a 2 or 3 year run at the ECF finals.

[Monkhouse]

No core assets for Melo. I would rather move on, unless Melo is coming for cheap.

[Csfan1984]

I haven't been in favor of a deal for Melo but I've come around to the idea that if we're bidding against the Clippers and Melo could be had on the super-cheap, it would be worth doing. But "super cheap," to me, means no core assets. Bradley is definitely a core asset, so no.

AB is not a core asset in my view. He has missed a lot of time over the years. And if it means team keeps it's Nets picks, Smart, and Brown then I'm okay with letting AB go.

Also collectively we have to understand if the team say deals Crowder or another piece over AB  it's likely only a two year run with AB. This is due to FA in which Smart, IT, AB and Melo would all be up. No way you resign all 4.

[Csfan1984]

I am just not convinced that as an overall player Melo at this stage is better than Bradley. For almost his entire career Melo has been not just bad, but awful on defense. Now Bradley is having a down year on that end, but he is in no way Melo. Melo would be a second player in our starting lineup we would have to hide on the defensive end.

This is before we even count the age in the equation.

And on top of all of that you want to give away picks with it too? NY is getting major help here in terms of cap relief which matters.

I would rather have AB instead of a 2 or 3 year run at the ECF finals.

You may lose AB to FA in two years any ways. And it's not the Nets pick or giving any of the top young guys. Cap relief isn't enough.

[A Future of Stevens]

I am just not convinced that as an overall player Melo at this stage is better than Bradley. For almost his entire career Melo has been not just bad, but awful on defense. Now Bradley is having a down year on that end, but he is in no way Melo. Melo would be a second player in our starting lineup we would have to hide on the defensive end.

This is before we even count the age in the equation.

And on top of all of that you want to give away picks with it too? NY is getting major help here in terms of cap relief which matters.

I would rather have AB instead of a 2 or 3 year run at the ECF finals.

You may lose AB to FA in two years any ways. And it's not the Nets pick or giving any of the top young guys. Cap relief isn't enough.

But this is still the art of deal making. If the only team that is even in this race with us can only offer 2 old sgs (aka cap space) and a late 1st a few years from now to go with a pg prospect who will never be more than a prospect. So we give away a borderline all star when they have literally no leverage? Doesn't make sense. It's like paying 245k for a house when you know the market is 200k. Doesn't matter that the list is 245, there is no reason to pay it all when you have the leverage.

[Moranis]

I'd do Brown or Smart but not Bradley.  And you keep JJ and include Zeller instead.

[Csfan1984]

I am just not convinced that as an overall player Melo at this stage is better than Bradley. For almost his entire career Melo has been not just bad, but awful on defense. Now Bradley is having a down year on that end, but he is in no way Melo. Melo would be a second player in our starting lineup we would have to hide on the defensive end.

This is before we even count the age in the equation.

And on top of all of that you want to give away picks with it too? NY is getting major help here in terms of cap relief which matters.

I would rather have AB instead of a 2 or 3 year run at the ECF finals.

You may lose AB to FA in two years any ways. And it's not the Nets pick or giving any of the top young guys. Cap relief isn't enough.

But this is still the art of deal making. If the only team that is even in this race with us can only offer 2 old sgs (aka cap space) and a late 1st a few years from now to go with a pg prospect who will never be more than a prospect. So we give away a borderline all star when they have literally no leverage? Doesn't make sense. It's like paying 245k for a house when you know the market is 200k. Doesn't matter that the list is 245, there is no reason to pay it all when you have the leverage.

Thing is the NYK don't have to deal him. And a guy like Jackson isn't going to take a low ball deal. Melo is still a top 20 player. He can still score and create his own shot. He gives the team a scorer to help IT. We have replacements for AB in the Smart/Brown combo. DA can't low ball every deal. At some point you pay slightly above market to fill a need.

[Csfan1984]

I'd do Brown or Smart but not Bradley.  And you keep JJ and include Zeller instead.

I wouldn't. Smart and Brown have already replaced AB pretty well in this recent stretch. Brown and Smart are also more cost controlled. As is Zeller over JJ. Jerekbo is a better player no doubt but the control and the need for a Center backup places a bigger need to keep Zeller.

[footey]

AB has more value to this team than Melo especially when you factor in defense.  So I don't like this trade idea at all.

Fans undervalue AB on this site so much. He is our 2nd best player after Isaiah.