The super Melo to Portland thread + The Big Blockbuster

I can't argue with the first part as I do like both alongside Dame and CJ against most matchups. But there are a few matchups like GS where I like ET guarding Klay as opposed to Durant.

As for Meyers and Caleb at PF....we know Meyers can't guard stretch 4's, can Swanigan? During most of SL he seems to be playing center and has not wandered too far from the basket. I am just not sure yet if he can guard the perimeter.

 

I think it would be easier for him defensively. At center we need a rim protector which he isn't

 

This video about Anthony has tilted me in favor of acquiring him, especially the points about using him as a stretch 4:

 

Don't need a great rim protector if perimeter defense contains properly. A rim protector is the 2nd line of defense, there to protect the rim in case the perimeter shell breaks, so to say.

Leonard at PF means penetration, which means our rim protector (Nurkic) will get in more foul trouble from having to challenge so many drives, and it will also lead to more kickouts and defensive scrambling because of the help required to help Molasses Leonard.

Leonard should never, ever, play PF.

 

I think there would have been more chance of this happening if the Knicks hadn't already signed Hardaway Jr. Then they might want Crabbe or possibly Turner, but now they won't.

 

I've never been a big Carmelo Anthony fan, but I'm warming up to this idea. Given that if it doesn't work, he'll probably opt out after one year and go play with his superfriends in HOU or CLE. Which will give us a ton of tax relief.

Adding Anthony would put us in win now mode, in which case, I'd also try to get Kyle O'Quinn (1 year at $4 million) from NYK. Something like Harkless, Davis, Meyers and Vonleh works. That gives the Knicks two young players in Harkless and Vonleh, an expiring contract in Davis and dead weight in Meyers (sorry, you don't get something for nothing - if you really want Harkless, Meyers is the price you pay). Throw in a 1st round pick or a couple of second rounders to get it done.

Swanigan can replace Vonleh and O'Quinn can back up Nurk for a year until Collins is ready to take over that role.

Props to Neil for telling HOU to fuck off. We have no obligation to help make them better, especially if it hurts us in the process. Seriously, has Daryl Morey become the most entitled GM in the league? CP3 forced his way to HOU to play with Harden. That fell in Morey's lap and now he acts like he's somehow entitled to Anthony too, even though he doesn't have the assets to get him.

If it works, we should easily have HCA in the West, possibly as a 2 or 3 seed and will have the personnel, both starters and bench, to match up well with GSW. If not, all we gave up are role players and saved some money in the process.

BNM

 

Yes, this is definitely the best part of the whole tawdry affair.

I'm fine with, even happy about, acquiring Anthony if Portland can dump one of Crabbe or Turner in the deal. Leonard is probably the most-overpaid player on the roster relative to his ability, but his raw salary isn't that huge. Just clearing him off the books wouldn't be as impactful.

 

Harkless and Vonleh is about as good a package as the knicks would get for Melo. No way could Houston sucker a facilitating team into offering something better.

 

They need a SF to replace Melo and AC and ET can both play there. I think that should be the selling point.

AC, Harkless, Leonard, Napier, 2018 1st for Carmelo and Lee.

After this season Lee wont be hard to dump with 2 years left on his contract and all that leaves is Turners contract before we have REAL cap space.

Knicks lineup:
Ntilikina / Napier
Hardaway / Crabbe
Crabbe / Harkless
Porzingas / Davis
Willy / O'Quinn

That's not a bad lineup.

 

You always need a good rim protector due to there not one team in the NBA premimeter defense have held up. Your right about Myers should never play the 4. One thing what protector does it actually help your premimeter defense due teams don't attack the basket as much.

 

Your way off for the salaries matching.

 

It sure as shit isn't a good one.

 

I was talking in terms of the Leastern Conference.

 

Not if you add Leonard. Taking on Leonard is a prerequisite for any trade we make where we give up an actual asset like Harkless. Otherwise they can fuck off.

 

Swanigan makes Vonleh expendable and the Knicks covet Harkless. Seems like it works well for both teams.

Between Anthony, Aminu, Turner and Crabbe, we'd still have the SF position covered. I would expect Anthony to play a lot of small ball PF and we could go offense (Crabbe), defense (Aminu) or ball handling (Turner) next to him as the match ups dictate.

I think a lot of people here underestimate Kyle O'Quinn. His advanced stats compare favorably to post-trade Nurk. He's not the same talent as Nurkic, but he has very similar strengths (great rebounder, elite rim protector, good pick and roll defender, excellent passer with a good mid-range game). We wouldn't have to worry as much about Nurk getting fatigued or in foul trouble with O'Quinn backing him up. O'Quinn is also in a contract year and has never gotten a big payday. I would expect him to be highly motivated to play well.

BNM

 

I think we have to pick our poison. If he plays center we can count on him at least rebounding as opposed to playing away from the basket where he is not in position as often. Also I think not being able to cover a forward at the 3 pt line would result in more points by the opposition, than him taking up space in the key. Teams will quickly scout the Blazers and Caleb, and make him pay by sticking an extra shooter out there. And it's not like we will benefit on the offense because they will just switch their center on him if he tries to post up on the smaller PF.

But maybe he can cover the perimeter. I don't really know because I have not seen him try yet.

 

Yeah, I actually quite like both O'Quinn and Lee as throw-ins from New York's roster. Both are useful today and neither is really an albatross--Lee's salary is reasonable and isn't locked in for that many years, even if he's getting up in years.

 

Yeah, dumping one of the larger contracts would be nice, but I don't think NYK would do it. Maybe something even larger like including Crabbe in place of Leonard and taking back Courtney Lee. That also works:

In - Anthony, Lee, O'Quinn
Out - Harkless, Crabbe, Vonleh, Davis

BNM

 

Just thinking out loud here; what playoff teams have the cap space/contracts, assets, and need to make a move for Melo? I feel like Portland is in the best position to match salaries while also giving New York a desired young player.