It would be a steal for the Nets. Melo is a young dynamic scorer. He's the type of player that will attract a FA in 2010. Melo will help put fans in the seats. What you have the Nets giving up for Melo are none of those things. -Petey
This is maddening. As recently as yesterday, Kiki was on the record saying the Nets want to find a way to get MORE draft picks, that player development and winning the right way--meaning developing players from within--is the most important goal for the team. Today, the Nets created a new position, director of player personnel, and put Gregg Polinsky, their chief scout, in the job. As detailed before, EVERYTHING the Nets have done since February has been aimed at their long term prospects. Even signing glue guys--mentors--like Najera is aimed at player development...and now it appears the Nets have a team option on Najera after year two, reducing their payroll in 2010. Keyon Dooling, same thing. Jarvis Hayes, team option in year two. CDR, team option for year three. It's not as if this is a secret. It is the stated business plan, the stated goal, to get under the cap for the 2010 free agency. Did the Nets really go after Melo? I simply do not believe that happened. The proposal that was discussed made no sense, was not even close to possible under the CBA.
I firmly believe that Kiki took the time to keep Melo's name in trade rumors just to fuck with the Nuggets.
I take all of that with a grain of salt knowing how much he likes to play with the media and Thorn's record with trades. Yes, I fully believe they are committed to player development, but more from the standpoint of asset management than that these are the guys they truly believe in and want to go for a championship with. The Nets have to find out what they can get out of these guys both on the court and in trades. Give Thorn some players that appear to have some value and lets see what he can do on the trade market. Plus, given Thorn's history, I can't bank on Free Agency being the thing that "fixes" the Nets. I have to hope for trades next season.
Let's see what happens. Words mean so much less to me than actions. Your belief that Nets mgmt speaks to their fanbase only in truth is................what it is.
If their goal is to get a major player in 2010, but the chance to acquire Melo presented itself today, they won't do it? Melo is the type of player they look to sign in 2010. I'd think any GM would take Melo today, over the possibility of signing LBJ in a few years down the line. -Petey
We'd like to have Melo, alright. But at what price? Obviously Harris cannot be traded. But how about VC, or both SF's to clear the spot? No problem, because they would be replaced by Melo. But young bigs are not easy to find, unless we aim to sign one in 2010 instead of LBJ.
