Melo can't rebound or defend. Funny enough, that's what the Knicks need. And people may not like Lebron but it's undeniable he's the best player at thispoint.
+1. And Wilson Chandler is just a dominate force on D right? I think the key in this deal is to keep Fields and upgrade at PG & SF position; which is what happens with this deal. Eddy Curry is waste and so what if you lose a first round pick...Melo + Amar'e is a great duo; and again, that's leaving out a PG who is still playing at a very high level. Who is also better than Raymond Felton.
Melo couldn't even get to the finals with a faaar superior team to Lebron's Cavs. Calling him overrated is stupid. Lebron is superior to him in every way, check his $tats. You can't dismiss reality with a platitude. And all of this excludes Billups, he's awesome.
I also think you completely spear-headed past my point. Billups, Amare, and Melo won't get past the Heat or the Celtics. Melo and Amare are both #2s who think they're #1s (and neither play D). They're not on the level of guys like Kobe, D12, Lebron, Dwight, Rose, Paul etc.
I've yet to see the Heat play great defense and are 0 for against the Celtics. So, until I see the Knicks with Melo & Billups not beat the C's, I would put them high up in the East if that trade went down. Amar'e gets about 2 blocks per game...and is not the worst defender, a lot better than CB4. Melo is also one of the most established scorers in the NBA, so you can take the hit on D; but I'm sure in that situation at the mecca of basketball; he'd turn up his D. Plus, Chris Paul has not been to the finals and I don't think he will with this NO team, so you can take him out of this argument. Rose is gonna make some big noise, but the Knicks with Melo added, gives any team in the East especially, a really hard time and a super tough match-up. My point is, this NY Knicks team with Melo & Billups added make them a contender, IMO. The may not be able this year to get past the Heat or Celtics, but give them a year together; they'll be one hell of a team.
Contender? Fair enough, but I still don't think they're a strong enough team. And as much as I don't like the Heat, they're an amazing defensive team. When they turn it on, it's unbelievable how hard the opposing offenses have to work.
And I won't nitpick every point you made because it's stupid to do, but I don't see how you can't have CP3 up there. He may very well be the most complete point guard in a long time. He can score, rebound, plays D, has special court vision, and he makes the right decision more often than not. It's not his fault his team is a piece of crap. He's a superior player to Amare or Melo when healthy, so i'm not sure where you were going with that.
If Melo really wants Knicks he goes there in offseason ....I don't understand why he would want to weaken the team he's going to ( Gallo and FatFelt ) if he can just sign in a few months ( when he tanks the next few months in Denver ) Even if Gallo or Fat Felt ends up being traded - use them for upgrade assets - not as a loss that came on your signing that ended up weakening your new team. Marshmelow will be a Knick. One way of the other .
My point exactly! Anyway, I just don't see how Denver can make up for losing Melo. It sucks for them. It's not good for the NBA. But what do you do? They hold on to him, they're screwed because he's a baby, and he's got a right to be, by the way, in the CBA. But I'd almost say, just let him go. Still, like Mike points out, they can save a lot of money if they shed him in a certain way. They'll be a lousy team, but...they'll have some money.
What you say makes sense. The way this is being handled sort of unmasks the whole thing. It's only partially about coming home and not at all about winning titles. Melo wants his money before that new CBA blows up the candy store and signing an extension now is the only way to get it.
I'll agree with this, but I also think that Anthony's talk about returning to the Nuggets are just a ploy to force New York's hand. I have lost whatever respect I had for Anthony. He's hell bent on (a) getting paid, and (b) ending up with the Knicks and his motivations aren't remotely connected to winning.
Melo has been delt to NY. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aurl4_qsn1Op1eAzlt5ryek5nYcB?slug=mc-anthonyknicks022111
The price was pretty steep for NY. But Chauncey, Melo and Amare form a pretty reasonable team for this year. Is Chauncey's contract over after this year? Any room for Chris Paul or Deron Williams in the coming years? I think Denver did pretty well. But still, they're screwed. It was just a jerk move by CA all the way around.
Great GMing by Walsh. He turned last year's cap space, one 1st round pick and Gallinari, Randolph and Wilson Chandler into Stoudamire, Melo and Billups. Last summer, Walsh signed both Felton and Mozgov which turned out to be positive moves.
