The super Melo to Portland thread + The Big Blockbuster

I've said many times that defense is a team skill more than an individual skill....it's choreography..5 guys on a string. To beat the Warriors you have to score a ton of points and play decent defense. Stotts has had the Blazers play top 10 defense in stretches. Paul George and Melo would put us right in the mix I believe.
Andre Igguodala is a free agent if you want defense as well. He's real close to Evan Turner too.

 

Carmelo has never personally prohibited any of his teams from winning so please with the "loser" talk. Last time I checked this was a team sport. If he's a loser so is everyone else on our roster.

Not a star? The guy is probably headed to the basketball hall of fame and is widely considered one of, if not the toughest guy to guard by his colleagues.

Cancer? Maybe when he was younger, but he's been an ambassador to the game for awhile now, and his teammates love him. His team USA coaches all rave about him as well.

We can argue his defense (actually not really everyone knows the deal), his efficiency, and all of the rest, but you can't take any of these away from him just to fit your narrative.

 

Melo is not the same Melo he used to be. He is old with a lot of wear and tear on his body and I just dont' think he would put us over the top. We are probably on the Clippers level with Melo but not at the Spurs level and certainty not at GSW level.

 

By himself, no. But, if we added Melo and PG13...

Plus, he would not be required to carry his team here, like he has been in New York. If we added PG13 and Melo, Melo would be our 3rd or 4th option, not out 1st (like he has been in DEN and NYK for his entire career).

BNM

 

If it doesn't work out, is it really that much of a loss? I say bring Melo in!

 

You guys are crazy. What makes you think Melo would want to waive his no-trade clause to come to little old Portland. This guy is glitz and glamour.

Plus, I just don't like his game. He'll make himself a spectacle even though he's washed up and take away the focus of the team.

Horrible idea.

 

Even if he wants to stay after one year, what are you going to a 34 year old? What would he demand to stay here?

 

Sure if we bring in another player then Melo can be the best 4th option in the league. By himself he does nothing to move the needle.

 

Melo makes less sense if we get PG in my opinion. A two way player like Amir Johnson, Kyle O'Quinn, or Thad Young would be better. Would make defenses pay for doubling, while giving us elite defense in the frontcourt. They'd also cost a lot less, which means we'd get to keep more role players, and they're all younger, meaning they won't fall off like Carmelo will.

 

The proposed deal gets us both Carmelo and O'Quinn. Win:win.

BNM

 

Dirk couldn't defend shit, but he had 3 elite defenders around him in Kidd, Marion, and Chandler.

Clips might be rebuilding if CP3 leaves (which is likely). We might have no option to trade him.

If Melo could actually help us contend, I'd be all for it. However, I think he wouldn't improve this team at all. Melo wouldn't scare the Warriors one bit. Durant would be extremely excited to face Melo.

As far as these guys you named, Love is a horrible defender which is why I don't want him either. Lamarcus is average, and Griffin is actually a pretty good defender. Melo is much, much worse than Griffin or Aldridge at defense.

I just don't agree with people that think that Carmelo will magically become better by playing here. He still had some of the same problems before he got to NYK, and he's getting worse because he's past his prime. I just don't think the situational difference is enough to make him better when he's naturally declining from age 33 to 34. And if Melo played the way he did last year, he'll hurt us.

There are no defensive coaches that will make Carmelo an average defender. There are no "defensive coordinators" on the market, and Olshey has shown no willingness to bring one in, so it's pointless to use hypotheticals such as "If we had a defensive coordinator...".

 

Or we could just get O'Quinn instead of paying $28M a year when he doesn't fit and would be our 5th best scorer.

 

River don't say stuff like that. People on this board will block you for suggesting a player who isn't a 50% 3 point shooter

 

He'd be perfect, I'd love his defense and all-around game.

However, we can't afford him.

 

Giving up picks for a 33 y/o Melo...

 

You're not one of those posters I was talking about though. As you judge a players value based off more than their 3point %.

 

Who said anything about picks (plural)?

BNM

 

#15 pick*

 

Blazer guards got Yogi Ferrall a monster career high and a contract. Now THAT is poor defense.

 

It's Paul's money.