The super Melo to Portland thread + The Big Blockbuster

But you gotta admit, it would be pretty entertaining. A lot of people didn't like the jailblazer era. I loved every second of it as there was always something happening. If you had boogie and Melo on the same team there would never be a dull moment.

 

Hell NO! All by myself. But MFs didn't fuck with her afterward. I ain't a big guy but these hands have tapped more than a few heads.

 

A friend of mine saw a guy grab his sister's ass. My fried walked right up to him, one punch, out cold. Let's just say he didn't need to do that again to anyone in the school. Word got around.

 

Well, once in the fifth grade I .....

 

The main reason why I was in so many fights is because of my size. I've been the same size since Freshman year.

People would think they could push me around but didn't know my mother once SOCKED my uncle while she was pregnant with me.

 

this post is just an edit waiting to happen! I'm going to let it go though....

 

Beep!..... Beep!.... Beep! beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Breaks out defibrillator again:

CLEAR!!!!!

New York Knicks: Designing an ideal Carmelo Anthony trade to Cleveland

New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony reportedly has just one team he’s willing to play for in 2017-18: the Houston Rockets. As New York struggles to piece together a mutually beneficial trade, however, it may ultimately refrain from dealing Anthony to Houston.

If that were to transpire, it stands to reason that Anthony could reopen his list of preferred destinations and include a former team of interest: the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Before the Rockets madness began, the Cavaliers were at the top of Anthony’s list of preferred destinations. The possibility of playing with Kyrie Irving and LeBron James was undeniably intriguing, both on championship and friendship levels.

Irving’s recent trade request complicates the matter, but it stands to reason that the Knicks could send Anthony to the Cavaliers if he realizes it’s his best way out of New York.

In the event that Anthony is willing to waive his no-trade clause for the Cavaliers, one can’t help but ponder what that could entail for New York. Kevin Love is a polarizing option, and Irving would be a dream acquisition, but what would be realistic?

In order to answer that question, let’s break down every element of what the New York Knicks could potentially get by trading Carmelo Anthony to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Untouchables
This may not sit well with New York Knicks fans, but there’s a good chance that Kyrie Irving will be untouchable. There’s not much that New York could offer for Irving’s services, and that includes a 33-year-old Carmelo Anthony.

Knowing that we’re in the pursuit of a realistic trade, however, we’ve managed to take a gamble and hypothesize that Irving will not be one of the untouchables.

The untouchable on New York’s side is Kristaps Porzingis, and there’s no reason to even debate that. If it costs Porzingis to acquire Irving, then the Knicks should walk away before making a potentially disastrous mistake.

This is no slight on Irving, but the idea is that New York could pair him with Porzingis—not replace the organization’s most promising prospect since Patrick Ewing.

On Cleveland’s side, the only untouchable is quite obvious: LeBron James. Not only does James have a no-trade clause that he won’t waive, but he’s the best player in the NBA, and the only reason Anthony would want to go to Cleveland.

With James and Porzingis off the table, we can start exploring a trade by answering an important question: How do the finances line up?

The Finances
Designing an ideal trade will mean lining up salaries and finding a way to circumvent this restrictive situation. The Cleveland Cavaliers have minimal flexibility, meaning the finances would need to line up close to equally.

That could prove somewhat difficult when one considers the fact that Carmelo Anthony is one of the highest paid players in the NBA.

Anthony is owed $26,243,760 for the 2017-18 season, which is the only figure of note as far as getting the trade done is concerned. He also has a player option worth $27,928,140 for 2018-19, which Cleveland must be ready to take on in the event that Anthony accepts it.

As far as simply executing a trade is concerned, Cleveland would need to keep it close to the $26,243,760 figure in outgoing salaries.

Kyrie Irving will make $18,868,626 in 2017-18, and Kevin Love will be paid $22,642,350. One of those two contracts will likely need to be included, as a combination of Iman Shumpert at $10,337,079 and J.R. Smith at $13,760,000 simply wouldn’t be accepted.

With conflicting salaries, New York will need to either get creative with its trade package or include a third team in the proceedings.

Team Needs
With the untouchables and the finances established, attention turns to what each team needs. The answer is different for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks, as the two franchises are building along conflicting timelines.

Cleveland needs players who can help LeBron James compete for a championship, and New York is looking to execute a legitimate youth movement.

New York is building around big man Kristaps Porzingis, which means the ideal return would be a perimeter player. Frank Ntilikina and Tim Hardaway Jr. form a promising backcourt, but it’s plausible that Ntilikina would be given up in a Kyrie Irving trade.

Irving is essentially the Knicks’ team need in a dream scenario, but if he can’t be acquired, then New York will likely address its perimeter defense..

For Cleveland, James needs defensive-minded players and capable scoring threats around him. Losing Irving would mean the Cavaliers would need a new closer, and even if it were to keep Irving onboard, it has a glaring absence of capable defenders.

Both teams need defense, but Cleveland needs immediate value mixed with long-term potential, and New York is simply looking for the latter.

The Trade: With Kyrie Irving
The most ideal scenario for the New York Knicks would be to acquire Kyrie Irving. The question of the hour, of course, is what exactly could the Knicks offer to the Cleveland Cavaliers in order to successfully trade for the four-time All-Star?

Assuming Carmelo Anthony is willing to go to Cleveland—the premise which this entire article is based upon—the following trade is the most ideal New York could realistically offer.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS GETCARMELO ANTHONY, SF; FRANK NTILIKINA, PG; KYLE O'QUINN, PF/C; 2018 FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK



NEW YORK KNICKS GETKAY FELDER, PG; KYRIE IRVING, PG; RICHARD JEFFERSON, SF; EDY TAVARES, C


Some have said the Knicks would be giving up too much, but the point here is quite simple. Anthony wants out of New York, which means losing him is something that’s somewhere in between inevitable and a bonus.

Whether he’s forced to stay for 2017-18 and walks next summer, or forces his way to the Houston Rockets, Anthony is gone—and, for the Knicks, that makes this about Frank Ntilikina, Kyle O’Quinn, and a pick.

Ntilikina could be special, but Irving plays his position and is already a four-time All-Star at 25 years of age. O’Quinn is a quality big, but the Knicks have two rising stars down low in Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez.

With a core of Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kristaps Porzingis, and Willy Hernangomez, losing Ntilikina and a pick wouldn’t be the same as blowing up the ship for one player who’d have nothing around them.

Cleveland may still say no to this offer, but New York should jump at the opportunity to get this done.

The Trade: Without Kyrie Irving
The unfortunate reality here is that the New York Knicks may not be able to get Kyrie Irving. It can offer a healthy amount of assets, but in the event that the Knicks fail to trade for Irving, a backup plan should exist.

In this scenario, the Knicks would acquire the defensive-minded wing it needs to round out its youth movement and push for the future.

Charlotte Gets: Kevin Love, PF; Kay Felder, PG
Cleveland Gets: Carmelo Anthony, F; Jeremy Lamb, SG
New York Gets: Richard Jefferson, SF; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF; Edy Tavares, C; Future first-round draft pick (via Cleveland)

The Charlotte Hornets would be getting Kevin Love, who would become the best talent on the roster. Losing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could hurt, but it drafted shooting guard Malik Monk and will likely shift Nicolas Batum into MKG’s position at the 3.

Moving forward with a starting lineup of Kemba Walker, Monk, Batum, Love, and Dwight Howard would put Charlotte in a position to be a legitimate postseason team.

Having Marvin Williams, Frank Kaminsky, and Cody Zeller leading the bench would give Charlotte sustainability in its style of play and production from the bigs.

And, quite frankly, Love is the player that Charlotte has been attempting to draft: A lights-out shooting big who can put up 20-plus points per game—and he can dominate the boards.

The Cleveland Cavaliers would be getting the star-caliber ISO scorer that the team needs in Carmelo Anthony, who may be better off at Love’s position: the 4. It would also be acquiring Jeremy Lamb, who’s an athletic wing with the potential to be a high-level defender in the right situation.

A starting lineup of Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Tristan Thompson would be formidable, and Lamb could help provide desperately needed depth.

Cleveland would also be unloading Love’s contract, which makes significantly more sense for a team like Charlotte.

The Knicks would be getting Kidd-Gilchrist, who has been one of the more intriguing young defensive players in the NBA when healthy. The rest is filler—sans a late first-round pick—but not much else matters more than getting a 23-year-old wing on a team-friendly deal.

Kidd-Gilchrist is an excellent rebounder for his position, a versatile defender, and a New Jersey product who would fit perfectly with the defensive-minded youth movement.

A starting lineup of Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kristaps Porzingis, and Willy Hernangomez could compete for the playoffs with Courtney Lee leading a strong bench.

 

KEEP THE THREAD ALIVE!!!

 

What's the latest?

Where he's traded basically decides the title--I don't know why anyone wouldn't be following this thread carefully.

 

But seriously, were you ever trained in boxing or something?

 

Bro, I've seen you..... I'd whoop your ass!

 

Been in the middle of big fights at parties in HS and post HS......but if I did anything it was only in self defense. But serving as an MP in the Army, The HCP got into his share. Not fun getting hit in the nose, I can tell you. Did get jumped a couple times at hoop courts in my younger days. They didn't like a whiteboy who could hoop AND talk that much trash.

 

I'd dance all around yo big ass!

It'd be like trying to hit Mayweather!

 

This is the scenario I've been praying for all along. Knicks get their perimeter defenders in Moe and Aminu/Vonleh and whatever reasonable picks, Cavs get Melo and filler, and we get Love. Best realistic scenario possible this off season.

 

This writer isn't the brightest.
1.) The Cavs need frontcourt depth, not backcourt depth. They already have 3 SGs in Smith, Shumpert, and Korver, and in his scenario, would have Irving and Rose at PG. Melo is a SF playing PF, and Lebron is a SF as well... They need PF and C depth, not Jeremy Lamb.
2.) Why does CHA need Zeller, Kaminsky, and Marvin Williams coming off the bench at PF and C, when they have Love and Howard? Why wouldn't they trade Zeller, who the Cavs need more than Lamb, and keep Lamb, who Charlotte would need more than Zeller?
2.) Does he really think that Ntilikina, Hardaway, MKG, Porzingas, and Willy could compete for the playoffs? Lol.

 

I put exlax in your gatorade at the 3 on 3 tournament. Why do you think I didn't let anyone know I was there, watching with my Nikon binoculars?

 

No.

 

I'm 34 and have yet to punch someone in the face. I've been saving it all these years for DougInAnus and HonkieCrackSmoker.

 

Fixed that for you.