I'm not too familiar with the hoop doctors but they actually suggested a similar trade as natebishop in december
I think you have to trade Nic and Wes for Melo if possible. Those two aren't good enough to win a championship with. They're just not. I think we all have reservations about Melo, but the guy is a true star player/talent. He was a part of those very good Denver teams. If the Blazers did get Melo, I'm not sure Stotts would be the right coach, though. He just loves the 3 too much, and he can't coach defense. And one big problem with Lillard/Melo/Aldridge is there's not a lot of defense there. That's troubling. Idk. I think if Olshey thinks this starting 5 is good enough to win a championship then he should just leave now. Waste of time. It's easy to win games in the regular season when half the league is a joke. I think this team loses a 1st round playoff series no matter who they go against based on where they're projected to slot in at.
Whether or not it makes sense or actually works there is a part of that would get a lot of enjoyment of the look of pure terror on the other Western conference teams if we did.
I think this team can win it all but they need another elite piece somewhere. If they had landed Hibbert when he was a FA this team would be fine with Nic and Wes at the 2 & 3. I think they can both be starters on a championship team but we still need that elite defensive center to pair with the other 4 guys
He'd be an improvement over Mo. No doubt about it, IMO. I'll also make the argument that Nic Batum is already the third star. His game is pretty close to what Lance Stephenson gives the Pacers, when you look at it statistically. http://www.basketball-reference.com...1&y1=2014&p2=stephla01&y2=2014#per_game::none
Do they need an elite defensive center or do they all just need a greater commitment to the defensive end? I personally think a change of mindset on this side of the court will help them. They have shown to me several times this year that they are decent enough on defense. Go back to OKC on New Years Eve. San Antonio on their last road trip to texas. Dallas on that same trip. For whatever reason, they pick and choose when they do it. They don't do it all the time. The team needs depth, they need the help. But they also need a greater commitment to defense. If they had it, this lineup with some more bench help is enough.
How bout MO, Meyers, Dorrell Wright to New York for Beno Udrih who is apparently in Woodsons dog house and Tyson Chandler?
Based on what others have said of him, I think we'd be MUCH better off adding someone like Larry Sanders and keeping Nic/Wes, than we would be in shipping out Nic/Wes for Melo. There's no doubt that Melo is an elite scorer, but I believe the combination of Nic/Wes provides far more benefit to the team than the individual effort of Melo. Based on what's gone down between Sanders and the Bucks it appears his value is low enough that we could offer a package of CJ/Robinson/Leonard+ which would give MIL enough young lottery talent to at least make them consider it if another team doesn't offer a lottery pick (which I'm guessing they won't).
If that could be accomplished that'd be great! Previous suggestions on acquiring Chandler involved Robinson and/or CJ - I wouldn't give up either of them for Chandler. But Mo/Wright/Leonard would be great - for both teams, I would think.
Agree. I kind of think Beno fits here. I would think Tyson would like to get back to a winning, professional environment. His ties to Stotts from Dallas's championship gives him some familiarity to him and his system. I just wish there was a way we could pry a wing away from them at the same time WO sending CJ or TRob anywhere.
Malone was the oldest superstar on that Laker roster, Kobe hated him and injured or not, they stacked up stars then and again last year with Nash and Howard ...no ring. Nets also paid a bunch of superstars and don't say you didn't think Deron Williams and Brook Lopez were a solid core, not new guys thrown together. Pierce and Garnett have played together how many years? Wrong comparison. I do knock the Nets. My point is paying for these guys guarantees nothing. Anyone who thinks Melo and his New York model wife are moving to Portland is seriously in denial. Ain't happening. Melo played with Kidd, Tyson, Stoudamire...ring? nope
Oh come on, Kidd was decrepit at that point, and Stoudemire looks like the real live version of Uncle Drew. Melo was part of some pretty good Denver teams. The guy can win, and if he was part of a legitimate contender I think he'd be willing to put up. He won a national title in college.
Superstars are superstars..Melo hasn't won anything. He's in the east and still not winning anything. He's no longer a poor college student, guy is a gazillionaire with a trophy wife in the big Apple...this has nothing to do with my point that you can't buy championships by overpaying these guys and expect rings everytime. Stoudamire is playing well for the Knicks if you haven't noticed this season. What do you call JR Smith (6 man of the year last season) and Tyson Chandler? I'd take Kidd over Felton right now. Is Melo putting them in contention? Nope.....Nolan Smith won a title in college..that's not the NBA though. Yeah, Melo is a great player. Will overpaying for him win you a ring, that's the question.Also of note, we've swept Melo this year with our role playing roster.
Don't expect this management team to cut corners when putting together this team. I would say trading for Melo would be an example of this.
We need a freakin' bench. Don't you guys notice how almost every game, when the subs come in we either blow the lead or fall behind. If they could just play toe to toe with other benches around the league we'd probably have the best record right now.
I think he would come over here just to have that heavy burden lifted off his shoulder. And it's a big one. Also, this is three years later. When he was suggesting this, he just got done witnessing the biggest free agent movement in NBA history and he wanted to start his own movement with Paul and Stoudemire. Now that has no chance. Just how important is his destinations to him?
