Yes! and the Foul

Finally on Team Carmelo

Archive for category Hypotheticals

Will an inconsistent season force the Knicks hand on Carmelo?

Feb 15

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Hypotheticals, Knicks Banter | No Comments

The Knicks are on pace for a .500 season.  Maybe.  They might be on the verge of winning 9 of 10 and making a strong run for the rest of the season.  Or they might only win only 2 of their next 10 games, struggle to make the playoffs, and I wouldn’t be surprised.  It’s been that kind of season.

But inconsistency was expected.  When you are starting two rookies on some nights (Fields and Mozgov), and/or two young players (Chandler and Gallo) who still have a difficult time asserting themselves in games, AND you can’t rebound and give other teams numerous second chances, our sense of how good this team really is blows wildly between pessimism and optimism.

During the latest downturn it’s easy to feel like Gallo, Chandler and Fields are worth giving up for that one legit superstar in Melo — a player who can take over games when it’s on the line.  But Donnie is a big picture kind of guy.  He has patience.  He’s seen players slowly and gradually improve.  He has a better sense than any of us what Gallo’s ceiling is, what Fields potential is, etc.  But, after 10 years of Knicks frustration and a unpredictable team owner, can Donnie afford to not strike a deal, even if it means selling the farm?

Tags: ,

Is Prokhorov cocky enough to trade for Melo without his signing off on an extension?

Jan 10

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Hypotheticals, NBA Talk | No Comments

That to me is the most pressing question. Proko might be so immensely confident he can persuade Carmelo that the Nets are his future, that he would pull the trigger on a deal without Carmelo’s blessing.  And even as a Knicks fan, I kinda love it.  What a high rolling nut job!  I get this image in my mind of the dude’s putting all his chips on 15 and acting like it ain’t no big thing.  He knows the roulette ball is going to magically hit.  It might even impress Carmelo that there is an owner out there willing to roll the dice on him.  But, is this just a fantasy?

From all accounts, the Nuggets new ownership is making a serious mess of this situation and are a big reason for the hold up on the deal.  Additionally, Carmelo certainly doesn’t seem happy about what is going on and hasn’t signed off on a Nets trade (or else it probably would’ve happened months ago).  Additionally, as brought up in Chris Sheridan’s excellent breakdown, it’s clear Carmelo’s new agents want this trade to go down.  After all they stand to lose money, too, if the new CBA negatively impacts how much Melo can get in a new contract.

But despite all of this, no one seems to have confidence in the fact that Carmelo will okay a trade to the Nets.  And, certainly, Carmelo can’t appreciate his reputation being sullied by all of these details being made public.  It might be putting pressure on him, but it also might make him all the more resolved to get what he wants: New York.

Tags: ,

How much is too much for Carmelo?

Sep 28

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Hypotheticals, Knicks Banter | 1 Comment

The more this drags out, the more reluctant I am to give up too much in a Carmelo trade.  Funny how I’ve been falling in love with a team I haven’t even seen yet, but there is a potential for this team to be extremely entertaining, interesting and unpredictable to watch.  Teaming Carmelo up with Amare makes us predictably good in a way that I could only imagine would make me frustrated (ie. “why have we lost 3 in a row?”, “how are we not on pace to win 55 games?!”, “how do we not have home court?!”).

I realize how ridiculous this sounds, though.  Shouldn’t I simply want to root for the best team possible?  Would getting Carmelo give us the best team possible?  I think in the short run ‘Yes’, but in the long run ‘No’ and that is the root of my hesitation on this trade.

I keep reading that the Knicks would most likely have to part with Randolph and Gallo (and Curry) AND come up with a first round pick (via trade, which would mean Chandler most likely). Randolph and Gallo both seem like guys who could develop into top 30 in the league types (i.e. occasional all-stars).  Would I rather have two potentially marginal all-stars or one top 10 guy in Carmelo?  I guess the best way to figure that out is to look at what a Knicks roster looks like post trade.  Here’s what we’d have:

PG: Felton / Douglas / Rautins
SG: Azuibuke / Mason / Walker
SF: Anthony / Fields / PE Jr.
PF: Amare
C: Mozgov / Turiaf

It is an impressive lineup with a lot of depth at the 1-3, not that it matters much with D’Antoni’s short rotations.  But, with Amare and Mozgov predictably get in foul trouble, we’d definitely have to pick up someone for more front court depth.  Does Earl Barron have a guaranteed contract, yet?

On the flipside, what if Randolph and Gallo become as good as we hope?  What if Randolph becomes Pippen-like?  Or, being more realistic and lowering the bar a little, what if he gets to Tayshaun Prince’s peek level, something I think is highly realistic.  And, Gallo seems to have an almost Dirk-like ceiling?  But, maybe more realistically we get someone like Peja Stojakovic in his prime.  Do I rather have Carmelo or both peak-Peja and peak-Prince?  I tend to think that I’d rather have the two guys that I’m certain could compliment Amare really well.  But, this is a stars league, and Carmelo is a star.  It’s a tough call.

Tags:

If Melo wants to be in NY, the Knicks don’t have to give up much

Aug 18

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Hypotheticals, NBA Talk | 1 Comment

Not much.  Not much at all.  Gallo (or Randolph), Curry and a future pick could be enough.

Think about it.  If Carmelo makes it abundantly clear to the rest of the league that he wants to be a Knick, what other team would trade for him now just to lose him during free agency this summer?  Only a team that is willing to take the risk that they can convince him otherwise—that they have a superior roster to the Knicks.  Perhaps the Bulls can do that.  Maybe Orlando.  Maybe the Nets.  But really, this could be a one team race to obtain Melo if New York is where he wants to be.

And, all indications are that Melo only has eyes for New York.  He just got married to his wife who’s in the entertainment industry and is from the city.  He has his own roots to city (born in Brooklyn), the state (went to Syracuse), and the east coast.  He has a great relationship with Mike D’Antoni where he featured as one of Team USA’s three best players.  His marketing opportunities would explode as a Knick.  He knows the Knicks will spare no expense (which is more than you can say for the Bulls and Orlando).  And, his chances to win a championship might be best in NY.  Here is the Knicks roster if a Gallo/Curry trade goes down:

PG: Felton / Douglas
SG: Azubuike / Walker / Rautins
SF: Carmelo / Chandler / Fields
PF: Amare / Randolph
C: Turiaf / Mozgov / Jordan

That’s solid.  That can compete with any team including the Heat.

It should be noted, I’d really, really, really be bummed to trade Danilo.  I truly believe he has borderline all-star potential and is a great fit for SSOL, especially with his stroke.  But, you’ve gotta give something up to get something.  I’d add Walker and/or Chandler, too if it would sweeten the pot.  I’d be very reluctant to give up Randolph, though, since he’s so multidimensional which might be just as important as outside shooting to D’Antoni.

The Knicks truly have the upper hand in this situation.  Carmelo wants New York.  Denver doesn’t want to end up in Cleveland’s situation.  The longer this goes on, the less Denver will be able to get back.  At the trade deadline, a team surging for a playoff spot or a team thinking this is their one shot to put them over the top, might pull the trigger on renting Melo.  But how much would they really give up?

Tags: ,

Predictions on the eve of free agency

Jun 30

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Hypotheticals, NBA Talk | No Comments

Here is my best guess on the eve of free agency:

Knicks get Joe Johnson and Chris Bosh (sign/trade): My thought being the Knicks will make JJ feel like a priority going to him first, making him feel like a star, like the guy they want the most.  There will also be a comfort level with Coach D.  As for Bosh, they’ll also make him feel like he’s the man, telling him “You don’t need to be Lebron or DWade’s sidekick.  As the main attraction on the Knicks your marketability and star appeal in the league will rival that of Wade and Lebron.”

Raptors get David Lee.  Lee gets to control his own destiny a little bit in a sign and trade.  But, I worry that OKC swoops in to make Lee an offer to derail a sign and trade.  Additionally, does Lee want to be in Toronto?  Maybe some sort of super complex 3 team sign and trade happens.

Miami gets Wade and Amare.  Why would Wade leave Miami?  I mean really?  And Amare would add a great inside outside touch.  He’ll think, “if Wade won it with Shaq downlow he can win it with me down low, too.”  Besides the Miami lifestyle will hold a ton of appeal over Amare.

Cleveland gets Lebron. Lebron overplays his hand with all teams, stalls too much and the pieces start to fall before he can control them.  Additionally, he realizes that he and his peeps run the org.  Realizes he’s less of a bad guy if he stays in Cleveland.  Realizes he can’t live in the Jordan shadow and isn’t a good fit with the Chicago roster.  Realizes being in Newark for 2 years isn’t ideal.  Realizes he doesn’t want to share the credit and legacy with Wade.

Chicago gets Boozer. They add the low post scoring they actually really need and fits.

New Jersey gets no one (for now). No one is willing to wait around 2 to 3 years of a 5 year contract to play in Brooklyn.  They’ll have too much trouble getting the first chip to fall in place.  BUT, they’ll probably make it happen at some point either by trade, signing, or in a sign and trade for someone cool since they won’t be encumbered by the salary cap.

As for Lebron, I think the Knicks do have the best shot at landing him if it’s not Cleveland.  I just think the Knicks are going to move hard and fast on Joe Johnson and make him an offer immediately to get something no matter what.

Tags: