Nets pull out of Melo deal

[Ridders]

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Nets have pulled out of the Melo-drama.

Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov delivered the bombshell to the media on Wednesday night as he made his opening statement after traveling to the United States for what he thought would be a chance to finish the deal to bring Carmelo Anthony to the Nets from the Denver Nuggets.

"I'm not happy with the way ... this deal has gone until now," Prokhorov said. "It has taken too long. It has been played out in public and it certainly has taken a toll on the players and I believe that it has cost us several games. I think management did a great job, but there comes a time when the price is simply too expensive. I'm instructing our team to walk away from the deal."

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6038636

Wonder if this a bluff or legit?

Nuggets would be spewing if it were true.

 

[Big Mick]

I think its a bluff.

Trying to get Nuggets to scramble now...and I think it'll work.

 

[Big Mick]

I think its a bluff.

Trying to get Nuggets to scramble now...and I think it'll work.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I still don't understand why they would really want the deal though when Melo isn't going to sign an extension.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Also think it's a bluff. Good move, they've really got nothing to lose at this point so why not gain back the ascendancy?

And the Nets have said that they would only complete deal after Melo had signed an extension, same as what Boston did when they traded for KG.

Wonder if the Nuggets would now entertain an offer from the Knicks (if they can move Randolph for a pick)?

 

[Special K]

I also think it s a bluff but I don't see Melo going there. I am waiting for Melo to sit out games like AI did before I take these trades seriously.

If I am the Knicks I don't care if this goes to FA. That way they keep their guys and get Melo. The only reason this needs to be done now is so Melo can make more money. The Knicks won't offer Chandler who is an expiring(the knicks can re-sign him after they sign Melo with their cap space due to bird rights) but I think Curry Expiring contract, Azubuike Expiring contract(who is pretty handy!), Gallo and two first round picks is enough for a guy who is going to walk and someone like say Birdman who has a long contract.

Felton/Fields/Melo/Stoudemire/Turiaf with Chandler as 6th man is very good especially when you throw in some vet min guys who want to win. They just need a true centre... How is Mozgov going?

 

[Big Mick]

Wonder if Chicago will enter the fray.

Could offer Taj Gibson, Loul Deng, Kyle Korver and 1st rounder for Melo and JR Smith maybe.

PG - Rose
SG - JR Smith
SF - Carmelo
PF - Boozer
C - Noah

RES - Brewer
RES - Asik

That would REALLY be a great team in the East and I think would beat the Heat.

Then again, maybe its not enough. But Deng is in career form, and Gibson has proven when he has played he is a solid piece, so you have two solid role players plus a 3-point shooter in Korver plus a 1st rounder...its not a terrible position to be in for the Nuggets to build around.

PG - Billups
SG - Korver
SF - Deng
PF - Gibson
C - Nene

RES - Birdman

Still not a terrible line up...probably still good enough to make the play-offs...

 

[Big Mick]

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4eyzzw9

Doesn't work if I include JR Smith.

But You don't have the ability to include cash considerations and 1st round picks to this trade machine.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

No way Nuggets take back Deng's contract and no way that's enough for Melo AND JR Smith IMO.

 

[Big Mick]

Well I'd take Deng, Korver and Gibson for Melo alone.

I'd definitely take that over Derrick Favors who hasn't really shown anything imo that would suggest he is a franchise guy.

With Deng, Korver and Gibson you are getting solid pieces there that can help you remain competitive.

If you take Favors in the Nets deal it'll basically gut the whole team and it'll be sh*t for a long time.

 

[Special K]

The nets deal was by far the best. It allowed them to get 2 first round picks, the number 3 from this years draft and expirings. They will not get that value from anyone. This allows them to tank this year and rebuild the team. Billups can expire this year, Nene next year and you have no major salary on your team. Cap space which you can use to flip some of those nice picks you have for a star or sign one to go with Favors and your picks. You have options and can build the way you want. If Favors doesn't work out you haven't paid him much and can cut ties. Most teams would do that over paying Deng, Kover, Gibson over 20 mill a year.

Deng is owed a lot of money. Korver has a long deal and a rebuilding team isn't looking for MLE quality role players. Gibson is undersized in a monster conference. Plus Billups, Smith, Deng, Gibson, Nene doesn't make the play offs in the west(or east). That deal would make them not good enough to compete but not bad enough to get a decent pick. No mans land like the 76ers when they traded AI.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Well I'd take Deng, Korver and Gibson for Melo alone.

I'd definitely take that over Derrick Favors who hasn't really shown anything imo that would suggest he is a franchise guy.

Favors is the youngest player in the NBA so is taking some lumps, but there's no denying his talent. He might not be a "franchise guy" but are you suggesting that Deng or Korver or Gibson are? And although Gibson was drafted only one year earlier than Favors, he's six years older and turns 26 in June, so I can't see him getting any better than what he already is - a 9th or 10th man good for 15 minutes a night. Favors could turn out in any number of ways - too early to predict but I'd take the punt on the 6 year younger player.

With Deng, Korver and Gibson you are getting solid pieces there that can help you remain competitive.

If you take Favors in the Nets deal it'll basically gut the whole team and it'll be sh*t for a long time.

But that's the point - if the Nuggets trade Melo, they don't care about "remaining competitive". They'd likely trade Billups, Harrington and Anderson as well. Trying to include Harrington was what caused the Nets to walk away in the first place! JR Smith and K-Mart are expirings to boot, and most likely wouldn't be re-signed.

They would be gutting their roster and starting over, and they'd rather start over with a young Favors who's shown some ability and has huge growth potential, three first round picks (if they trade Billups they should get one as well) and cap space, as opposed to Deng's & Korver's contracts (owed a combined $50m after this year) hanging around their necks, and a soon to be 26 year old that would never start on a good team.

 

[Ridders]

Agree that the Nets offer was the best. You have to remember that future first round picks are so valuable (especially from a team like the Nets) because they're assets that cost you nothing.

The Denver front office are taking alot of heat for stalling the deal with the Nets, but I wonder if that was more due to Melo just not being interested in taking an extension with the Nets.

Alot of money at stake here for Melo. Been reading some stuff about the NBA even potentially brining in an NFL like "franchise tag". Not too familiar with it (perhaps Big Mick could elaborate?) but I'm guessing the gist of it is that it allows a franchise to tag one player and keep them from leaving. That would bring some lols in the Melo situation. Don't think it's too likely to happen though.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I also think it s a bluff but I don't see Melo going there. I am waiting for Melo to sit out games like AI did before I take these trades seriously.

If I am the Knicks I don't care if this goes to FA. That way they keep their guys and get Melo. The only reason this needs to be done now is so Melo can make more money. The Knicks won't offer Chandler who is an expiring(the knicks can re-sign him after they sign Melo with their cap space due to bird rights) but I think Curry Expiring contract, Azubuike Expiring contract(who is pretty handy!), Gallo and two first round picks is enough for a guy who is going to walk and someone like say Birdman who has a long contract.

Felton/Fields/Melo/Stoudemire/Turiaf with Chandler as 6th man is very good especially when you throw in some vet min guys who want to win. They just need a true centre... How is Mozgov going?

Mozgov got minutes earlier in he season but hasn't been playing lately. Apperantly the Knicks offer is Gallo, Fields, Currys contract and a first round pick which they are going to get for Randolph.

 

[Special K]

I'd like to see the mavs rent Melo... Butlers exp contract, couple of picks and fillers. Never would happen though but still I'd really like to see the mavs get a ring as much as I don't like them(doesn't make sense I know I just like how much cuban loves him team)

 

[Big Mick]

Franchise Tag basically just gives the team the right to keep the player there at their team for 1 year.

The compensation is based on the average of the top 3 highest paid players at that position.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Knicks and Nuggets discussing a Melo deal?

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6094827

Have NFI why Minny would trade Randolph for Brewer personally. They're thin as on the wing to begin with and are taking back yet another big with no shooting range. I like Randolph but not sure I like him on Minny.

 

[Ridders]

In the proposed trade, New York would send Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry to Minnesota and the Timberwolves would send Corey Brewer and a first-round pick to Denver. Denver would also receive Wilson Chandler from New York.

Why would the T-Wolves be interested in giving up their own first round picks? Given how sh*t they are, I'm assuming it would be protected. They must really like Randolph.

If it were to happen, that'd be a pretty sweet deal for the Knicks. If they were to acquire Melo in free agency, they probably wouldn't be able to keep Chandler anyway, so no real loss there.

 

[Special K]

They could sign melo and then re-sign Chandler using bird rights. But who knows how the new CBA will work though so I see why they don't want to risk it.

 

[Ridders]

They could sign melo and then re-sign Chandler using bird rights. But who knows how the new CBA will work though so I see why they don't want to risk it.

Fair point, although would the Knicks be interested in paying Chandler if they've already acquired Melo? Guess it depends on whether they think he's a 3 or a 4.