-Cap space to sign 2 max players
-premier desirable location for free agents
-top 4 pick
-top 10/15 player
For how long have teams like Sacramento and Minnesota had most of the above, and yet they have sucked on a permanent basis.
So what do you think is going to happen?
Monroe and Aldridge decide to join Carmelo and sign with New York (because the bright lights are just too irresistible, and they don't really care about getting touches anyway) and then the Knicks get lucky with #4 and choose a guy who ends up being the next Chris Paul (rather than the next Aaron Gordon), then the Knicks fire their garbage coach and hire Thibbs, and then the Knicks go on to win 6 championships?
Wishful thinking.
Just as likely scenario is that no big name free agents sign with them because the big stars (like Aldridge) don't want to be Carmelo's #2 sidekick, and the smaller stars (like Monroe) don't want to go to a team that just won 17 games. New York head office drastically overpay and throw a max contract at some guys who don't deserve it (like Tristan Thompson and Tobias Harris. New York's #4 pick ends up taking 2-3 years to develop into a starting caliber player. New York keeps their crappy coaching staff. Knicks make the high lottery for the next 3 years and then Melo walks and they do another rebuild.
Carmelo is not a defensive liability lol.
Even Lebron has said Carmelo is the best defender vs him at times.
Lebron also said he wouldn't leave Cleveland - then he signed with Miami. Then he said he as going to win 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 championships - he's still stuck on two.
I have total respect for what Lebron can do on a court, but I really pay no attention to the verbal diarrhea that constantly comes out of his mouth.
Carmelo has a Defensive RPM of -2.09 which ranks him 71/86 (bottom 18% in the league) among NBA small forwards. To call Anthony a 'below average' defender is being generous, to say the least, and I'm pretty sure you'll find that 90% of people out there will concur with that statement.
You wouldn't trade our current situation for theirs?
Not in a million years.
The thing many people don't realise is that there are basically three possible positions for teams to be in right now:
1) Not competitive now, but many assets for adding talent in the future
2) Competitive now, but not many assets tor adding talent in the future
3) Competitive now and many assets for adding talent in the future
Boston are one of the select few teams that fit in category #3.
Lol you either hate Carmelo or hate New York because you're turning a simple case into a detailed analysis without much substance.
What do we have that they would prefer, or any other team in the NBA would prefer, other than our coach?
Here are the facts....
1)
-They have a top 10/15 player. (Carmelo). He is a top 5 scorer in the NBA. I'd argue it's not entirely fair to use his dprm in a season he obviously' took off' that included Bargani and Quincy Acy as his defensive bigs. I'd also argue that his defensive effort would improve if motivated and contending.
Carmelo's power on offense is incredible to his team and the unit in the floor. When he's on the floor the Knicks have been top 3 in assist ratio and over 75% EFG. That's a guy that draws doubles like Lebron James but finds open guys AND can hit the jumpshot if needed. They have Hardaway Jr and Galloway, not as good as our young role players in Bradley, Sully, Okynyk, Smart and Zeller-but they HAVE that guy we're desperate to acquire. And don't tell me Ainge would bring Melo here at the drop of a hat if he could.
-We have a top 40-50 player in IT and those above role players.
2)
-They have a top 4 pick in a very good draft and a great selection of talent.
-we have the 16th pick with the ability to perhaps move up into the top 10 if other teams are interested. We also have some Brooklyn picks and a dallas pick which might be late lottery or in the 20's. They're okay picks but more valuable as assets if a superstar becomes available and a team wants a bunch of mid first round po picks. I'd rather have Carmelo Anthony in his prime with cap room for 2 guys in a mega location.
I'd personally prefer the 4th pick to than our picks.
3)
-they have cap room for 2 max free agents whilst ALREADY having a top 15 player and top 5 scorer in the NBA.
-we have cap room for 2 max free agents if we move Wallace and we also have Marcus Smart, Isaiah Thomas and Brad Stevens.
4) They are New York- a top 3 market in the USA and pro sports which helps them in their quest for top tier free agents.
You seriously wouldn't give up our loot of role players and middle first round picks for Carmelo, the #4 pick, and room for 2 max guys with Brad Stevens at the helm?
If not, then we'll have to agree to disagree I guess.
easy choice for me.