Quote:
Originally Posted by spreedom
Well considering we currently can't give up a future first-rounder, I would absolutely roll the dice on sending a couple of second-rounders to the Knicks... if it would even take that. And again, any trade like this would involve our training staff signing off on Melo's health. He isn't exactly an athletic freak that allows on speed or explosiveness to score... (again, assuming the knee injury isn't a thing moving forward) his game is going to age well.
And we have absolutely no idea whether or not Melo would want to play for Dallas. Assuming the trade goes through, that means he waves his no-trade clause AND goes from a disaster of a franchise to one that virtually guarantees him a playoff spot for the rest of his career. So if we complete this deal it's with Melo's specific consent to playing in Dallas. I think he'd embrace the stability and quality of a franchise that generally does a really good job year in and year out.
So you'd give up Parsons or Matthews but not Powell?
Listen, I love Powell as a future prospect and feel like he could be a potential building block moving forward, but the reality in today's NBA is that he's probably a specialist: he isn't a full-time starting PF... so we're talking about a guy who's probably strictly a smallball backup center. I trade that kind of player, promise or not, for a sure thing ten times out of ten.
|
Powell isn't such a big deal and is expendable considering Melo can play the 4 (especially in RC's system) and we have 3 capable centers. The draft picks are though mainly because we've been torched on the two most recent deals of giving up picks (Odom and Rondo). Two 2nd rounders are no brainers though. I'd hate to give up Powell but if he is required to close the deal I'd be ok with it.
Parsons isn't as big a deal because a half hearted Melo can give us similar production offensively as Parsons. Also we could lose Parsons anyway for nothing and Melo would be better than anyone we could sign in the off season. And we will most likely vastly overpay Parsons and be the same caliber next season so the risk is very low in giving up Parsons imo.
Matthews could be a loss but Afflalo would somewhat make up for it and we'd rid ourselves of that contract. I'd take the risk of going out in FA to find a SG plus Anderson might be able to elevate to that role...maybe even Jenkins.
Personally I'd be very skeptical about making that deal because Melo seems to be happy unconditionally in NY. I also don't think he makes us that much better and not sure he is a great fit with Dirk.