Actually looking at our roster and assuming we resign Gasol, our hole will be at the starting SF and PG. We can go after Carmelo and Lowry and we'd have a pretty competitive unit. Or you can do better by replacing Melo with Lebron
If can't get superstar then get Lowry and Deng... or steal C.Parson
We should F with Houston, put in an offer for Parson.
That would be hilarious. If we weren't actually going after a bigger name who plays the same position (Lebron, Melo), I'd actually want the Lakers to do this. Parsons is a nice player, and put up solid #3 option numbers for Houston last year.
It might mean something. Kobe did say he doesn't follow players from opposing teams that wanna kick the Lakers' ass. Even if they're his close friends. He doesn't follow Trevor, Ronny, Sasha and Chris Paul.
Marc J. Spears @SpearsNBAYahoo · 5m
Source: Knicks free agent Carmelo Anthony expected to make decision the 2nd week of July after visiting select teams. http://yhoo.it/TpV1cr
I guess he's not interested in Miami
Quote:
A source said there is currently no frontrunner for Anthony's services. He is expected to meet with the Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. There was no mention of the Miami Heat. Anthony hopes to visit the aforementioned teams in their respective cities during the opening days of free agency. At the moment, no other teams are expected to get a meeting.
Melo isn't taking that big of a discount. Maybe a few mil, but not $10-11m a year like he would have to take in Miami.
That should take Dallas out of the running as well. Even if Dirk takes a Duncan-like discount ($10M), Dallas can't offer Melo more than $12-14M, which isn't enough IMO.
Interesting though, that Chicago seemed to cash in on 16 and 19 picks to get McBuckets. How are they clearing up the space for Melo? Amnesty Boozer (no one takes him now without picks, or say Jimmy Butler)? Trade Gibson for nothing (I'd be interested).
They can attach McD to Boozer. That might get it done. The more likely scenario is that they couldn't find anyone to take Boozer off of their hands, so they will have to amnesty him to free up space for Melo. If they do that, then they'll have a little more than $11M in cap space. Dumping Gibson will allow them to offer Melo a contract starting between $18-19M.
Which is totally unlike Chicago. (I'm just reading Phil Jax's book right now btw).
They are stingy, and to eat Boozer's K, then trade off Gibson for nothing, all to sign Melo to nearly $20m contract (so basically paying $35-40m for Melo in his 1st year) is not like them. I might be inclined to scratch them off Melo's list now that they seemed to go after McBuckets. Is there a team out there that coveted McBuckets that much they would eat Boozer's K? (that have cap space)? I don't see it.
To me, Melo is down to NY/LA.
Yeah, I don't think Chicago is a serious contender. However, I do think Houston is. They can offer Melo the best team. It will just be a matter of convincing Melo and his family to accept living in Houston. Based on Melo's earlier comments about the allure/importance of playing in the bright lights of a big city like NY, I think that's going to be a tougher hurdle for Houston to clear than their fans might think. LA is the only other destination than can match NY's allure as a city.
The one thing that does make me think it will be NY or LA is that in Melo's interview, he mentioned nothing about winning championships. I don't know if this speaks to his true mentality or if he was careful to avoid mentioning this so that he's not eventually criticized for passing on teams like Houston and Chicago. As a competitor, I'm sure that Melo wants to win a championship, but if his top two destinations are NY and LA, then he knows both teams are at least a couple of years away. Both teams do have a discernible path to get there based on current and future cap space. They just won't get there next season.
fwiw Kobe just followed Melo and Randle on Twitter.
It's has to be flattering for Melo to realize that he is really the first player that Kobe has ever actively recruited. Comparatively speaking, Kobe will never be the butt-kisser that other NBA stars turned recruiters are, but with Melo being good friends with Kobe, he should know that a little goes a long way with Kobe.
I think people are underestimating the circumstances for Chicago. Seems highly unlikely to me that they shed the salary to make it happen. They might not even suck it up enough to amnesty Boozer.
For Houston, they could probably clear enough space, but will Melo want to play there would be the question. _________________
Last edited by srm90 on Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:07 am; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 17 May 2013 Posts: 10949 Location: I wish I knew
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:04 am Post subject:
There is something brewing folks looks like melos representatives have already privately told the lakers hes coming... that is why kobe is now following melo on twitter.
I think people are underestimating the circumstances for Chicago. Seems highly unlikely to me that they shed the salary to make it happen. They might not even suck it up enough to amnesty Boozer.
For Hosuton, they could probably clear enough space, but will Melo want to play there would be the question.
It's funny how some draft analysts viewed the McD trade as a carrot to entice Melo. To me, it seemed more like a consolation prize for a team that badly needs offense and can't/won't get Melo.
i think the pitch to lebron was already made by kobe and those 3 guys in miami are staying together down there...
our attention should be on trying to somehow get melo, lowry and pau...
if we can trade nash for nothing...
melo 17m
lowry 9m
pau 8m
everyone takes slightly less... but our starting 5 is set...
lowry
kobe
melo
randle
pau
Trade Nash for nothing. Um do tell us how.
umm yes sure no problem...
did you see the trades last night?... did you see the trades yesterday?
did you see arron aflalo get traded for the 58pick and evan fournier?
nash + future 1st to philly for a future 2nd round pick
or nash + jordan clarkson to philly for a future 2nd round pick...
philly has to spend money... they're collecting assets... they'll make the trade...
if it means Houston losing Carmelo to Lakers they wont, their GM used to work under Morey
"USED TO" i like my ex co-workers, but i like my current job more... philly's gm WILL NOT say no to an asset, he's like morey was in houston, just stock piling assets, stock piling, piling them up...
he doesn't care if his move makes houston worse or better... the only move a GM cares about is the move that makes his CURRENT team better...
picking up a future pick or even jordan clarkson would be an asset...
Joined: 17 Feb 2002 Posts: 14876 Location: Reseda, CA
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:08 am Post subject:
Kobe following Melo. Kobe doesn't follow players that aren't on his team, so this has to be a good sign. Put it this way, if Melo wasn't coming then Kobe definitely would not follow him.
Melo's most productive at PF especially since he's no longer as explosive to blow by his defender.
It's redundant to have him here with Randle as well.
NO TO MELO! _________________ Eighth grade key phrases are crucial tools for this type of subterfuge: "team player", "make teammates better", "ballhog", "selfish", "court vision": all dripping with sanctimony and defamation.
Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Posts: 36081 Location: 502 Bad Gateway
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:10 am Post subject:
CBaller8 wrote:
Kobe following Melo. Kobe doesn't follow players that aren't on his team, so this has to be a good sign. Put it this way, if Melo wasn't coming then Kobe definitely would not follow him.
There is something brewing folks looks like melos representatives have already privately told the lakers hes coming... that is why kobe is now following melo on twitter.
CBaller8 wrote:
Kobe following Melo. Kobe doesn't follow players that aren't on his team, so this has to be a good sign. Put it this way, if Melo wasn't coming then Kobe definitely would not follow him.
i think the pitch to lebron was already made by kobe and those 3 guys in miami are staying together down there...
our attention should be on trying to somehow get melo, lowry and pau...
if we can trade nash for nothing...
melo 17m
lowry 9m
pau 8m
everyone takes slightly less... but our starting 5 is set...
lowry
kobe
melo
randle
pau
Trade Nash for nothing. Um do tell us how.
umm yes sure no problem...
did you see the trades last night?... did you see the trades yesterday?
did you see arron aflalo get traded for the 58pick and evan fournier?
nash + future 1st to philly for a future 2nd round pick
or nash + jordan clarkson to philly for a future 2nd round pick...
philly has to spend money... they're collecting assets... they'll make the trade...
Huh?
Denver WANTED afflalo back. Orlando wanted to shed long term contract. How is that the same? Philly gets nothing out of nash but an expiring, totally unlike Afflalo.
NO way I trade a future 1st to get rid of Nash.
If your theory was right, they would have taken Boozer off Chicago's hand and collected 16 and 19 picks. They haven't as of now. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
FWIW - Kobe is also following Kent Bazemore. _________________ Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold.
Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 7038 Location: Somewhere in Canada
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:11 am Post subject:
Getting Lowry on the squad w/ either one of Melo or Bron, I'd be happy with. Just like Kobe, and Randle, the guy has a motor. He's an absolute competitor who just wants to go out there and play, regardless of the situation. A big reason why the Raps won the Atlantic last season. He'd be a HUGE upgrade for the PG spot. _________________
There is something brewing folks looks like melos representatives have already privately told the lakers hes coming... that is why kobe is now following melo on twitter.
...again
There is no way you believe in whatever you post. Your view always changes.
Kobe following Melo. Kobe doesn't follow players that aren't on his team, so this has to be a good sign. Put it this way, if Melo wasn't coming then Kobe definitely would not follow him.
Is he still following Dwight?
He unfollowed D-12 soon as he left the lakers. _________________
[W]e have every confidence that Carmelo is good for what his word is, that he wants to be in New York, he likes playing in New York, he wants to compete, he wants to be part of a playoff team that is competitive toward a championship.
When I take his word, he's the one who opened that up, that it wasn't about the money. So I challenged him on that, because I wanted our fans to see he's a team player, that he was going to do what's best to get our team ahead farther and faster.
There is something brewing folks looks like melos representatives have already privately told the lakers hes coming... that is why kobe is now following melo on twitter.
...again
There is no way you believe in whatever you post. Your view always changes.
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