I'm not a Knicks fan, but I'm intrigued by this whole Melo opt out thing, especially with ESPN reporting interest from the Heat.

I think Knicks fans who complain about Melo tend to be misguided since his only real sin is that he's not all-time great elite when there are a small handful of contemporaries who are.

However, he is about to enter the phase of his career where you're paying more for the past than for the future.

Since that's out of synch with where the Knicks are, I'm wondering how hard Jackson really goes to re-sign him.

The Knicks, sans Melo, would be real, real bad.

But Jackson not only has the cache to survive stripping it down, but also the cache to make free agents believe that the freeing of cap space can be followed by a quick turnaround.

It's going to be interesting with all the mystery variables

It's fascinating. I can't imagine any of the Heat's big three taking a cut to like $13M to win an additional championship. If I was Duane Wade, I wouldn't be leaving any money on any tables or not picking up any options or giving up any salary voluntarily. Nor can I imagine Carmelo Anthony leaving $70M on the table, so I don't think Carmelo to the Heat is a realistic thing.

I think realistically the Knicks have the best chance of anyone of getting a team friendly deal from Carmelo, they offer him the best chance to be a NY Playground Legend level dude, and no one else can offer him that. And, the Spurs are showing exactly what a system offense can do, even without a star focal point like Carmelo.

I think Chandler is a valuable/movable chip both as a player piece, and as an expiring contract. I think both Stoudamire and Bargnani have value as expiring contracts. I think Prigioni, Felton, and JR Smith are possibly movable pieces with manageable 2yr $3M/$10M/$12M deals, that might be worth a 2nd round pick or a bad expiring Bargnani/Stoudamire type contract to free up some more cap room next offseason.

I think they'll end up with at least a 2nd round pick from someone like Philly, and maybe a couple 2nd rounders, and maybe even trade into a late first rounder if they can find a good deal for Chandler. I think the Knicks can pretty much make a great run at filling out the roster in a way that can compete this year if Carmelo stays, or next year if he leaves. If Melo doesn't want to stay, then I/we/they shouldn't want him any way. I think he'll make a verbal agreement to stay or go regardless of process shortly and the Knicks will act accordingly based on that understanding, but the next 18 months should be a fun time to be a Knicks fan regardless.

Fisher's been linked to LeBron a couple of times in the past, if that adds fuel to the speculation fire.






http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamihe ... rsue-guard

Did anyone think it would ever be this bad?

No. I would have assumed one of THJ (Coming off a solid rookie campaign) or Shump (New coach who may not jump down your throat for any or everything) would step up his game. That a vet or two among Dally, Calderon or even, yes, JR (as much as I can't stand him), would play well with a change of scenery, being fully healthy, more responsibility, new coach etc.

None of that happened, and considering Melo's injuries/health (not that they were winning with him) and one dimensional game, you could have forecast a pretty bad year.

But not this bad.