According the reports the Nuggets are flying across this fine country trying to garner support and interest from various teams looking to pull a Rent a Melo move. Houston is reportedly in discussion and thinking about offering Yao's expiring contract along with young players like Budinger and Jordan Hill along with #1 picks which include their 2011 pick ( which can be swapped with NY's) and NY's 2012 first rounder (top 5 protected). Chicago is mulling over a possible rent a Melo move and reportedly would offer Deng (and his contract), Taj Gibson, James Johnson, their 2011 1st rounder and Charlotte's pick (2012-top 14 protected, 2013 top 12, 2014 top 10, 2015 top 8 and 2016 unprotected). Dallas would be able to give us Caron Butler and Deshawn Stevenson's expiring contract along with Beabois, Jones and there 2011 pick.
Don't forget as the NY media and slobbering illiterate Knick fans remind you that they have a package available and of course NY is Melo's preferred destination. The package that they are offering is Gallo or Chandler (with an expiring contract)Fields, Randolph or #1 pick,and Curry's expiring contract.
This may sound very underwhelming to you and it should as these deals do not have the flair of a potential future star nor picks that appear to be very high. However the possibility exists that the Russian is mad as hell and won't take it anymore so we have to live with this and take the best of the worst so to speak.
Well, that may not be the case. Some have said that the Knicks will have to scramble in the upcoming CBA year to fit Melo to a maximum contract deal. They may have to renounce some of their players and an already depleted team and with the new terms of the deal offer Melo something that could range in the neighborhood of 20-40 million dollars less than he would get with a new extension. In addition to this Melo and his dear friend Kobe say that it is all about a championship and playing for a contender. I am not sure how renouncing a lot of your players to a team that already lacks depth will sew the Knicks into a contender seeing as they have to contend with the likes of the Celtics, Magic and oh yeah the Heatles. Especially when their weaknesses of defense and rebounding will not appreciably improve with just Melo a la carte. Melo also has stated that the extension is the most important thing to him.
With all this in mind what is wrong with the Nuggets calling Melo's bluff and keeping him here. That way the only way he could get his extension is to sign with us. Who is to say that the Knicks knowing that they will have to strip down to bear minimum to sign Melo want to stand out in the cold and welcome him with open arms (not a good visual). They may elect instead to go after Dwight Howard in 2012 or actually build around their current nucleus. If Melo realizes that free agency is a risky proposition and that he could lose 40 million all the while not going to a contender, suddenly sticking in this dusty old cowtown may not be a bad ending. Maybe the Nuggets are already thinking this and that is why they were aloof when it came to finalizing their decision. After all if all we can hope for is the above offers the risk may not be that big after all.
Personally I am leaning toward the idea of the power play and keeping him. However the Bulls offer is somewhat enticing.
What do you think fellow Denver Stiffs?
Links:
Chad Ford's Nuggets Plan E
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-110121
Knicks may not be able to sign Melo that easily as FA
Melo wants dat extension!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/ian_thomsen/01/18/carmelo/index.html
