I took a few months off from paying attention to the Melo trade saga, but I jumped back in this weekend. My thought this morning was that Denver might as well keep Melo out of spite if Melo nixes the Nets. I don't like the Nets package much, but I hate the Knicks proposal (from a talent standpoint):

• Chandler (low trade value) He's a free agent. There's no higher probability that he'd re-sign in Denver than Melo. The only value in trading for him is either a temp fill in this year at SF or an inside track at scouting him for free agency. But in my opinion not much value in trading for him.
• Galinari. (some value, but no compatibility) I don't know if he's good or not; I've hardly seen him play. I do know that he has a niche skill set and it will be redundant in Denver. He's a stretch 4. Harrington is a stretch 4. Harrington is signed over the next 4 years. You can't play two Stretch 4s together, so at best they share minutes. His only value in my eyes is as trade bait. What's he worth on the market? Maybe flip him for a draft pick?
• Felton instead of Chauncey. (Negative value) Maybe a decent starter, but not an upgrade over Chauncey. I wouldn't trade them straight up. Chauncey spending the next two years in Denver transitioning to Lawson is a great setup. Felton clouds that. Who is the starter? Who is your long term guy? ... Add to that that Chauncey is still a marketable face that Denver fans will pay to see. I think this move represents big time negative trade value.

I don't see any long term benefits in the talent of the team. I think the Felton/Billups swamp washes any benefit from Galinari and Chandler. I'd rather play out the year with Melo. I don't think he'll re-sign and I'm sick of watching him play in a Denver jersey. But F*** it, I'd keep him just to spite him after all the crap he put Denver through and stop him from getting his max extention.
BUT, I just looked at the salary savings from the proposed trade. Wow!! Denver saves $20M in salary and the matching $20M in luxury tax?! Pro-rate the salary savings because the season is half over ($10M in salary savings) and Denver saves $30M with this trade?? Done, do it. Nuggets fans are the big losers, but I can't blame the Kroenkes. Pearing $20M off your payroll through a trade is unheard of and pretty damn impressive. In fact, I don't know how the Nuggets wouldn't prefer that over the Nets' trade.