Love your breadth of knowledge but...
May I remind you that the whole getting a superstar here like Melo only works with the type of special coach that can reel him in, fine tune his talents, and use him correctly as to not have him play selfishly but within the team concept.
Basically take the good talent and mold it into something great.
Woodson has proven he cant. As a matter of priority we MUST find a coach that can do this 1st. This coach must be unquestionable and have a solid gameplan to implement.
without this Melo is just another expensive volume shooter.
OldTimer put the basic facts of dealing with Melo's contract.
Lakers extended contract to Kobe left out one thing .. Kobe cant get to the FINALS without Phil Jackson.
When it comes to Melo, its not about the headcoach .. Kobe is about the HC, Melo is not.
Its about Melo having 2 veteran leadership teammates telling Melo his position on the team to become contenders.
Melo wanted out of Denver bc of Billups, and Melo want out of NY bc of Amare.
In the short 2011-12 season Amare, Melo, and Billups wouldve been a 2nd to 3rd round postseason team without Tyson Chandler.
WHY?
Billups improve all teammates performance with written plays on offense/defense.
Example .. trading Melo to the LA Clippers would make the Clippers a top contender bc CP3 & Griffin will run the show. Trading Melo to Houston would make the Rockets a top contender bc Harden & Howard will run the show.
Trading Melo to Dallas would make owner Cuban Mavs a top contender team bc Dirk & Marion will run the show.
Trading Melo's outrageous contract to a team without 2 strong veteran leadership players are a team that will not succeed in passing the first round of the playoffs.
What makes this bad for us right now, the above example is the scouting-report on ISO-Melo trade-report to owners. G.M. are not allowed to trade for outrageous high salary players without the owner, and a committee consent. So trading Melo is more difficult than trading Amare's contract. Melo is 10% on trading, and 90% on walking...