So many things can happen between now and when Gallo, Fields, Douglas etc are ready.
I'm not suggesting we sell "the farm" just to get a crack at Melo, I'm asking a simple question.
Does Melo alone make NY a contender?
Let's look at what he gives us to start with. One of the best 3 players in his position (the others of course being LBJ and KD). LeBron is no doubt the better all round player and so tops the list and KD has the POTENTIAL to move into second (first if you add the intangibles). Melo is as sweet a scorer as there is in the game today but he's not going to make us contenders straight away, I have to agree with Chuck on that one.
Billups
?
Melo
Amar'e
?
That's the bottom line. We are looking to keep either Gallo or Fields but we won't keep both if we want this trade to happen. Now Fields slots in NOW, can do a job NOW, is better than what we have NOW and has potential to improve in the future. I don't care if people would rather have "the next dirk" for trades, if you take Melo then you negate Gallo for a year or play him out of position to the detriment of the team.
So the answer for me seems to be in the present, not the future.
Billups
Fields
Melo
Amar'e
?
Now this looks more like a contender but obviously that one huge piece that you must have is still missing. Can Mozgov be it? I don't know, what I do know is, you don't trade away the possibility of an excellent C when you don't have one coming back the other way.
The key to the deal for me is whether the Knicks can keep Fields and still get a C in who can do the job NOW on a 1-2 year contract.
Why all of a sudden people want to look at just what Melo would add to the team now rather than what he would add to a team when we get the most important piece we are lacking first, well that's beyond me.
We've still got bench players even if we give up what Denver are asking minus Fields.
If that deal can be done and we can trade for a solid rebounding C then we do become a legit threat in the east. Top 4? Well who knows but it's a damn site more likely that without a rebounding C.
So how does it happen? Well I haven't got that far yet, but then that isn't my job. I just hope that behind the scenes they are thinking the same way.
If you're still in doubt whether we should give up what Denver want ask yourself this.
Do you ever see these players winning a title?
Felton
Chandler
Gallo
Amar'e
Mozgov
Nah, me neither. You're either moving forward or you're going backwards.
Now do you see this team winning a title?
Billups
Fields
Melo
Amar'e
Solid C
More likely right?
What about this one (1 year ahead)
D-Will/CP3
Fields
Melo
Amar'e
Solid C let's say Marc Gasol
Suddenly no one really cares where the other pieces went do they?
Speculate to accumulate, don't accumulate to speculate!
