LJ4ptplay
Starter
Unless Melo refuses to sign the extension for any other team. No one is going to trade away young talent and draft picks to rent him for a season. A major part of any trade is Melo putting pen to paper for that extension, and the fact that the money alone isn't enough for him to resign with Denver shows where his mind is...now we're going to see where he really wants to go.
If he refuses the extension for every trade partner except the Knicks then Denver has two options, lose him and get nothing in a year or take what we offer. Melo effectively has a NTC unless someone takes him without any guarantees of him not opting out next summer.
True. That is our only leverage to get Melo. But are the Knicks that important to him? We don't know. Signing that extension and getting his money before the new CBA and potential lockout may be more important to him. If he's ok with NJ or one of the other teams suggested by the media, than I would say we're out of contention to get Melo....unless we gut the team.