Why can't the Knicks get LeBron?
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Brooky03
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Amare Stoudemire.
The Knicks have two players getting pretty much max salaries (Melo and Amare). One of them plays more minutes than anybody in the NBA, the other misses more games than he plays in and is marginally effective when he does play.
The Heat have three stars that all took pay cuts in order to play together. Stoudemire isn't about to opt out of his contract and take less money, though Melo probably would if the right moves were being made. But I don't think Melo would be able to take a large enough pay cut to bring in Lebron.
The Knicks have two players getting pretty much max salaries (Melo and Amare). One of them plays more minutes than anybody in the NBA, the other misses more games than he plays in and is marginally effective when he does play.
The Heat have three stars that all took pay cuts in order to play together. Stoudemire isn't about to opt out of his contract and take less money, though Melo probably would if the right moves were being made. But I don't think Melo would be able to take a large enough pay cut to bring in Lebron.
So Melo isn't the most selfish player in the NBA or even on his own team.
Knicks411
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I didn't realize Amare does in fact have an opt out for this year, but he's not going to take it because he's not going to get much from anyone else anyway. Melo is opting out to sign a new 4 or 5 year deal, Amare would opt out and prob get a 1 year deal. Even if the Knicks didn't have Amare under contract though, it'd be tough. They still have $44 million in contracts due to players who aren't Melo or Amare.
So how much money do they have available then?
Knicks411
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As things are? They have no money outside of the salary cap exceptions.
Full_Rebar
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The optimistic (or delusional) Knicks fan could say "Well Lebron just made 30 million from the Beats sale, could his NYC endorsement money be enough that his NBA salary doesn't matter?"
Based on the ads he does now, I don't know that he'd make a significant increase by moving to NY, but maybe someone in advertising knows differently?
Based on the ads he does now, I don't know that he'd make a significant increase by moving to NY, but maybe someone in advertising knows differently?
oldpinepoint
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Let's not forget the difference in living in NYC compared with Miami. Tax structure doesn't help
longislandcuse
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Donnie Walsh, the fake savior of the Knicks gave Amare that extra year noone else would give him including the max. Why some people think he did a good job is beyond me. His awful moves are still hurting this franchise, not to mention if Dolan didn't intervene the core of the team wouldve been Amare and D-Will.
Guy is a joke.
If Amare's contract was up this year, I think there would be a VERY good chance Lebron would join Melo in NY this summer.
Guy is a joke.
If Amare's contract was up this year, I think there would be a VERY good chance Lebron would join Melo in NY this summer.
Knicks411
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I could be biased because Dolan sucks, but i think there is a good chance if Dolan didn't intervene the Knicks would have gotten Melo for a little less than they ended up giving up. We'll never know.
If Amare was up after this year, its a little difficult to tell just because of the fact that you don't know how everything else would have gone. (Do they trade for Bargs? I still can't believe they did that).
If everything was exactly as it is, it would still be tough to fit Melo and Lebron both in. Melo and Lebron would both have to take about $9-10 million per year, pending any other moves the Knicks could make to dump salary.
longislandcuse
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Comparative to NY, yup, its a huge deal.
longislandcuse
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Yea, it would be tough but at least we could try and not have Phil Jackson begging Melo to opt-in while every other team in the league is offering him either money, power or contending talent.
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Brooky03
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The Knicks will be able to make serious moves after this season. They will suck for one more year, but they're in a great position down the road. Right now Phil Jackson is trying to convince Melo to be okay with being on a bad team for a little bit longer because there's light at the end of the tunnel.
If Melo sticks it out, the Knicks could definitely pull off what the Heat did when they landed the Big 3. That takes a pretty big leap of faith on Melo's part, though. History says the Knicks will screw it up royally.
If Melo sticks it out, the Knicks could definitely pull off what the Heat did when they landed the Big 3. That takes a pretty big leap of faith on Melo's part, though. History says the Knicks will screw it up royally.
Especially if Phil decides that he no longer wants to be GM, if he can no longer deal with Dolan.
shandeezy7
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Yeah if Lebron were to somehow end up in NY with Melo, it would have to be after next season. Melo would either need to not opt out of his contract this year or re-sign. Lebron would also need to not opt out this year and not re-sign with Miami.
Knicks411
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This also only works if Lebron is a FA. I guess Durant as well (in 2016). Love/Aldridge/Rondo; these are all very good players, but it's not like getting 1 or 2 of them plus Melo makes you one of the top teams in the league.
Best case for the Knicks would be Melo opts in. I don't really see that. If they can sign him for 5 years at around $18-20 per year, they should do that. Once you get into the mega max territory, I think the Knicks need to pass.
quentin cassidy
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I think it is FAR more likely that Melo goes to Miami (replacing Bosh...I don't think it's reasonable to ask any of them to take the HUGE pay cuts needed to create a Big 4) than LeBron coming to the Knicks. LeBron doesn't need or want the backlash he'd get from 'deserting' another team/city as soon as things start getting tough for him.
longislandcuse
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The Knicks really aren't in that great of a position. If they can convince Melo to take a pay-cut and stay, then yes, great position with all that cap space but if Melo peaces out... No, theyre not unless they get KD. Why people get excited over having Kevin Love or LaMarcus Aldridge as your best player is beyond me. Those guys dont strike me as "take less" kind of guys, they arent part of the superfriends clique and will want the max, so you'll be giving max contracts out to players who aren't max players.
Say the Knicks lose Melo and kill it with all their moves. Draft a talent who stock is down due to off the court issue like PJ Hairston to solidify the bench/sg roles with guys like THjr and JR and then hand out max contracts to Rondo, Love and Aldridge (they land all 3). Is Rondo-shooter-shooter-Love-Aldridge and a solid bench winning you a title or challenging in the ECF? Because, I think thats the best they can do unless they can convince KD to come to NY.
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Brooky03
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The Knicks have pretty much nobody guaranteed for 2015-2016.
With this in mind, here's what I'd do in their shoes: 1) Do everything to convince Melo to resign at about $21M. 2) Don't extend Bargnani's contract (or Amare's obviously). 3) Hope like heck that Lebron stays with the Heat for one more season and then opts out. 4) Sign the best elite PG who is available. 5) Resign Chandler and/or pick up a promising young Center. 6) Grab a cheap SG who is a 3pt specialist. 7) Win multiple Titles.
Dumping Amare, Bargnani, and JR Smith frees up about $40M.
Edit: 6 probably isn't even necessary. I forgot about Hardaway.
With this in mind, here's what I'd do in their shoes: 1) Do everything to convince Melo to resign at about $21M. 2) Don't extend Bargnani's contract (or Amare's obviously). 3) Hope like heck that Lebron stays with the Heat for one more season and then opts out. 4) Sign the best elite PG who is available. 5) Resign Chandler and/or pick up a promising young Center. 6) Grab a cheap SG who is a 3pt specialist. 7) Win multiple Titles.
Dumping Amare, Bargnani, and JR Smith frees up about $40M.
Edit: 6 probably isn't even necessary. I forgot about Hardaway.
quentin cassidy
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There is very little chance they will be to afford to sign Rondo, Love and Aldridge, or even two of them and Melo. Their best chance of building a big 3 is by trading for Love, which won't happen unless Love says he's not signing an extension with anyone except the Knicks. There are a ton of other teams who can offer Minnesota more than the Knicks, if Love is willing to sign there. Love is interested in the Knicks, but he might also be interested in LA or Chicago.
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Brooky03
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Some more food for thought.
The Knicks have two great options at PG that they could possibly get for dirt cheap.
1) Goran Dragic is one of the most underrated PG's in the league and he has a player option for 2015-2016. He could be snatched up for about $8M.
2) MCW. We all know the Sixers are entertaining trade proposals for him. Considering the Knicks need to dump 90% of their current players and they hate having draft picks, maybe they could work out a trade for MCW (wishful thinking). Picks, maybe JR or Shumpert and Hardaway if necessary would likely seal the deal.
These moves would leave the $40M savings from Bargnani, Amare and JR's contracts largely intact. Make some adjustments for minimum salary guys on the bench and Boom!, now you have room to get an elite SG and elite PF for about $20M a year. The bench will suck, but does it really matter?
The Knicks have two great options at PG that they could possibly get for dirt cheap.
1) Goran Dragic is one of the most underrated PG's in the league and he has a player option for 2015-2016. He could be snatched up for about $8M.
2) MCW. We all know the Sixers are entertaining trade proposals for him. Considering the Knicks need to dump 90% of their current players and they hate having draft picks, maybe they could work out a trade for MCW (wishful thinking). Picks, maybe JR or Shumpert and Hardaway if necessary would likely seal the deal.
These moves would leave the $40M savings from Bargnani, Amare and JR's contracts largely intact. Make some adjustments for minimum salary guys on the bench and Boom!, now you have room to get an elite SG and elite PF for about $20M a year. The bench will suck, but does it really matter?