'Melo to NY

[Madre Hill, Superstar]

I repeat: Melo + burnt-out Amare + mortal remains of Billups = Chinese knockoff Heat.

The aftermath of the new CBA is going to be high-larious to watch.

[StewieG]

God does this sport need a lockout.

[e0y2e3]

Burnt out Amare? Look, I am all in on the Melo being overrated because he is a one way/dimensional player but Amare is having a monster year. Insane. Even found his ability to block shots again.

As for the need for a lockout and the whining about the sport, ha. Cry me a river, guy who would never lead a team to a title alone got dealt before being massively overpaid for a solid package. A better package in relative terms than what the Indians got for two Cy Young winners and an All-Star catcher.

[Orenthal]

Too bad LeBron and 'Melo didn't happen in reverse. The Cavaliers never could have entertained thoughts of trading James last year. That package Denver got... Damn.

[Orenthal]

Uh, fuck yes I do.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... Interested

[Madre Hill, Superstar]

Burnt out Amare? Look, I am all in on the Melo being overrated because he is a one way/dimensional player but Amare is having a monster year. Insane. Even found his ability to block shots again.

Burnt out was a little too much, yeah, but from what I'm reading STAT's tired. D'Antoni's been riding his dented knees like a rented mule.

[Lokais]

Haha, I was at the Garden last week. Amar'e looks good to me. Unless by burnt out you mean having a career year?

[trsteve1]

I'm tired of hearing all the sportscasters talk about the NBA having more irrelevant teams now..
The NBA has ALWAYS had the most irrelevant teams out of the 3 big major sports
Last 20 years..
NBA has had 7 different champions
MLB has had 12 different champions
NLF has had 13 different champions

Surprisingly the MLB has had more parity than many would believe (with teams like the White Sox, Cardinals and Marlins winning random single championships).. To say that all of a sudden there are less relevant teams in the league is like saying that you are alone on Valentine's day, when you haven't dated in 10 years.. it's a true statement, and yet hardly new information..

[peeker643]

I'm tired of hearing all the sportscasters talk about the NBA having more irrelevant teams now..
The NBA has ALWAYS had the most irrelevant teams out of the 3 big major sports
Last 20 years..
NBA has had 7 different champions
MLB has had 12 different champions
NLF has had 13 different champions

Surprisingly the MLB has had more parity than many would believe (with teams like the White Sox, Cardinals and Marlins winning random single championships).. To say that all of a sudden there are less relevant teams in the league is like saying that you are alone on Valentine's day, when you haven't dated in 10 years.. it's a true statement, and yet hardly new information..

Yep. Just blows that this team is back to being one of them.

There's no SF Giants in the NBA. You can literally eliminate 24 teams before the first tip of the season.

That said, NY did the right thing. You can fill in guys like Gallinari, etc. You can't find too many guys like Carmelo, despite his numerous shortcomings, who require a double team all night on that end and who can hurt you inside and out.

They still have no shot as they need a defensive presence in the middle and a PG. But when Paul or Deron Williams is at PG next season (and one WILL be) they'll be real close.

If you don't play near an ocean-front beach your title aspirations are now outta reach. San Antonio excluded.

[Orenthal]

Not going to win a title this year with him. Next year he could have been signed as a FA. Only difference is you have Billups this year and next. However, you lose the young guys that will be needed to get over the hump.

IMO typical NY Knicks move.

[Madre Hill, Superstar]

They still have no shot as they need a defensive presence in the middle and a PG. But when Paul or Deron Williams is at PG next season (and one WILL be) they'll be real close.

But will they be able to sign them?

[Orenthal]

^It will be tough. Between Amare and 'Melo you have 40 million locked up. Billups has a TO at 14 million. The Knicks would have to waive their rights to him to free the cap hold. The rest of their team is eh. So basically you'd have close to 20ish million available. You'd have a Miami redux, but with even less money to be spent on surrounding pieces.

[Madre Hill, Superstar]

^It will be tough. Between Amare and 'Melo you have 40 million locked up. Billups has a TO at 14 million. The Knicks would have to waive their rights to him to free the cap hold. The rest of their team is eh. So basically you'd have close to 20ish million available. You'd have a Miami redux, but with even less money to be spent on surrounding pieces.

That's under the current CBA, though. I can't imagine the new CBA will be as accommodating.

[swerb]

Woj absolutely skewers Isiah in this piece. Damn!

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... hony022211

[jb]

Woj absolutely skewers Isiah in this piece. Damn!

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... hony022211

Once, Thomas brought Dolan with him on a comic-strip recruiting mission of Kobe Bryant(notes): Together, they traveled to California armed with an electric offer: Come take the midlevel exception for a chance to play with Stephon Marbury(notes). Somehow, Bryant decided to re-sign a max deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and keep winning championships.