Carmelo: “Don’t See Why Anyone Wouldn’t Want to Play Here in NY”

You can just see Melo wishes he were back home.
We’ll be more than happy to have him in a Knicks uniform.
I don’t even want to think about it.
It’s to much!!!

He’s from Maryland.

He made MSG his home while at the Cuse…

Oki doki.

No, your both wrong.

He was born in Brooklyn,

I’m saying playa.

“Then be ready to become a Eastern Conference contender in 2011 if they can convince Melo, who doesn’t seem like he needs all that much convincing. ”

No offense Tommie, but it’s a bit of a stretch to equate “I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to play in New York” with “I don’t need much convincing, I’d definitely come to NY in 2011.” To me, his comments sound like every star player who has rolled through the Garden this season.

Red Hook Projects in Brooklyn to be exact.

I can see Melo coming back.
It would be best for his family especially his wife who would absolutely thrive if their family lived in the city.

I love me some La La

Don’t overlook the part about lebron leverage…

He reps B-More, playa.

I’d love to have him here though.

I think that Melo would come here if the opportunity was there but like George Wills said the Knicks shouldn’t be focused on that this early. That should really be a plan B. IMO the knicks if they miss on LBJ(and they wont) they still use cap to sign a couple of players like Bosh and Gay or JJ then just let Curry’s contract come of the books and sign Melo. Im really not for waiting for 2011 though but if Melo was free this summer he would definately come here.

Well I actually thought that was a stretch, too. But I hope you’re right.

LOL who are you Plastic Man?

stretch armstrong?

just kidding. I understand your concerns.

I did too, I just didn’t want to say it and have Tommy think I’m picking on him again.

I think if he stays in Cleveland he’ll be more worried about getting through Wade and Stoudemire.

Or Rose, Bosh and Noah (I have a funny feeling that might go down)?

Every star may have made these comments while passing thru the Garden over the past 2 years, but this particular star saying it can send some serious shockwaves across the League…

Bosh and Joe Johnson aren’t threats to LeBron’s supremacy… nobody takes it seriously that Kobe would ever leave LA… and I don’t even think Wade bothers LeBron that much…

But Carmello… Carmello’s a different story. Carmello’s a better offensive player than LeBron. LeBron may be better all around, and may be a harder mark simply because of his physicality… but Carmello is a better scorer. He’s a threat, especially in New York… especially if he’s the crowning piece on top of a team that already has, say, Lee and Joe Johnson + the young pieces…

I think the Knicks people would be very wise to grow these Mello to the Knicks rumors… for the obvious reasons, and for the subliminal… the “hey LeBron, you can stay if you want… we’ll be fine” message.

Can LBJ really let Carmello go to the Knicks, become an uber-mega star that can compete with his own fame… AND on top of it, have a better team and a better chance at a ring?

That fear alone might be the best thing going for them in their pursuit of James…

I think it’s a stretch and at best a hard sell, but anything is worth a shot at this point.

I hope Miami has that Aflac duck working for them if they think Wade and Stoudemire is the way to go…

LOL

Wow…..

That’s an excellent point.

It really gives Lebron something to think about.
Lebron is the better player but Melo is the better scorer just like you said.
Melo is better than Wade, Joe J, Amare, Bosh…anybody that will be free this summer with the exception of James.

Good stuff bro.

I actually think there are tons of reasons why LeBron will strongly consider coming here – I just don’t believe “who will I have to get through in 2011 if I don’t sign with the Knicks?” is high on his priority list.

Melo makes more sense coming here since he enjoyed succes in Syracuse and knows this area!

Yet, every player with some smarts should and better say they like NY because that only gives them more leverage and not burn any bridges when they are free to deal for a new contract.

Melo words doesn’t have any impact on LBJ because it’s about having the environment to win a ring or rings. At this pt, Melo has a good supporting cast and he is without a ring too. Coming to NY does not get him any closer to that ring unless this GM surrounds him with better talent in a year or so.

We surely need to make our best move for LBJ but he ain’t coming here and we need to have a good plan B or C available. That does not mean bringing Joe Johnson and Bosh for long term contracts locking us with them as our core for years to come.

Melo > LeBron from an “I love this guy” standpoint, to me. I’d love Melo here. Would one year of Gallinari/McGrady/(maybe)Bosh leading the way be a bad thing? Not necessarily. Horford’s restricted in ’11, too.

Kobe will surely be rooting for Melo to get out of the West in a year or so.

Imagine LBJ with the Nets and Melo with the Knicks! JJ and Beyonce backing a LBJ team while Spike Lee with Melo. NY would rock for sure. But as usual, I always come out on the losing end. My Knicks would b be the Mets and the Nets would be the Yankees!

I’m not endorsing this but it would make NY a real hotspot.

I think pretty much any player, superstar or not has at least some lukewarm interest in playing for the Knicks, if only because NYC is the cultural capital of North America. But beyond that there isn’t much to read into here.

Anyone know where I can see video or read Melo’s quotes about Gallo? Ive been trying to find them, but can’t.

Yes, LBJ will use NY to the very end until he signs his contract somewhere else. What player wouldn’t relish all that attention of being wooed?

LBJ will milk it for sure.

We’re the one that have to be careful of being played and not having a plan B or C!

So True and that is why we had 2 years to make a case that the foundation for winning is there and all that is needed is a star or 2.

LBJ has to know that coming here would yield giving away 2-3 years to having Kobe and others being the favorites to win a ring. I’m not sure LBJ wants to give away those prime Ring opportunity years without a good plan!

It is impossible for him to “use NY.” This isn’t baseball – every team can offer him the same max contract, or he can make a little more by staying in Cleveland. He can’t use anyone for leverage because the money is the same everywhere other than Cleveland.

i said a few weeks ago that just signing Bosh this offseason, along with role players would be fine by me, as long as we left enough room to go hard for Melo in ’11.

48.2 Mill
PG – Tony Douglas (1.1) 2nd Round Pick (1.0)
SG – Tracy McGrady (3.0) Wilson Chandler (2.1)
SF – Danillo Gallinari (3.3) Bill Walker (1.0) JR Giddens (1.0)
PF – Chris Bosh (16) Ben Wallace (1.5) 2nd Round Pick (1.0)
C – Brendan Haywood (6.0) Eddy Curry (11.2)

This team, as is makes the playoffs. Then in 2011 with Curry coming off the books you have enough to bring in Melo.

Sure he can! He can say that he might take less money from certain teams because he wants to win.

Also, LBJ isn’t going to ANT team anyway. There is ans was always certain teams in play. My pt is that LBJ will use those teams and relish in the pursuit.

It’s not everyday LBJ will have this opportunity. Even if he goes back to Cleveland, it would be good to make it seems like he looked at all the other great choices and he chose Cleveland because that’s his home, true luv and he wants to bring them a ring. That should give him a few years alone if he didn’t win a ring. lol

It feels so good to just be in a position where all this we are talking about is actually a real possibility. We don’t have to rely on any other team agreeing with us to make a move we want to make or obtain a player we want. We just offer them the money and if they want to play here, they’ll take it…..simple as that. Once our season is over, it’ll be time to go shopping. That in itself will be more fun than the past 10 years put together.

July 1st can’t come soon enough.

Interesting thread.

My thoughts:

LeBron > Carmelo

It isn’t even close.

LeBron makes his teammates better, better passer, better rebounder and better defender.

Carmelo is the better shooter and has a more varied repertoire when it comes to scoring, but LeBron is the better all around player. I agree LeBron needs to learn how to play in the post.

That said, I would thoroughly endorse a pairing of Carmelo and Chris Paul. Carmelo has proven he can thrive with the help of an above average point guard (Billups, Miller) and that would be a deadly combo for years.

“Sure he can! He can say that he might take less money from certain teams because he wants to win.”

Again, I don’t see how this is an example of him using NY for leverage. We can offer him a max contract. If he wants to take less money, how could he possibly use the Knicks?

Totally agree. I even think there’s a decent sized gap between Wade and LeBron. Hell, there’s a decent sized gap between everyone and LeBron.

Now you’re talking! Having a CP3 or a Devron Williams type of guard is ideal here in NY to get the ball to others in key position and to create their own shots once the offense break down.

A CP3 should be the key know matter what! If we got those two you stated, we could live with a Camby or other defensive Center!

If TD keeps improving, he could backup at the 1 and play a little 2.

LBJ has all the money int he world. He’ll get his money from Nike alone!

Mt pt is that LBJ can make like he’s sooo interested in NY knowing it keeps his name alive on the airwaves and it keeps Knicks Fans in a frenzy thinking he is coming.

It’s about the attention. If we are led to believe we have a good choice to get LBJ while LBJ is just using us for the attention, we might get sidetracked towards other options. We had better have a plan B or C is mostly what I am saying. LBJ is a pipedream!

The thing that worries me the most about LeBron is his ability to withstand a serious injury and/or the effect that taking years of abuse in the NBA puts on your body.

His jumper is still suspect, and he has no legitimate post game… so when his athleticism starts to slow, even just a step… will he still be the same player?

Carmelo’s game, on the other hand, has never been about supreme athleticism. He is a more skilled player than LeBron, where LeBron’s game is built around his bruit force and athletic ability.

The guys right out of high school tend to have an athletic slip by the time they hit 30… LBJ will be 3 years from 30 when (if) he gets to MSG.

tommy,

just to clarify for all reporters that say ‘knicks sellout”. the garden was far from full last night. as has been the case for the whole season, many lower bowl seats have been empty; although i understand that for counting purposes have been sold and added to attendance………
……………….but just imagine what the place will be about when there is a REAL full house. because you have to be impressed when people remark how intense the garden crowd is regardless of where we are in the standings. we come to try and win and get better every game, and for that alone, last night was a huge achievement (and a lot of fun in a ‘big’ game). and you know guys like carmelo and dwade and cp3 take note of playing in this atmosphere/stage for 41 plus games every year.

i think your name pretty much lets everyone know that you really really like lebron…

one would hope that with those guys there would be a few more than 41 home games

I agree for the most part but I don’t know about giving away 2-3 seasons. I think if you have a player of Lebron’s caliber combined with Dolan’s pockets, the Knicks could be a contender within a season or 2 depending on how the roster was filled out.

I think the point with Lebron is that he doesn’t want a ring. He wants a dynasty with multiple rings. Cleveland is built to win now and only now, the Knicks are still being built. I think the Knicks do have a plan, and that plan is whatever Lebron wants, he gets.

I hear ya but maybe LBJ doesn’t get to post up much because he’s handling the ball playing the 1 much of the time.

I would luv to see LBJ play with a really good pt guard like a CP3 or Devron Williams where he could use his physicality to be movement or posting up against mismatches.

You’re so on about Melo. This guy is a pure scorer with a crafty way to use his body to get off his shots.

LBJ is a freak on nature and I doubt his body will break down unless we put him in the 7SOL without winning any rings. lol

LOL, Yep that would be the plan for sure. Yet, I’m always skeptical about having players choose the direction of a team. I remember MJ requesting Doug Collins for the coach and that didn’t work out to well. Kidd dictated the coach it didn’t turn out to well either. Although there are some that did work.

I would luv for us to have a solid coaching staff and plan and allow the players to be players. LBJ hasn’t won a ring yet to be dictating the coaches imo.

How many losing teams pack out their stadium on a Tuesday night at the end of a throwaway season? I don’t think the Knicks necessarily need stars to fill every seat, they just need to not suck.

Ditto. But if I were the owner/gm and that gets Lebron to ink a contract with the Knicks, I’m not going to fight him on it. Choose your battles, I say.

I truly hear ya and if that was the difference to getting a LBJ, I would do it too! lol

I just wish Management would be wise and confident enough to demonstrate to players that they have it together so that these players can come in a worry about winning.

Pat Riley surely did that for us in 1991. He came in and all the hoopla and b.s went away. Riley was confident in his abilities and he even made changes to his normal La style to fit our Knicks team. That’s the type of coaching leadership I hope we have or can get. Usually good players want to be coached and if you allow them to do as they please, not much good team wise usually occur.

Who could recover from a blown ACL better… Carmelo or LeBron? In my eyes there’s no question that it would be Melo… LBJ’s one blown ACL away from being Shawn Kemp.

I know it’s a doomsday way of thinking… perhaps it’s the Mets fan in me… but when you’re making a serious long term investment it helps to look at all the posibilities, including the worst case scenario.

either way, i think we have to sign Bosh or if not then Amare.
If we don’t get LBJ, I dont think we should sign Joe Johnson, and I’m also against signing Rudy Gay if it were to kill the chance of getting Melo.
I would be very interested to see how a team like
TD
Manu or TMac
Chandler
Gallo
Bosh
would work for a year… I bet that team could be a 5 seed. I think that its impossible to put a ceiling on Gallo right now.. the kid is like 22 and still growing into his body; once he develops some strength and explosiveness to go along with his continued offensive development, i see No reason why he can’t be a player like Dirk.
You might be saying ‘Whoa slow down’ but Gallo has 1) a better start than Dirk at this age 2) the same physical attributes 3) the drive and determination to be great 4) a sweet stroke that is bound to improve in consistency….. youve gotta love Gallo’s development this year and be amped about his potential right now. With LBJ or Wade here next year, I think Gallo makes the all-star team, putting up over 20 and increasing his 3 FG%

Haha. My name signifies the goal of this whole process, but yes, I am a fan of his.

LOL, Yeah I recognize that Met trait like a mole on ya face. I was trying to ignore it since I have a big one too! lol

I hear though, Melo is a pure post up scorer who can face the basket as well. It’s his thing.

However LBJ makes others better and he is unselfish. The guy hasn’t even reached his potential because in Cleveland he has the ball in his hands too much. Wait until a good coach allows this dude to move around and create havoc without having the ball. He should only get better! Melo has to keep improving on defense.

“…LBJ’s one blown ACL away from being Shawn Kemp.”

Dude, c’mon.

Are you serious?

Of all these ‘max guys’, or gamechangers if you will… Melo is the last one I want.

Even though he has unbelievable abilities and has become a leader recently, his game still has that aspect to it… the harrington aspect… Harrington is just a poor man’s Melo in my eyes.

He just gets caught up in his ability to score in streaks and sometimes loses sight of what’s actually going on in a game. That’s why they couldn’t even scratch the second round until Chauncey billups (arguably the best lead guard of the decade) came around. It just makes me feel like carmelo can’t be the center of it all… he still needs a lead guard and a disciplined team around him..

The difference between him and LeBron is that leBron would BE that leader, and he would create the team discipline… everyone else will follow.

i still love Melo, but, for example, if we added him to this team we would still struggle, unless we also got a top tier PG .. But getting lebron or wade would kill both of those birds with one stone.

Everyone keeps saying we can offer a max contract in 2011 but I don’t understand how. Won’t Chandler be up for an extension and we will have a 2011 1st round pick multiple second round picks this year and unless we are a team of 1 year contracts again next year we will have additional player salaries. I can’t see how if we sign two stars this year we will have the money to add a max FA in 2011.

I fully agree about the coaching… another reason why I laugh at all these D’Antoni haters…

Al Roker, er, I mean Mike Brown couldn’t coach his way out of a brown paper bag. Lebron in a system where he, ya know, runs a real offense? He’d be next to unstoppable.

I, for one, would rather have ‘Melo and other pieces… but I’m not gonna shed a tear if LBJ is in MSG. If he can win a ring here, then he will actually deserve the title “King.”

Heck… why not LeBron AND Melo? Ha…

Wade is the third best player in the league behind Lebron and Kobe.

I have been a big fan of Melo’s since Syracuse. Melo is a great offensive player but not a leader and his defense leaves a lot to be desired.

I still put Melo top 10 (he is that good offensively) and would probably rank him higher if he was on the Knicks. Melo reminds me of Nique. Just an unbelievable scorer who won’t be able to win a chip without another dominant championship personality on the team (good thing he has Billups).

I’m not sure why people are saying that Carmello is a better “offensive” player than Lebron. Carmello is a great offensive player but to me he ranks third behind Kobe (although he is fading due to injuries) and LBJ. Flip flop teams and LBJ would not have to handle the ball (Billups) or rebound (Nene, Martin, Anderson, etc.) as much as he does in Cleveland. He could focus on scoring. It is insane to think about what his PPG average would be.

.

obviously exaggerating… Kemp, as good as he was, was never as good as Lebron…

but the all around point is that once Kemp lost his explosiveness the drop off from what he was to what he became was huge.

would Larry Johnson have been a better example for you?

lebron’s dominance is built around his athleticism and sheer size and force. he’s built like a 4 but moves like a 2. if he couldn’t move like that anymore, he would have to completely change the way he plays.

I don’t think Mike Brown is a genius either but he does keep his team in line. His team has gone to the NBA Finals once so far already! That’s better than our coach had done with a team that had a two-time MVP in PHX with a better supporting cast.

I don’t agree with how LBJ is used towards end of games and it’s similar to what Isiah did with Crawford here. Yet, Cleveland plays good defense. Another knock at our coach! lol

Thats the most insane comment i ever read. Don’t even write thier names in the same sentence. That has to be top ten of comments on TKB of comments without logic. No shots.

i say it because lebron’s actual basketball skill, with perhaps the exception of his passing, is not as good as carmelo’s.

lebron’s game is based on the fact that he’s an athletic speciman the likes of which we’ve never seen. it’s his athleticism at his size and strength that makes him what he is. he’s like what shaq was if shaq was a wing…

carmelo’s not a bad athlete by any stretch, but carmelo’s game is not built around athleticism. he’s not scoring by physicaly dominating anyone.

carmelo’s like a better paul pierce… there’s nothing by looking at him that makes you say “wow” other than his game.

cleveland has good defensive players… the knicks do not.

and yes, mike brown got to the finals… and got swept by the Spurs… the same year the spurs needed a hip check from bob horry to get past d’antoni’s suns…

but yes… brown has “been there”

Carmelo’s new home is the Cuse, so NYC seems like a good fit to me…

PS– Thunder ‘D’ Lee with the sweet blocks lately

Agree completely.

Okay, we are definitely not adopting that nickname for Lee. Nicknames can be embellishments but not fabrications, unless complete satire.

I can’t see how if we sign two stars this year we will have the money to add a max FA in 2011.

I’m saying add 1 this offseason along with other smaller pieces.

I just keep thinking about the Duncan scenario. Everyone thought he0d go to Orlando because they could also sign him. He got the huge welcome, stuff like “saves Tim” written in Epcot Center, billboards of him and Hill in Orlando suits (Hill was sold right away), the kid says “let me think about it”, he goes back home, thinks it over a couple of days, and responds “no, it’s ok I like the quiet life of SA, I’m not sure if we can be champs again, but I’ll take my shot”.
Damn, harsh,

If you want T-Mac, make him take the vet min and say bye bye to Giddens, imo. With all the money resting in Curry’s case, I don’t know if Walsh won’t look for another player if everyone says no. He’d have a go at guys like Gay, Allen, Manu, etc. That’s what I think.

But why does that make him a better offensive player. It means he is doing more with less, but put the two head to head and I choose LBJ (Both offensively and defensively) every time.

i dont see any reason why Gallo can’t be one of the best players in the league in the future, in his prime.. as of right now, he’s shown star potential and the character of a leader and star. he’s already a good set shooter, and will improve with his consistency there, and hes clearly becoming a better scorer, expanding the array of shots he can make. the fact is, if you compare him and Dirk in their sophmore campaigns, and seeing how Dirk expanded his game over the next few years, you can’t put a ceiling on Gallo’s potential right now. He is better at 22 than Dirk was at 22, and is going to benefit from patterning his game after Dirk

That I get.

But people are claiming we should add Bosh and Gay or Joe Johnson and then sign Melo in 2011. I don’t see how the numbers for such a thing work.

melo is easily top 4 for me…i put him ahead of Wade this year.

Gotta watch more of him. He and kobe are the two best scorers, and he has help defensively. He’s not wretched.

i suppose we’ll just have to agree to disagree…

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/02/fullj.d9a7bc2f7e71dc959096d9e720b68d49/d9a7bc2f7e71dc959096d9e720b68d49-getty-90044141nb004_nuggets_knicks_nb001_rockets_knicks.jpg

[...] TheKnicksBlog.com – Carmelo: “Don't See Why Anyone Wouldn't Want … [...]

I like Melo more than LeBron.

LeBron is obviously the better player but Melo has more swag. He’s definitely one of my favorite players in the NBA.

If the Knicks end up with either player I think I’ll cry tears of joy.

LOL You cry all the time! You cry when we talk the truth about this coach too! But you’re right, we could use either one of the guys along with a CP3 or a Devon Williams and decent defensive center, we are golden.

However all of this is not suffice until we a new and better coach! U crying still? lol

Well Melo has always made the playoffs in a tougher Conference, I think people forget that LeBron plays in a much weaker Conference. I mean the Cavs played against the New Jersey Nets in the Conferenc semi-finals the year they made it to the Finals. The New Jersey Nets!

Chauncey Billups has been a top 5 PG for years – I mean the Nuggets traded a one-dimensional ball-hog for one of the best point guards in the NBA and you’re surprised that they reached the next level? What Melo has done since he came into the league is REMARKABLE in my opinion.

Melo is a franchise player and he’s tough man, he’s definitely a top 5 player in the league IMO.

Anthony is more skilled.

James is more effective.

*facepalm*

lol

lmao! Touche!

I agree he’s top 5 but i don’t think he can lead a team on his own. I think he is just one of the most gifted, if not the most gifted scorers in the league, but there’s a lot more to the game. I’m not hating on him he’s incredible I’m just saying he’s not on the same level as LeBron at all. He’s an amazing piece but i just don’t see him as a central piece by himself.

When you say you like melo better than lebron you don’t mean you’d take him just as fast, right?

i can’t even put these guys on the same level in my mind. Melo can score in more ways than anyone in the league, and he just recently started trying on defense and rebounding.

LeBron can score just as much as him, but more efficiently, and also happens to be the best on-court offensive coordinator in the league. It’s not even close.

I guess it’s just a matter of preference – I agree with the fact that LeBron’s a better player but I do believe that Melo’s a central piece by himself.

I take LeBron before Melo – because I want to see this team win and LeBron is the better basketball player!

But I like Melo more than LeBron from a pure emotional standpoint. I think he has more swag, he’s not a circus act and he’s more skilled offensively (as a scorer) – he’s more exciting to watch in my opinion.

[...] TheKnicksBlog.com – Carmelo: “Don't See Why Anyone Wouldn't Want … [...]

[...] TheKnicksBlog.com – Carmelo: “Don't See Why Anyone Wouldn't Want … [...]

[...] TheKnicksBlog.com – Carmelo: “Don't See Why Anyone Wouldn't Want … [...]

[...] TheKnicksBlog.com – Carmelo: “Don't See Why Anyone Wouldn't Want … [...]

[...] TheKnicksBlog.com – Carmelo: “Don’t See Why Anyone Wouldn’t Want to Play Her… [...]

[...] TheKnicksBlog.com – Carmelo: “Don't See Why Anyone Wouldn't Want … [...]