They call me Melo ... Red?

by kig on Apr 25, 2008 2:37 PM CDT

I just read the Sports Guy's latest article and he makes an interesting point re: Carmelo Anthony probably being available this summer. We all know Melo's well publicized social misbehavings... but I wouldn't mind seeing him in red and white next year.

Maybe whoever our new savior coach is can reel him in off the court and teach him some defense (or at least mask his disintrest in defense, which a good coach would do). He's only 25yrs and his 'prime' years are ahead of him. Or how about another BaB favorite topic - have Pip come in as a lead assistant and take Melo under his wing. If Pip can inspire him to become a better all around player he'd wreack havoc in the East.

I'm thinking Denver would bite at Deng (sign and trade), Hinrich and the first round pick (I think Deng's BYC would make this possible, maybe?).

A good secondary move would be to see if Indy is really desperate to get rid of J O'Neal. If they are maybe we can send them the Ben Wallace special: Hughes and Gooden. Then the trick would be to convince O'Neal that his knees really are shot and a role as the back up big man/tutor for Tyrus and Noah would be worth contending for a shot at the East championship.

Find a way to snag Lowry out of Memphis (a personal favorite of mine - kid can run, play strong d, break down his man and finish in traffic) and you've got something like this:

Lowry/veteran pick up/rookie

Sefolosha/veteran pick up (Michael Finley?)/rookie

Melo/Nocioni

Thomas/O'neal/Nocioni

Noah/O'neal/Gray

Geez - I'm due for a major dose of Sam Smith trade speculation...

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Comments

There's so much wrong with this post, it's making me dizzy.

1. Sports Guy doesn’t write articles, he writes columns
2. Sports Guy doesn’t know shit and specializes in baseless speculation. I wouldn’t begin to think Melo’s going anywhere just because he said so
3. George Karl is a very good coach who has masked not just Melo’s but also AI’s less than stellar D the last 2 seasons
4. O’Neal, when healthy, is still better than either Noah or Thomas. The problem is no one knows how much he’ll be healthy anymore.
5. The frontcourt in your situation has Thomas and Noah backed up by Noce and Gray when O’Neal’s out. No thanks.
6. The backcourt would be mediocre at best with two below average players.

Have to admit, though, the idea of trading Gooden and Hughes for O’Neal doesn’t sound absolutely terrible. Would have to find an adequate PF/C who can run and is willing to be the fourth guy in the frontcourt rotation before considering that.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 25, 2008 3:08 PM CDT reply actions

#1 is lame, #2 is obvious

But I can see the reasoning behind believing Denver may get fed up with Carmelo.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

oh, and

Melo for Deng, Hinrich, #1: yes please.

Bulls would have to take back some salary though. Steven Hunter? Chucky Atkins?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Notice I didn't actually dismiss that part.

For what it’s worth, I would be very happy with that deal.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 25, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions

so if gooden went out with an injury this year

our front court rotation would be Tyrus, Noah and… Gray. Not really sure my ‘situation’ is that ridiculous. I do admit that I didn’t stick in filler players like undrafted FA’s or second round picks that will fill out the roster and contribute – thought I was going too long with the post to include that.

by kig on Apr 25, 2008 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Gooden's much less of an injury risk.

Plus, bringing in Melo’s and O’Neal’s salaries would limit resources for finding roster filler. Undrafted FA’s and second round draft picks rarely make for good players to throw into a rotation for extended periods.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 25, 2008 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Acquiring O'Neal is appealing

Most of that is rooted in the ecstatic emotions drawn from moving Larry Hughes though.

O’Neal is owed a little more than 44 million. Yikes. He’s also only played in just under 65% of the Pacers’ games the last four seasons.

by NBA Observer on Apr 25, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions

we could only hope

that Hughes plays that few of the Bulls games.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions

I definitly

Want us to get rid of Hughes. If O’Neill didn’t have the history of problems, I would take a shot… And I like the idea of having Melo. He could be that superstar that we are looking for. But I disagree with you on the backcourt. I don’t think Lowry is better than Hinrich, although I think we need to find a good PG fast… Why not Baron Davis? He’s a free agent…

BOYLAN IS GONE, NOW IT'S TIME TO GET RID OF HUGHES

by bull83 on Apr 25, 2008 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

He's a potential FA, he has an option for next season

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 25, 2008 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

because B Davis would cost too much

and Reinsdorf is cheap. I think for the money involved Lowry at 1.5M next year is better than Kirk at 10m. And besides shooting (which could be argued after Kirk’s horrible year), I don’t see why Lowry is worse unless you count experience.

by kig on Apr 25, 2008 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Did you look at his stats?

Kirk was awful this season, no question about that. But how can you prefer Lowry over kirk if he only does 3,6 assist per game? Even this season, Kirk was much better than Lowry. And Mike Conley, if you want to now. Hinrich never average less than six assist per game since he came to the nba back in 2003. But you can compare the numbers of both, Hinrich and Lowry this season…

Hinrich

PPG 11,5
RPG 3,3
APG 6,0
SPG 1,2
BPG 0,2
FG% 0,414
FT% 0,831
3P% 0,350
MPG 31,7

Lowry
PPG 9,6
RPG 3,0
APG 3,6
SPG 1,1
BPG 0,3
FG% 0,432
FT% 0,698
3P% 0,257
MPG 25,5

Do you still want Lowry over Kirk?

BOYLAN IS GONE, NOW IT'S TIME TO GET RID OF HUGHES

by bull83 on Apr 28, 2008 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions

per games are meaningless

and I’m not very high on the value of an assist, but Hinrich’s AST% and AST/36 are better than Lowry’s. Lowry is below average, and teeny.

by hscs on Apr 28, 2008 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions

you got me on the stats

but have you seen him play? This year was basically his rookie year since he broke his wrist after only ten games last year, so I also think you have to take that into account when looking at his stats. Plus he shared time with Conley and Crittenton all year. And his team sucked.

Try to take the old fashioned route and watch him play – I think he’s a better pg than kirk in terms of quickness, toughness and penetration. He definitely needs to work on his shot, but it was definitely improving as the year went on this year (except for his free throws). With the lineup I suggested I think his skills fit a little better thank Kirk’s, and, more importantly, he costs 9 million dollars less!

by kig on Apr 29, 2008 8:27 AM CDT up reply actions

I think Memphis plays tonight

You could take Hinrich’s track record of being a good point guard who earned a salary bump into account. I really don’t see how a six foot nothing special guy fits the Bulls better than Hinrich.

by hscs on Apr 29, 2008 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions

maybe you didn't read my response carefully

he fits better b/c is skill set (penetration and finishing at the rim, quickness, toughness, etc) is a good compliment to the imaginary lineup I suggested AND because his salary allows for a top-teir player (see Melo) to be added to the team without going over the luxury tax. I’m not arguing that Hinrich sucks. In fact no where do I say that. My personal opinion after watching Lowry for a few games and Hinrich all year is that Lowry can be just as good and probably better after another year of seasoning and COSTS WAY LESS.

And stop with that six foot nothing crap – it’s not like Lowry would be guarding McGrady or LeBron with the lineup I suggest. He’d be matched up against Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Jameer Nelson, Nate Robinson, Allen Iverson, etc. There are plenty of pg’s in the league that are his size – and in fact I think his strength and quickness (which are both superior to Hinrich’s) would be an assest in those matchups compared to Kirk. Kirk made a name for himself defensively playing well against 2 guards (d wade, rip hamiton, etc). I don’t really think he’s fared that well against the quick point guards in the league.

by kig on Apr 29, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

a quick 2007-08

side by side shows Lowry had a .521 eFG% on inside shots, with 22% of his FGA blocked. Hinrich was at .550 eFG%, 6% blocked.

I didn’t read your diary carefully, smartypants.

by hscs on Apr 29, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions

bet he rocks

in nba2k8 lowry is totally the answer. :-)

2008 or bust.

by bullshooter on Apr 29, 2008 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions

I realize the Grizz are a little erratic

in their personnel decisions, but even so it bothers me that with Lowry already on the roster they would go for Conley in the draft, then Crittenton via trade.

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Apr 29, 2008 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions

And Kirk didn't share...

...with gordon and hughes, when boylan didn’t now what to do with so many guards? How many games did kirk went to the bench after a few minutes on court… How many? Maybe it was because we was sucking, but maybe it was because boylan wanted us to perform a style that wasn’t the ideal for kirk…

C’mom, give me a break. I’m not defending kirk, but i just don’t see how lowry can be better. I just don’t. If you mentioned Calderon – isn’t he like kirk in terms of penetration? – or Felton, I had to agree. But not lowry…

Now, if we can get D’Antoni from Phoenix, I think we could see a new steve nash – I’m exaggerating – on hinrich. And, maybe, just maybe, in the next year we won’t be having this discussion (I surely hope so)

BOYLAN IS GONE, NOW IT'S TIME TO GET RID OF HUGHES

by bull83 on May 1, 2008 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Just hope Memphis drafts Rose

All the better to push them to move Conley or Lowry.

by NBA Observer on Apr 25, 2008 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope the Bulls draft Rose

but Memphis isn’t a bad consolation. But if you’ve read the comments of apparent semi-lunatic Michael Heisley, he has issues with dealing with the Bulls.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions

So trade them Noc

and they can throw in Mike Miller. I suppose Heisley would expect us to take back his failures and assume all the losing capital from Brian Cardinal.

by NBA Observer on Apr 27, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions

why'd you let Ben Gordon walk?

Michael Finley’s still alive?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 3:43 PM CDT reply actions

Yes, and he's really effective

if you have Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan on the floor with him

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 25, 2008 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Did you delete a fanpost by alec?

I clicked on the header and was redirected to an error page and then the link was gone. I was morbidly curious.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 25, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I read it, then when I came back to the main page

it was gone. Wasn’t me, although if I did I’d probably lie about it.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions

I wanted to put it in the draft thread as a comment

but the the draft diary wasn’t up so I decided fuck it and deleted it.

The gist: Go for a big man in the draft.

Rather than draft a point guard (unless Rose falls into our lap) trade off some of our excess combo/shooting guards for someone else’s excess at point guard. Pg’s take a good two years to develop, so it makes no sense to draft one when at least one of Critt, Conley, Lowry, Ford, Calderon, Williams and Harris will be available off their apprenticeship.

If we have any leftover sg excess, use it to try to move up a couple spots for Lopez. Barring that, take Love. Rumor has it he grew an inch at UCLA and is now a legit 6’ 9" barefoot (http://nbamock.com/love.html). I know a lot of people here don’t like him, but a lot of draft boards have him going around the Bulls’ pick.

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Apr 25, 2008 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions

sorry...or trade for Melo.

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Apr 25, 2008 10:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm confused as to why you'd want to draft Love

Did you forget that Tyrus Thomas and Drew Gooden are still on the team?

by Illini15 on Apr 26, 2008 1:48 AM CDT up reply actions

He twice played the Lopez brothers to a stand-off.

He had 9 or more rebounds in 31 of 39 games. He scored in double figures every game. And he was just a freshman.

Sam Smith made the point on cltv a couple nights ago that Karl Malone was not even remotely a great athlete. He played the pick and roll to perfection, had a nice shot…and always played hard, which Sam mentioned mostly as a testament to Jerry Sloan.

Really, the biggest problem I see with Kevin Love is that he’s more of a grind it out guy than a payer who’s going to run the wing. That said, somebody has to get the fast break started, and there may not have been anybody better in all of college ball last year.

I’d be satisfied with Love as the Bulls pick.

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Apr 26, 2008 7:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Matt's draftnik abyss thread was a great idea.

I recall Karl Malone out-ran and out-stronged opponents. Seems like there was a physical advantage Jerry Sloan didn’t hate fuck into him. You can’t take Sam’s word for it on Sloan. His seemingly annual Sloan piece was always a sycophantic piece of crap.

by hscs on Apr 26, 2008 7:43 AM CDT up reply actions

i tend to agree with you

on both counts.

I’m just trying to prepare myself ahead of time for the inevitable.

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Apr 26, 2008 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Is Sam Smith just trying to help Kirk?

If you were to draft Love you would really be helping Kirk and really Ben Gordon too. Whenever you run the pick and roll with Love setting the screen his defender won’t be able to sag off Love to protect the paint from dribble penetration. That defender will have to follow Love all the way out to respect his jump shot.

As a fast break starter he’s also playing to his strengths. His outside shot allows him to spark the break and then trail up the court to stop at 22’ where he can hit them.

I think a lottery team ahead of us will take Love before he gets to us, but the more I consider what he does well the more it looks like he would be an ideal piece to add.

by NBA Observer on Apr 27, 2008 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

two reasons

1) we need size at the backup 2 guard – lowry/gordon lineup isn’t going to cut it. And with Melo in there BG’s offense is not missed, so his value is totally diminished.
2) we need some kind of veteran presence off the bench that has championship experience – at least to impart some needed knowledge on Thabo, and even Melo.

by kig on Apr 26, 2008 3:00 AM CDT up reply actions

oh

and he’s a chicago guy – we need someone to root for for reasons other than they’re wearing a bulls jersey

by kig on Apr 26, 2008 3:03 AM CDT up reply actions

YOOOOOOOOO

If its possible..Then do it..i doubt the Nuggets will give Melo up..

by SK23 on Apr 25, 2008 6:26 PM CDT reply actions

Wrong in so many ways.

That lazy eye is really freak’n me out. 0_0

by cranscape on Apr 26, 2008 12:16 AM CDT up reply actions

lol

it is def freaky.

this one is the best though. they actually line up almost perfectly, unlike the other ads.

by Jaina on Apr 29, 2008 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions

That looks like a Mr. Potato Head from hell

Rusty Longley v 2.0

by Ozzie Montana on Apr 26, 2008 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Melo isn't making that much next year.

Deng, Noc, and sign and trade Duhon would get it done plus our first round pick (if they are actually looking to move him…). Although, have you seen Melo lately? He looks to be putting on weight. That and his off court transgressions give me a Shawn Kemp kind of vibe. Melo can definitely still play, but is he going to start getting injured and only showing up for the playoffs? I’d still do the deal though.

2008 or bust.

by bullshooter on Apr 25, 2008 8:08 PM CDT reply actions

Noc and Duhon?

I think the Nuggets would want Hinrich in addition to sending some salary garbage our way as a minimum if they were willing to move Melo. If anything, giving them Nocioni is a negative from their end.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 26, 2008 1:18 AM CDT up reply actions

only from your jaded perspective

:-)

2008 or bust.

by bullshooter on Apr 26, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions

I see the weight as well

Melo was dominant over the summer as the leading scorer for Team USA. He wasn’t just jacking shots either. He was attacking the rim and getting anything he wanted. I thought this might he his break out year, but it appears he really needs a teammate to lead the team so he can just focus on scoring.

by NBA Observer on Apr 27, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions

You didn't trade Ben Gordon,

so why is he not in your line-up then ?

Your team would look better with him in :

Lowry + whoever else we get or sign to a minimum salary
Gordon / Thabo
Melo / Noce / Thabo
Thomas / O’Neal / Noah / Noce
Noah / O’Neal / Gray

The Game chose him !

by Diabolo on Apr 26, 2008 5:36 AM CDT reply actions

Say no to Melo

He is young, lightening quick, a phenomenal scorer, a decent rebounder and someone likely to screw the pooch before he ever reaches his full potential. He chooses his friends based more on street cred than character, plays defense only when in the mood, and takes some crazy shots at innapropriate times (5 for 22 tonite against the Lakers). I would hate to give up on Deng, Kirk and our draft pick for someone whose potential for stardom is offset by his possibility to become another Shawn Kemp. I would rather wait until LeBron and Wade become free agents and go after the gold with whatever the Bulls management can muster.

by Tyrusmancrush on Apr 27, 2008 2:51 AM CDT reply actions

wild speculation

There is no way that Denver trades Melo. Doing so without getting a star back effectively means wholesale rebuilding since AI is at the end of his career. Without Melo, Denver goes from “one or two role players and a decent coach who teaches defense away” to total garbage. My “total garbage” assessment extends to a Nuggets team which includes Deng, Hinrich and anyone else mentioned in this thread. The only way I can see this happening is if the Bulls draft Rose and include him in a deal for Anthony.

by Stay Chisel on Apr 27, 2008 1:58 PM CDT reply actions

Say no to Melo

by chgobr on Apr 27, 2008 8:09 PM CDT reply actions

The Nuggets would trade

Allen Iverson before they’d trade ‘Melo. Older, shorter, and arguably more limited, since he doesn’t have the post-up game like ‘Melo does.

Teams will sacrifice small players before they’ll sacrifice bigs, anyway. And an argument could be made that ‘Melo hasn’t even begun to peak, whereas every passing year that Iverson plays at an All Star level is a pleasant surprise, given his age and the amount of pounding his body has taken over the years.

"It’d be ridiculous to hate someone for simply what they say in a sports blog. But I greatly dislike every syllable of your angst-filled, smarmy, nondescript, half-assed, elitist-garbage responses." –Rogerspark Kris

by bullhockey on May 2, 2008 1:21 PM CDT reply actions

well look at it the other way

they could get more for Melo.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 2, 2008 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I dunno, Matt, that's

a real head-scratcher.

I mean, ‘Melo is the future, and he’s the heart and soul of that franchise, similar to Jordan circa 1988.

If they trade him away, they’re left with a bunch of other high level guys, but no one you can build around. In other words, by trading him, don’t they go from being the 1988 Bulls to being the 2008 Bulls (only with a lot more talent)?

by bullhockey on May 2, 2008 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions