Knicks · Berger wonders: Is Phil's next move to trade Melo? (page 1)

But by far, Jackson's most curious comments in this rare public appearance came when he was asked about the player around whom the team was built: Carmelo Anthony.

It was purely coincidence that Jackson fired Fisher after a loss to the Denver Nuggets, from whence Anthony came in a 2011 trade that changed the trajectory of both franchises. An interesting coincidence, nonetheless.

The Nuggets, of course, are in no better shape than the Knicks five years after that colossal trade. As Rasheed Wallace might say of the deal, "Both teams played hard ... and both teams lost."

Here is what Jackson had to say when asked how Anthony's game has evolved under Fisher:

"Yeah, Carmelo's been a major focus. He's a guy that has carried the load a lot with this team. We played very well without Carmelo in numbers of games this year, which is obvious that we have a team that's pretty well balanced. ... I think the seven games he's been out, I think four of them we played extremely well, had the lead going into the final minutes. So it's important in a certain situation. We exaggerate it in terms of salaries in this game and of course by whose team is it and all that kind of stuff. But Carmelo's a leader. We understand that. He's on board. He's going to move forward with this basketball club."

It wasn't just a Freudian slip. Unprovoked, Jackson mentioned again later in his news conference how well the Knicks played when Anthony was out with his recurring knee injury.

"I saw glimpses," Jackson said. "Particularly a couple of games Carmelo was out, I thought there was good ball movement, good player movement. ... We're looking for our players to play together in a way which brings out their best attributes, not a lot of what I consider standing around, one-on-one, situational stuff in the game. We want to see ball movement and player movement that brings out the best in the team."

While Jackson said his posture at the trade deadline would be aggressive -- "We're looking to improve the team, no doubt," he said -- he also admitted that he has limited trade assets to get that done. He also mentioned that he has "a couple of players" who are "probably off the table for discussion."

One, of course, is rookie Kristaps Porzingis. "There's not too many people that ever would say that I would trade Kris," Jackson said.

"Is Carmelo one of those players?" I asked, not knowing whether I'd see Jackson again before the start of the 2016-17 season.

"Yeah, I think it is a known fact that Carmelo has a no-trade [clause]," Jackson said. "And we like Kris; everybody likes Kris."

Soon, the Knicks' head groundhog would return to his natural habitat, saying, "OK, guys, I think that's good." And it was; it's always good with Phil Jackson.

Good quotes and clear ones are two different things, though. And Jackson left just enough loose ends to make it worth wondering whether firing Derek Fisher isn't the biggest change he wants to make.

As the 6-foot-8 Jackson rose from his chair and squeezed through a half-open doorway, escaping the media room for the back offices of the Knicks' training center, he was smiling. Jackson had seen his shadow, all right. And we'll just have to wait and see what, exactly, that means.

That's not exactly - "we ain't trading Melo." It's more a hint that it'd be difficult and have to be mutual.

It's also worth pointing out that he mentioned two different times how much he liked how they played when Melo was out.

Interesting.

CrushAlot wrote:I was just going to post this. Phil was given an opportunity to praise Melo and he went the other way in my opinion.

Yeah, I think knowing Phil he was either trying to motivate Melo or weighing trading him.

Phil does motivate guys like this a bit. He did it with Kobe all the time.

Also, remember in July right before Summer League he compared Porzingis to Shawn Bradley? Motivation up the wazoo right there!

Knixkik wrote:He said he's not trading Melo. Besides, have you seen this team play without Melo? It can't win. He fired Fisher for not being able to win. So winning now is clearly important to Phil. If he traded Melo, that would go against the reason he fired Fisher to begin with.

He didn't say he's not trading Melo. He said Melo had a no trade clause.

He also said he liked the way they played better when Melo was out.

crzymdups wrote:I wondered this, too. When asked in the press conference if he would trade Melo, he said "it's well known that Melo has a no trade clause."

That's not exactly - "we ain't trading Melo." It's more a hint that it'd be difficult and have to be mutual.

It's also worth pointing out that he mentioned two different times how much he liked how they played when Melo was out.

Interesting.

Me too. I've said this a few times, but if the clips decide to move griffin, the clips make a lot of sense for Melo- bring in the Celtics and everyone gets what they need.

smackeddog wrote:

crzymdups wrote:I wondered this, too. When asked in the press conference if he would trade Melo, he said "it's well known that Melo has a no trade clause."

That's not exactly - "we ain't trading Melo." It's more a hint that it'd be difficult and have to be mutual.

It's also worth pointing out that he mentioned two different times how much he liked how they played when Melo was out.

Interesting.

Me too. I've said this a few times, but if the clips decide to move griffin, the clips make a lot of sense for Melo- bring in the Celtics and everyone gets what they need.

Yeah, I think that Blake / Melo trade makes a ton of sense. If only we had our own pick this year, with Blake out with a broken hand we could tank a little and get a lotto pick and next season have lotto pick, Blake, KP year 2. Sigh.

I don't love Blake, but he's a good passer, mid-range shooter, and would be a perfect Triangle player.

It would give Melo the chance to play with CP3 and DeAndre and maybe compete for a chip for the next 2-3 years.

It's a trade I'd consider. From a basketball perspective, it makes a ton of sense.

yellowboy90 wrote:If Phil loves ball movement does this mean that Afflalo will be traded? The old Melo is hurting ball movement routine is really a thing of the past.

It could also just be Phil jabbing at Melo. My memory is he used to do this to Kobe all the time.

November 3.0

December 4.1

January 5.2

February 6.3

Literally going up an assist per month and he's at a career high right now.

crzymdups wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

crzymdups wrote:I wondered this, too. When asked in the press conference if he would trade Melo, he said "it's well known that Melo has a no trade clause."

That's not exactly - "we ain't trading Melo." It's more a hint that it'd be difficult and have to be mutual.

It's also worth pointing out that he mentioned two different times how much he liked how they played when Melo was out.

Interesting.

Me too. I've said this a few times, but if the clips decide to move griffin, the clips make a lot of sense for Melo- bring in the Celtics and everyone gets what they need.

Yeah, I think that Blake / Melo trade makes a ton of sense. If only we had our own pick this year, with Blake out with a broken hand we could tank a little and get a lotto pick and next season have lotto pick, Blake, KP year 2. Sigh.

I don't love Blake, but he's a good passer, mid-range shooter, and would be a perfect Triangle player.

It would give Melo the chance to play with CP3 and DeAndre and maybe compete for a chip for the next 2-3 years.

It's a trade I'd consider. From a basketball perspective, it makes a ton of sense.

I'd re-route Griffin to the celtics. They have tonne of first rounders, an excess of young players, and I'd love to land either Bradley or Smart. Plus having the nets unprotected first rounder would be hilariously satisfying

crzymdups wrote:

Knixkik wrote:He said he's not trading Melo. Besides, have you seen this team play without Melo? It can't win. He fired Fisher for not being able to win. So winning now is clearly important to Phil. If he traded Melo, that would go against the reason he fired Fisher to begin with.

He didn't say he's not trading Melo. He said Melo had a no trade clause.

He also said he liked the way they played better when Melo was out.

crzymdups wrote:Melo assists per game by month:

November 3.0

December 4.1

January 5.2

February 6.3

Literally going up an assist per month and he's at a career high right now.

The only issue with Melo is the Knee. Basketball wise Melo has been really good this year. The rest of the roster has been more of the issue. When healthy and in a groove this team has had some good performances. The roster needs to be improved and Phil stated that he clearly knows this.

I don't see Melo wanting to leave with only 28 games left, so I don't foresee any huge deal involving Melo by the Deadline. After the season it will depend on how they finish the year. IMO if they start winning again then I don't see Melo wanting to move on.

Knixkik wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

Knixkik wrote:He said he's not trading Melo. Besides, have you seen this team play without Melo? It can't win. He fired Fisher for not being able to win. So winning now is clearly important to Phil. If he traded Melo, that would go against the reason he fired Fisher to begin with.

He didn't say he's not trading Melo. He said Melo had a no trade clause.

He also said he liked the way they played better when Melo was out.

He said Melo and KP are off the table. However you interpret it. And knicks are winless without Melo, i will remind you. Phil said he wants to win.

He said "we have several players who are off the table." He never said who they were.

yellowboy90 wrote:If Phil loves ball movement does this mean that Afflalo will be traded? The old Melo is hurting ball movement routine is really a thing of the past.

nixluva wrote:

crzymdups wrote:Melo assists per game by month:

November 3.0

December 4.1

January 5.2

February 6.3

Literally going up an assist per month and he's at a career high right now.

The only issue with Melo is the Knee. Basketball wise Melo has been really good this year. The rest of the roster has been more of the issue. When healthy and in a groove this team has had some good performances. The roster needs to be improved and Phil stated that he clearly knows this.

I don't see Melo wanting to leave with only 28 games left, so I don't foresee any huge deal involving Melo by the Deadline. After the season it will depend on how they finish the year. IMO if they start winning again then I don't see Melo wanting to move on.

If Melo were to be involved in a big deal, it'd pretty much have to be at the deadline, so the 28 games left thing doesn't really matter.

I don't THINK he'd trade Melo... but Phil said some curious things today. Hence the reason for the article that I did not write posted above.

CrushAlot wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:If Phil loves ball movement does this mean that Afflalo will be traded? The old Melo is hurting ball movement routine is really a thing of the past.

I thought he complimented Afflalo at one point. I do think he would trade him if he got the right offer.

I never heard him compliment AA. I'm pretty sure the only players he mentioned by name were KP, Melo, Lou Amundson, Langston Galloway. Pretty sure.

I think this is also sort of meant to be a wake up call to the team - like, no one is safe, don't get comfortable, we're in the business of winning.

crzymdups wrote:Melo assists per game by month:

November 3.0

December 4.1

January 5.2

February 6.3

Literally going up an assist per month and he's at a career high right now.

well melo still needs to change because the assists going up is just because he now has a "real" cast to work with