nyknickzingis wrote:If you look at it from a talent perspective.Rose is a free agent. We have his bird rights.
We would have a MLE if we used Rose's bird rights to re-sign him. That's nearly Courtney Lee money.
We have early bird rights on Holiday. That's about the MLE money level as well.
We have a lottery pick coming. Draft best player available, lets say we do well enough to get someone who can atleast be a rotation player.
We would have added a lottery pick to the rotation, and likely a MLE level player to the rotation. That's two changes. I have no clue who or what positions those players would be at (I am hoping it is perimeter help at 3/2/1 because that is where we need it most). But lets say we do that, talent wise we only upgrade if we keep Rose on top of that. We would hve added 2 new pieces to the rotation while keeping the same talent in Rose, Melo, KP.
Now the chemistry has to be changed and how they play, so you then trade Melo. However we have a 18 points/5 assists a night driving PG that looks interesting in staying. It won't be easy for us to get replacements. If Rose is willing to stay on his current salary (22$M a year) I think I seriously have to consider it if I'm the Knicks. We won't be getting Chris Paul. We won't be getting Curry. If Rose is willing to do a 3 year deal with a 4th year player option, I am leaning towards keeping him. I think we can eventually trade him. What we don't want to do is lose an asset we traded away a starting C on a good contract (RoLo) and a draft pick (THJ or Grant) for nothing. I think Rose has proven he can stay healthy and he can still play. We will not find better than Rose. His attitude was questionable, and he's a bit of a headcase. I am not even coming close to 150/5 type of money. However I think I would do $90M-4 years if the 4th year is a team option. Knicks aren't in a pretty position. They can not draw talent easily.
Additionally, if we keep Rose, if we are able to draft a prospect in the lottery at the wing, I move Melo. I re-build the team to be younger, with the oldest starter being Rose, a 28 year old. I think we can do this, and Rose's play has shown me he is far less of a ball stopper than Melo, and that he is far more committed to winning. You don't see Rose smile and laugh when the team loses. You see he hates it. If we don't draft a PG prospect and trading Melo is an option and then Rose is willing to stay at current salary, I think I'm leaning towards keeping Rose. We shouldn't act like 18/5 PG's who can drive like Rose grow on trees. He's shown some progress in his play. He has shown better defensive effort and also better recognition of the open man.
I just don't think the Knicks are in a position to be picky about free agents. Rose is the most likely free agent they can get at the point guard position because he wants to stay (apparently). I won't be upset if he walks, but I wouldn't be upset if he stayed. They keep Rose, add a MLE player, add a lottery talent, now you have not lowered your talent level. You're the same team as this year talent wise (which was quite good based on talent) only with 2 new additions with the MLE and lottery pick. You then make a Melo trade. If you don't or can't trade Melo, you look at other areas you can improve on through trade. With Lee, O'Quinn, Thomas, we have some tradable pieces.
Good stuff. For me I wouldn't want Melo and Rose together for another year, it's just been brutal with those 2. I would be good at 3 years at $20 for Rose IF Knicks could move Melo. Josh Jackson would be my lottery target, dude just moves the ball so well.
