Melo to Thunder

[TAFKASP]

Who's left in the east? At this point I think even TheSP could make the All-Star team in that conference!

[SameOldNudityDrew]

I've always been skeptical of guys like Melo and Rudy Gay, scorers who don't really seem to impact the game in other ways. This is also one of the reasons I'm worried about Wiggins, and why I find it a little weird that some of you who love Wiggins are dissing Melo when their flaws are similar.

Melo clearly can't be the team's number one guy and make the team good. And he definitely seems to mentally check out halfway through losing seasons. Those are not good things.

But Melo will now be a team's number 3 guy, and that's going to make his life so much easier. He's always been his team's number 1 guy. He's been the focus of the opponent's defense for his entire career. Not anymore. Playing with Russ and George is going to minimize his lack of versatility, and probably help him be more efficient. Especially having George, Roberson, and Adams out there, his defensive liabilities will be covered up well.

Think of the PGs he's had for the last few years. Broken Derrick Rose. Old Jose Calderon. Pablo Prigioni. Fat Ray Felton. Jeremy Lin for a New York minute. Forty-year old Jason Kidd. Washed up Baron Davis. Washed up Mike Bibby. Just think about that a minute.

Yeesh.

And now he's going to be playing off MVP Russell Westbrook coming off of averaging a triple double plus Paul George as another dynamic player who creates for others. Carmelo is going to benefit so much from playing with those guys, getting open looks from them, and he's got the natural scoring talent to make the most of it for sure.

He's getting away from the triangle, which he always hated.

Plus, Carmelo is going to win a ton of games this year. He hasn't done that since his heyday with the Nuggets more than 10 years ago. I expect that he'll really respond positively to that, especially because he's getting older, so he must know this might be his last chance to really write his legacy, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Westbrook and Paul George's futures.

I get that Carmelo isn't perfect, especially not as your team's number 1 guy. But as a third banana who just needs to score and play his role alongside two guys better than him and the rest of a roster that seems tailor made for his game (in addition to the defense the others bring, Patterson and Abrines should give them some good floor spacing as well), I bet Carmelo's gonna make a significant impact.

[Coolbreeze44]

I've always been skeptical of guys like Melo and Rudy Gay, scorers who don't really seem to impact the game in other ways. This is also one of the reasons I'm worried about Wiggins, and why I find it a little weird that some of you who love Wiggins are dissing Melo when their flaws are similar.

Melo clearly can't be the team's number one guy and make the team good. And he definitely seems to mentally check out halfway through losing seasons. Those are not good things.

But Melo will now be a team's number 3 guy, and that's going to make his life so much easier. He's always been his team's number 1 guy. He's been the focus of the opponent's defense for his entire career. Not anymore. Playing with Russ and George is going to minimize his lack of versatility, and probably help him be more efficient. Especially having George, Roberson, and Adams out there, his defensive liabilities will be covered up well.

Think of the PGs he's had for the last few years. Broken Derrick Rose. Old Jose Calderon. Pablo Prigioni. Fat Ray Felton. Jeremy Lin for a New York minute. Forty-year old Jason Kidd. Washed up Baron Davis. Washed up Mike Bibby. Just think about that a minute.

Yeesh.

And now he's going to be playing off MVP Russell Westbrook coming off of averaging a triple double plus Paul George as another dynamic player who creates for others. Carmelo is going to benefit so much from playing with those guys, getting open looks from them, and he's got the natural scoring talent to make the most of it for sure.

He's getting away from the triangle, which he always hated.

Plus, Carmelo is going to win a ton of games this year. He hasn't done that since his heyday with the Nuggets more than 10 years ago. I expect that he'll really respond positively to that, especially because he's getting older, so he must know this might be his last chance to really write his legacy, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Westbrook and Paul George's futures.

I get that Carmelo isn't perfect, especially not as your team's number 1 guy. But as a third banana who just needs to score and play his role alongside two guys better than him and the rest of a roster that seems tailor made for his game (in addition to the defense the others bring, Patterson and Abrines should give them some good floor spacing as well), I bet Carmelo's gonna make a significant impact.

I don't understand the Melo and Wiggins comp. Two completely different styles at opposite ends of their respective careers. It's just a poor attempt to rip myself and Wiggins at the same time. If we offered the Thunder Wiggins for Melo, the trade call would be into the league office before we could get off the line.

[Monster]

That OKC first round pick keeps looking less exciting all the time. It also means less salary and there will be a good player available.

OKC signed Trey Burke. I thought someone should take a flyer on a guy like that. OKC could have added a young decent and experienced player for cheap.

Now the only intrigue left is when will Wade gets bought out and will he go anywhere other than the Cavs?

[thedoper]

I'm fine with Melo to Wiggins comps for early career Wiggins. The problem with Melo is that he stopped improving his game. If he would have stayed at it he would have been a top level player. Melo led some solid teams to the playoffs as a young player. If Wiggins plateaus I'll be worried but there are no signs of it yet. Wiggins is light years more athletic than Melo though.

[60WinTim]

Do we need to send a search party out for Q? I don't think he is going to take this very well...

[Coolbreeze44]

Do we need to send a search party out for Q? I don't think he is going to take this very well...

Do we need to send a search party out for Q? I don't think he is going to take this very well...

We may just have to wait for him to come to.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Do we need to send a search party out for Q? I don't think he is going to take this very well...

I'm numb to it at this point. OKC has gotten away with grand theft auto TWICE this offseason.

As Drew mentioned, they have a killer starting lineup that is really complimentary of each other. OKC needed some shot creators and shooters to help out Westbrook and that is exactly what they got now to go along with the dirty work of Roberson and Adams.

We are basically competing for the 5-8 seed, although I already assumed OKC would be better than us before this move, so I guess it doesn't really change my calculus much.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I'm fine with Melo to Wiggins comps for early career Wiggins. The problem with Melo is that he stopped improving his game. If he would have stayed at it he would have been a top level player. Melo led some solid teams to the playoffs as a young player. If Wiggins plateaus I'll be worried but there are no signs of it yet. Wiggins is light years more athletic than Melo though.

'Melo was a vastly superior player to Wiggins by their respective third years. Wiggins has to improve a ton just to get to 3rd and 4th year 'Melo. But you are correct, after that, 'Melo didn't evolve much.

[Coolbreeze44]

I'm fine with Melo to Wiggins comps for early career Wiggins. The problem with Melo is that he stopped improving his game. If he would have stayed at it he would have been a top level player. Melo led some solid teams to the playoffs as a young player. If Wiggins plateaus I'll be worried but there are no signs of it yet. Wiggins is light years more athletic than Melo though.

'Melo was a vastly superior player to Wiggins by their respective third years. Wiggins has to improve a ton just to get to 3rd and 4th year 'Melo. But you are correct, after that, 'Melo didn't evolve much.

Improve a ton? That's a little bit of hyperbole Q. Here are some Melo stats from his 3rd year:

3 Pt percentage - 24.3%
RPG - 4.9
Assists - 2.7
Steals - 1.1
Blocks .5

And we all know Melo has never been a good defender either. Was he better at the same time? Probably. Vastly superior? Definitely not.