So..if you believe that Birds of the same feather flock together....

[nycballer]

Do you still want to trade youth and cap flexibility for CP3 (and Okafor) OR would you try to go a different route and wait for ...say..Deron Williams?

I have my own suspicions about CP3 based solely (and perhaps irrationally) on Paul's relationship with Lebron, Wade and Lebron's marketing company (that Paul claims he is not "yet" a part of). Seeing that Wade & Lebron have been spotted in Vegas with Paul only adds to my suspicions that they are planning Paul's exit from NO in what promises to be another performance on par with "The Decision".

I have said this and I'll say this again - I think that CP3 is an elite, transcendent player. He's definitely one of the best - if not the best - PGs in the league right now. If Walsh can trade for CP3 without giving up CAP flexibility and without parting with both Randolph & Gallinari then I say Walsh has to do it and will be singing his praise for years to come.

Having said that, I do not think CP3 is worth investing youth & future cap flexibility if we have to lose out on both.

Additionally, I think one has to look at some of the REAL concerns surrounding Paul before determining whether he's worth the treasure we're willing to give away for his services.

1. How many PGs that play his style actually play past their early 30's? - Marbury, Iverson just to name a few declined by age 32. So what, this gives Paul a good 5-7 years?

2. Paul has a degenerative knee condition - meniscus tear surgery this past year that will only deteriorate as time goes by. This is not something that will improve.

3. Paul is not a player that can carry a team to the Championship on his own - Nor can he carry a team to the championship with solid players like David West, Peja, Chandler around him. Will he make us a championship caliber team? Verdict is still out on this one.

4. Will signing Paul guarantee that Lebron and the Heat will forever beat us? - If Paul is weak-minded enough to accept guidance from Lebron (his competition) how the heck are we to believe he'll be at his A-game when facing him? Taking a page out of Jordan's book, Jordan was never friends with anyone on the court. I just can't see CP3 going up against Lebron and Co. with blood in his eyes...because that's what we need to beat the Heat.

Lebron is very crafty. For the past couple of years, he has been quietly making friends with all of the young players. Why? Genuinely nice guy? I think not. When you're friends with someone - especially with someone who is physically more skilled and stronger then you - you lose part of your competitive edge. Lebron is making friends with everyone and their mom so that when he faces them they will not bring the same fire as say...Starks would against Jordan....or Laimbeer would bring against Bird...or Isiah would bring against everyone.

5. Availability of other PGs - There are other PGs available either now or in the immediate future. Felton is a nice two year pickup until Deron (whom I would prefer to Paul). Deron is my first choice for PGs. He is strong, big and does not have the same baggage or injury concerns.


So I guess the issue here is do you want CP3 or wait for a guy like Deron Williams? There are some who believe that you go after what you can NOW and not make decisions based on future uncertainty. There are still others who believe that ruining your cap flexibility & trading away youth for 1 elite player that may or may not put you over the top is the right decision.

How do you feel?

[Dadude2399]

I think we go for him now. I'm fine with trading Curry, Randolph, Douglas, Chandler and a few picks for Okafor and Paul. Then we trade away Felton for an expiring contract at the deadline and we pick up Melo, who would obviously be attracted to being part of a big three or MAYBE even somewhat of a "Big Four" depending on how Gallo performs. That automatically makes us championship contenders for 2011-2012. This chance may never come again, and I say we go for it. We can't just allow the Magic to get Paul, and then the Floridian teams would dominate and never allow us to advance far into the playoffs. This is a great chance to build one of the top 3 teams in the NBA and I really hope we go for it.

[nycballer]

I think we go for him now. I'm fine with trading Curry, Randolph, Douglas, Chandler and a few picks for Okafor and Paul. Then we trade away Felton for an expiring contract at the deadline and we pick up Melo, who would obviously be attracted to being part of a big three or MAYBE even somewhat of a "Big Four" depending on how Gallo performs. That automatically makes us championship contenders for 2011-2012. This chance may never come again, and I say we go for it. We can't just allow the Magic to get Paul, and then the Floridian teams would dominate and never allow us to advance far into the playoffs. This is a great chance to build one of the top 3 teams in the NBA and I really hope we go for it.

I definitely hear you on this and thanks for your thoughts on this.

I agree with you in that this opportunity to potentially put so many high-caliber players together in a relatively short time doesn't come around so often. However, I really think Walsh has his work cut out for him here. So many possible directions for this to go.

What is clear to me is this: every decision from now on should be made with one goal - championship.

So based on this one premise alone I think that Walsh has to go after CP3 (as long as we don't give up BOTH cap flexibility and youth). If Walsh has to give up both then I say we pass and go after Deron when his time comes for FA or UFA.

I just don't want to be back in the same territory - cap wise - as we have been for the better part of the last decade UNLESS we get Paul (or Deron), Melo and Amare together.

[Dadude2399]

I definitely hear you on this and thanks for your thoughts on this.

I agree with you in that this opportunity to potentially put so many high-caliber players together in a relatively short time doesn't come around so often. However, I really think Walsh has his work cut out for him here. So many possible directions for this to go.

What is clear to me is this: every decision from now on should be made with one goal - championship.

So based on this one premise alone I think that Walsh has to go after CP3 (as long as we don't give up BOTH cap flexibility and youth). If Walsh has to give up both then I say we pass and go after Deron when his time comes for FA or UFA.

I just don't want to be back in the same territory - cap wise - as we have been for the better part of the last decade UNLESS we get Paul (or Deron), Melo and Amare together.

When is Williams a free agent? And do you think the Jazz would trade him before he becomes a FA?

[nycballer]

When is Williams a free agent? And do you think the Jazz would trade him before he becomes a FA?

Deron is under contract until 2011/2012 with a player option for 2012/2013.

Deron's contract details: 2009/10: $13,520,500, 2010/11: $14,940,152, 2011/12: $16,359,805, 2012/13: $17,779,457 (Player Option)


I'm not sure that Deron will be available. He seems to fit Utah very nicely. But the one thing that might push him out as he gets older is the level of quality on the roster. It's been noted that Deron is unhappy with the roster upgrades - or lack there of - this past year. They lost Boozer and his good friend Brewer last year. Sure, they got Al Jeff...but how good is he...really?

Anything is possible with Deron. Money says he stays. He's high character guy and one who I think will play out his contract or at least until his player option.

I still think - in my opinion - Deron is the guy we should target as we will not have to give up nearly as much as we would if we tried to get CP3 NOW.

[Dadude2399]

Deron is under contract until 2011/2012 with a player option for 2012/2013.

Deron's contract details: 2009/10: $13,520,500, 2010/11: $14,940,152, 2011/12: $16,359,805, 2012/13: $17,779,457 (Player Option)


I'm not sure that Deron will be available. He seems to fit Utah very nicely. But the one thing that might push him out as he gets older is the level of quality on the roster. It's been noted that Deron is unhappy with the roster upgrades - or lack there of - this past year. They lost Boozer and his good friend Brewer last year. Sure, they got Al Jeff...but how good is he...really?

Anything is possible with Deron. Money says he stays. He's high character guy and one who I think will play out his contract or at least until his player option.

I still think - in my opinion - Deron is the guy we should target as we will not have to give up nearly as much as we would if we tried to get CP3 NOW.

Yeah, I'm just worried that the Knicks might do something stupid and get Parker next year. Would they have enough money to get Melo AND Parker next year? Even though I don't think Parker would be the right guy for the Knicks to get...

[nycballer]

Yeah, I'm just worried that the Knicks might do something stupid and get Parker next year. Would they have enough money to get Melo AND Parker next year? Even though I don't think Parker would be the right guy for the Knicks to get...

I am not so down on Parker though I know quite a few are. He's a championship caliber player and has the rings to prove it. Sure, he doesn't "fit" our system but he can ball.

As for getting both Melo and Parker next year....not sure how that works out for us but I could see Parker taking less for the chance to play with Melo & Amare. After all, he's already won so this would be purely for the glory of bringing bball back to NY and for the chance to play with guys he enjoys playing with (Amare & Parker want to play with each other).

[starks4life]

You guys are ridiculous. The overwhelming majority have said, get me CP3 without losing cap flexibility and without trading our talented youth.

Thats the equivalent of "I want a job that pays alot but I don't want to work hard," or "I want to be a doctor but I don't want to go to medical school."

You cant give nothing and get everything. Completely unrealistic mentality.

[nycballer]

You guys are ridiculous. The overwhelming majority have said, get me CP3 without losing cap flexibility and without trading our talented youth.

Thats the equivalent of "I want a job that pays alot but I don't want to work hard," or "I want to be a doctor but I don't want to go to medical school."

You cant give nothing and get everything. Completely unrealistic mentality.

Fair enough but I in your opinion does this amount to fair value for CP3 (assuming he's still available):
Curry's expiring, Randolph (he's from the area), Chandler, Felton (or TD), future 1st, 2 future 2nds (that we got in GSW trade)?

In my opinion, this seems to be fair value as long as we do not have to take back salary (which is, as you say, an unrealistic mentality).

Bottom line is this, you have to give up value to get value and the question is....how much are we willing to give?

In my opinion, we give as much as it takes up to the point where we do not sacrifice both future cap flexibility and youth. It's an either or thing with me and it doesn't look like NO will bite if this is the case.

So, unrealistic? Yes. But it's worth a shot or, better yet, waiting for Melo & Deron...

And I do believe that I said I do not want to give up both future cap flex AND youth but one of the two is fine as we have to give up value to get value (read in my earlier posts).

[RoboNate]

You guys are ridiculous. The overwhelming majority have said, get me CP3 without losing cap flexibility and without trading our talented youth.

Thats the equivalent of "I want a job that pays alot but I don't want to work hard," or "I want to be a doctor but I don't want to go to medical school."

You cant give nothing and get everything. Completely unrealistic mentality.

Well it was presented as a valid option by NYCBaller. So it's his fault lol. But I understand what ur saying. It's like saying starks4life can beat down alleykat in a fight. Never gonna happen