In the days and weeks leading up to the trade deadline, reports indicated that the Celtics weren’t overly enamored with the idea of acquiring Carmelo Anthony from the Knicks. According to Marc Berman of The New York Post though, the Celtics coaching staff was in favor of making such a deal. GM Danny Ainge, however, had “too many reservations,” per Berman.
One of Ainge’s primary concerns, according to Berman, was that trading for Anthony would compromise the Celtics’ projected salary cap room for the summer. The Post’s report isn’t the first to suggest that the ability to have free agency flexibility is important for Ainge — it was believed to be one roadblock for a major deadline trade. If the Celtics remain well under the cap, they could attempt to land a top free agent – such as Gordon Hayward – and then would still have the ability to make a big splash on the trade market after using their cap space.
Berman suggests that revisiting an Anthony trade is one possibility for the Celtics in July, and there’s some logic to that idea — an early exit from the playoffs is more likely to spur action for Ainge and the C’s this summer, and the acquisition price for Anthony wouldn’t be as high as it would be for players like Jimmy Butler and Paul George, given Carmelo’s contract situation.
According to Berman, the Knicks would have interest in Jae Crowder in any talks with the Celtics. Reports in February about the Celtics’ inquiries on Butler and George suggested that Boston would likely have to include multiple players from the Crowder/Marcus Smart/Avery Bradley/Jaylen Brown group, along with at least one Nets draft pick, to make a deal with either Chicago or Indiana. I’d expect those Brooklyn picks to be off the table in any Anthony trade talks, and the Celtics may also be reluctant to give up multiple productive rotation players.
In any case, it’s somewhat premature to get into what a potential Anthony trade would look like, as there’s no guarantee Ainge will change his position. The Knicks clearly have interest in moving the veteran forward and would probably love to bring Boston back to the negotiating table, but it will likely just be one of many options considered by the Celtics this summer.
Please no we want to get younger and Melo isn’t exactly young anymore and he isn’t cheap either
Please don’t go after Melo. He’s 32 and does nothing on the defensive end. They need to get a physical big man.
That would be amongst the worst choices they could make.
I would ideally like the Celtics to not get screwed in the lottery and stay at one and draft Fultz which would give us flexibility to package Avery and Crowder with our own pick in 2018 for Jimmy because I believe they don’t want a complete rebuild in Chicago and could just plug in Avery since Wade might not return and Jæ would definitely start. While doing this we retain Brooklyns 2018 pick which I think is still very possible. Since Amir is a free agent along with Jerebko, we can use that money to possibly sign a guy like Nerlens Noel or Serge Ibaka for around 15 million. Our next years lineup would be Isaiah, Fultz, Butler, Noel/Ibaka, Horford which has championship written all over it
You are delusional. No way you get Butler without including Brooklyn’s pick in 2018.
fax
honestly as a bulls fan, if we traded butler for crowder, brown
noel is staying in Dallas
I wonder what a Melo trade with the Hawks look like? They have several draft picks in the next 3 drafts and some decent young players. I would think Baze would have to be a part for salary purposes but would him and Prince plus picks do it? I’m sure they have no interest in getting Hardaway back.
That’s an interesting idea…especially if Milsap leaves. The problem is that Milsap is probably a better fit for them because he produces and doesnt’ need as many shots. Plus, Schroeder is basically a lite version of Derrick Rose (super quick, ball hogging PG) and Melo needs a pass first PG to be truly maximized. I think where Melo ends up (if he’s traded at all), will depend on where the top FAs end up (Griffin, Milsap, etc.). I’d look for the Celtics to go hard after Blake Griffin when he opts out…even if the Clippers advance far.
No way this happens. The Celtics would have to give up too much. They missed their chance when they could have acquired DeMarcus Cousins at the deadline. They had the assets to make that work and he would have actually been a great fit. Like others have said, Melo brings little defensively and his best position going forward is PF (the Celtic’s have Horford at PF who signed there specifically to NOT play C anymore). We’ll see what happens but this seems like click bait on an off day for NBA rumor news….haven’t heard anything lately on the KNnicks so let’s make up some crap about Melo getting traded to the Celtics again!!
Melos market is for an older, over paid, shoot first, no defense vet! Putting his name in same context of Butler
Why would the C’s or anybody else give up rotational players like Crowder? Wasn’t Phil Jackson trying to give him away at the deadline and just recently said that Melo should move on? At this point he’s just a salary dump for the Knicks.
I hope that melo wouldnt come to miami heat
Melo to the Heat is actually a pretty good fit IMO. And I’m a Knicks fan…
But he would fit in nicely as the stretch 4 and the Heat have the defenders (Winslow at SF/SG and Whiteside at C) to cover any deficiencies Melo has on D….which would be minimized anyway if he’s playing PF full time. He’d be a better version of Chris Bosh IMO. They also have Dragic as a good lead guard. Honestly, the Heat would be top 3 in the East if they got Melo without giving up much. Pat Riley is a genius.
If they are asking for a combination of Crowder Smart Bradley and Brown along with one of the Nets picks(basically a top 5 guaranteed) for a 32 past his prime with a big contract and seems to cause issues where ever he goes. If we could get him for cheap I wouldn’t mind and didn’t have to pay much of his contract that would be ok but if we have to give up the guy who went #3 last year, one of our guards a defensive player in Crowder who can score as well and not to mention a top 5 pick as well for Melo? I would hang up as soon as they asked for Brown. This seems like a package to land Hayward or maybe even Griffen or possibly Cousins(before he was traded(in my opinion for less than what the Knicks want for Melo)) and there is no way in hell Melo brings back more than Cousins. If we had to trade for Melo I would say trade one of our own first round picks and maybe Jerebko but this is what they could get for Melo in his prime which was years ago so maybe they could ask Brooklyn or Sacramento to do a trade like this since they are known to make dumb trades where as the Celtics are smart enough to say no
The most I would give for Melo is Smart and 2 second rounders. But I wouldn’t be shocked if they just end up using the stretch on Melo and he goes somewhere for like 3/45.
Or Rozier and our first rounder next year. I don’t really want him badly, but if the price is a crappy first and a young PG who isn’t in the rotation and profiles as a above average backup, and he doesn’t pick up his player option, I’d do it as a stopgap and then get in on the George sweepstakes in ’18.
But his contract will set the Celtics back so much. The trade seems fair from a player standpoint but idk i like the idea of having cap space to splurge in free agency.
Sure that makes sense, but I don’t think adding Gordon Hayward makes them a championship contender. Not that Anthony does, I just like what Anthony does on offense better and it won’t hurt them long term, but having Hayward and Horford taking up so much of the cap would be problematic. If they could add Reddick and Ibaka, and then trade Smart, 2018 nets pick, our 2019 pick lottery protected, a 2nd rounder this year, a future 2nd, Rozier, Yabusele, and salary to match for Butler that would be my ideal offseason. Maybe that price is a little low, I’d include Crowder too if they think Brown is the real deal, but I’d do anything I can to keep the pick this year and still acquire someone.
No way would I ever give up Smart for Melo. I’d at most give up the rights to Kelly Olynyk and James Young. Melo would be the worst thing for this team.
That’s not happening. I can tell it wont. Also trading Avery Bradley is a stupid trade.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooope
Danny should explore other options than a Melo for Crowder deal. That would be a last resort if at all. Crowder has a great future ahead of him and is on a team friendly contract as well
Melt suxs
The Celtics need to keep focusing on the future they don’t need a SF they need a PF and some guards.
Knicks should try and get draft picks for Melo and just keep drafting quality players until Jackson’s contract is up. No playoffs till Jackson and Melo are gone realistically.