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Post by jordoo on Jun 3, 2008 11:05:25 GMT -5
I have been reading rumors of either Melo or AI and Probabky Camby to Detroit for Wallace and Billups.
If its Billups/Wallace for AI/Camby I think its a great trade for Denver. They get point guard and a big who is a threat to score and both guys help spread the floor for Melo and for penatration. It also forces Karl to start JR and continue to develop him.
If its for Melo/Camby I think it would make more sense both ways if it were Prince instead of Wallace. Neither Prince or Melo can guard the 4 and Wallace is well fit to play along side Melo. Also it makes sense that if Denver keeps AI (and extends his contract) that they need a good perimeter defender and well rounded player like Prince.
Personally I'd rather see Melo moved if Karl stays, I think anywhere is better especialy since you know that if they don't get out of the 1st round next year Karl will say its Melo's fault and that he cannot be coached (thats Karls pattern after all). But anything splitting up AI and Melo is a decent start.
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Post by eldiablo on Jun 3, 2008 12:34:46 GMT -5
So basically Detroit is about 5 years behind. They didn't draft Melo in the first place because they were convinced Prince was their man.
Pistons must have a lot of faith in Stuckey if they're willing to deal Billups.
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Post by jordoo on Jun 3, 2008 12:46:13 GMT -5
Agreed on the Stucky point, however I think its alot easier to get by in the East with a young developing PG than the West. Billups stands to make alot of cash the next few years and has declined slightly. Also Detroit may know something is up with him. Remember they were not willing to offer Big BEn the big $'s and he went elsewhere and was imediatly in severe decline.
Prince is a fine player all around, but passing on Melo, Wade, Bosh, Howard to name a few and tacking Darko because you liked Prince alot, is the one huge blemish or obvious screw up on Joe D's GM resume. I could actually see him trying to score Melo to polish up that one blemish.
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Post by eldiablo on Jun 3, 2008 12:51:13 GMT -5
Prince is a decent role player, but he's horribly overrated. He's not a reliable scoring threat and his defense has declined somewhat. He got abused against the Celtics.
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Post by jordoo on Jun 3, 2008 12:58:44 GMT -5
Prince is a decent role player, but he's horribly overrated. He's not a reliable scoring threat and his defense has declined somewhat. He got abused against the Celtics. I completely agree, but he is a very nice well rounded player to have on your team. I think when no one payed any attention to him a few years ago he was a bigger threat offensively and once people took notice he was pretty easy to shut down. On defense he is still above average at guarding the three provided that player is not a post up player. But he was never a super quick defender as much as he was great at bothering people with his rediculous length (7' wingspan). Over time I think alot of guys he guards have kind of figured him out.
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Post by eldiablo on Jun 3, 2008 13:23:29 GMT -5
No doubt... he's definitely not going to hurt a team, but he's also not the player they though they had a few years ago. Meaning, not good enough to justify passing over Melo or any of the other guys they passed up that could've filled his role.
At the same time, he'd instantly make Denver a better defensive team... though that's not really saying much
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Post by jordoo on Jun 3, 2008 13:58:39 GMT -5
True and Melo was unquestionably the most sure thing in that draft, which is why passing on him was rediculous especailly because they were set with a guy who has become an above average role player at his position. Also Darko was actually a rather predictable bust, especially if you've followed the draft over the last 20 years.
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Post by CosmosPizza on Jun 3, 2008 15:08:43 GMT -5
Didnt the nuggets say melo isnt going anywhere? besides why would the pistons do this trade??? they pretty much have had the same lineup for many years and they go deep in the playoffs every year, so why would they want to mess around and change that?. if it's not broke dont fix it IMO.
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Post by eldiablo on Jun 3, 2008 15:19:12 GMT -5
Didnt the nuggets say melo isnt going anywhere? besides why would the pistons do this trade??? they pretty much have had the same lineup for many years and they go deep in the playoffs every year, so why would they want to mess around and change that?. if it's not broke dont fix it IMO. They've reached their peak. The current lineup is aging and unlikely to get any further than they have at this point. If the goal is to win a title, they've got to shake something up or it won't ever happen.
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Post by tbuc15 on Jun 3, 2008 21:16:06 GMT -5
AI>>>>>Billups Melo>>>>>> Billups Camby>Wallace
This would be a dumb trade for Denver
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Post by jordoo on Jun 4, 2008 8:04:05 GMT -5
Melo&AI= Bad Combination stunted growth for Melo
Remember the best 5 players at each position aren't often the best team!! Melo needs to be the focus of the offense when he is in the game, which means getting the ball to him early in the shot clock, and letting him draw the double and create for others or get his own shot (AI doesn't draw a double team and cannot finish over the big guys in traffic like he used to so as long as you have a big close to the basket you can let him dribble around all game). AI likes to dribble, dribble, dribble and then dribble some more and either shoot or throw it to someone else late in the shot clock. They just don't work together IMO because each needs to be the focus of the offense to maximise there skills. AI actually clogs the floor up on a Melo post because he isn't a great shooter. If you look at the numbers Melo has actually done more for AI than AI has done for Melo. Think about it Ai getts more open looks and easy assists because of all the attention paid to Melo. He gets to probe the D for 18 seconds every possesion and then toss it to Melo and let him force if he can't get a shot he wants. AI's numbers especially shooting %'s were very high for him playing with Melo, while Melo also shot very well, its due more to his improvement as a jump shooter than space made by AI. (Melo has been improving his shooting % regularly) Plus the added bonus for AI is that Melo takes all the heat for not being able to make it work when they brought in AI the mega star to help Melo. Really the front office failed both AI and Melo by panicing and pulling the triger on the AI deal when Melo and JR were suspended. Also for sticking with Karl who is 100% useless as a play off coach, mainly because he doesn't coach as much as sit there and try to figure out how to set up his players to take the blame when he fails again.
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