Watching that video makes me cringe and mad. Its almost like they (in the past) never took his concerns/voice seriously.
He’s the future of the franchise, but we were too dang stubborn, short sighted and cheap to spend a couple g’s to customize his ankle braces? Seriously? Just compare that to how Steph was treated at GS during his early years. Yes, I am blaming his multiple absences on previous front office incompetence and extreme frugality. (Dear God, I hope that statement does not get me banned.)
We have done Melo wrong and every player in the league knows about it. Lonzo and Gelo had good reason to make the comments that they did a couple of weeks ago. This is why, I am happy that we’ve moved on from MJ even though I absolutely admire his legacy and non basketball business acumen. This is why I am still excited about the “new” owners. We have an opportunity!
As for Melo leading, who have we brought in to mentor him? He’s the franchise and yet we had to luck up to get Brandon in the lottery. That is not enough and all the players, league wide, watch roster moves MORE than us. We need to pay Chris Paul an OBSCENE amount of money this offseason to mentor Melo and to help erase some of the stink of the past. Find a way to dump Nurk to pay for Chris’ professionalism and street cred. (Sorry Nurk but it’s not personal.)
Guys, if you have not gone to the WP site much, then you should have free access. It details how two small market teams defied the odds:
This also works the other way man… LaMelo knows he has ankle issues and can’t perform to his best but he himself won’t figure that out? Whether that’s he/ himself paying to get “customized” ankle braces that HE feels more comfortable with that only cost a “couple g’s”. Like I’m a big enough Melo fan but regardless of his youth has got to do what needs he needs to do for his job. Anyone else would be responsible in that way as well.
I’m not saying that the people in the org shouldn’t be held responsible for their shit too but it’s also time for LaMelo to grow up and do his job.
As you said, we have new owners and new FO… they seem to be working to put the talent around him. Now let’s see him grow, take reigns of the TEAM and have some real success.
Pacers sure are selling me that building from the middle can work. But the requisite skills there being incredibly skilled with trades (including moving off their own core guys), patience, luck, and major alignment between the front office and coaching staff.
Yeah it’s not a carbon copy procedure. Even so, I don’t think the hornets have the risk tolerance or makeup to move off of “core pieces” until they know it’s too late
It’s also noteworthy that this is an unprecedented run of collapses and buzzer beaters
Yeah but it’s more than buzzer beaters. The Pacers were playing 13 guys against the Knicks. It’s having a lot of middle to play with which increases the margins for success
The past stretch of basketball over the last few years has proven to me that small ball is dead. It’s all about multi faceted wing players with size and length. Size, shoot defend.
Give me nique Clifford and rasheer Fleming in an attempt to build on the OKC/Pacers model.
I am really starting to worry that the Knicks haven’t asked permission to interview Charles Lee yet. Feel like that’s a comment about our head coach not being in the first 20 they have asked permission on :).
entirely joking, they seem to only be interested in all head coaches that have 2 or more years head coaching experience and are currently happily employed
If we end up w Ace then hopefully the Front Office will reconsider Isaac:
It helps that Isaac comes from a winning organization.
The signings have begun! Steven Adams got 39 million over 3 years. That is the market rate for a12 year vet who averaged 4 points, 5.6 rebounds in 14 minutes per game.
Maybe Charlotte and Memphis could do a disappointment trade. Melo for Ja.
Neither seems particularly interested in being professional basketball players despite be uber talented.
Not sure which one I prefer to root for less. On the court heart and explosiveness I love ja. Couldn’t deal with the anger and stupidity on a nightly basis though.
Also, to be clear. I only think this was a slight overpay by the magic. People’s knee jerk reaction will be “omg Orlando is stoopid.” And it is quite the splurge. But Bane is a great player and checks all the boxes for Orlando. He’s also young and cap controlled for another four years. Alas, the overpay. It’s not like he’s on an expiring deal or needs to be re signed to a mega contract in a year or two.
But man, it’s still a lot though. I think Bane has a similar contract to Melo. Maybe some desperate team will send the hornets four first round picks for Melo so that we can actually fully commit to a rebuild
Holy shit Orlando. There are player swaps from Orlando, but the base is Desmond bane to the magic for 4 first round picks. And a first round pick swap. Fuck man.
This reignites my hope that we can get 3 first round picks for Melo. What a wild world.
It’s a lot. It’s a bit of an overpay, but it’s not highway robbery. Bane isn’t a sexy name, but damn he’s very good.
The magic weren’t going to pay Cole Anthony, and he wasn’t going to get them where they want to be. KCP didn’t work out how they wanted and and they still owe him money. Also, KCP is not their answer.
Bane is signed for another four years. He’s only 26 years old right now. He’s a career 41% three point shooter. Yes, I said career. He shot 39% on 6.1 attempts last season. Bane averaged 19.2pts/6.1rbs/5.3asts last year. And is an 88% free throw shooter.
Oh, and at 6’5 215 is a good defender who can guard multiple positions.
. Big guards, wings, 3andD guys who can guard multiple positions is what you have to do to win.