I wouldn't do it if I was the Nuggets but it is the best potential deal I have seen them offered so far.

Am I the only one that doesn't like this move? I think it's more of an NBA Live or 2K move. All the things said about how LBJ and DWade could not play together would go in here as well, only worse because neither Kobe or Melo is really much of a passer. Kobe has the ability to do it, but he's not going to differ to anyone. Gasol is a horrible center, and Odom is much better off the bench. I think Bynum was a huge part in why the Lakers won the last two titles. It's a great move on paper, but I wouldn't like their chances against the Celtics at all, and I really wouldn't be shocked to see San Antonio or Miami beat them.

 

There is no reason for LA to panic right now, they were struggling some at this time last year and people were saying Kobe was done. Artest is a liability, but he always is. Kobe is their best player but the key for LA to me is the trio inside. JMO, but I will be the first on record to say that I don't think this is a great trade or even one LA should do.

Odom played great as a starter the first 20 games or so when Bynum was out.

Bynum is the only one of those guys mentioned that is even close to being a franchise player.

 

As talented as he is, he does you zero good when he can't play because he's hurt, or if you have to sit him in games because you don't want to "risk" injuring him. The way Nene has really started to pick up his play I would just focus on locking him up then adding other scoring and defensive talent. They just signed Al Harrington this off season, he is a formidable power forward. Lawson and Afflalo have really developed nicely in the backcourt and when he wants to be JR Smith is one of the best scorers in the league. You add Wilson Chandler and Corey Brewer into the rotation on the wing, then snatch up a high lottery pick to develop in next years draft, plus dump some salary this off season and maybe sign a high profile name or two and I think they have a good young team.

 

Going that route long term would benefit the team much more than getting Bynum I would think. I mean with a top 5 pick they can always draft the next Carmelo Anthony to develop into a super star so they too one day can leave town. With Bynum you get a good center, but not great center, who is often injury prone, so in otherwords your really rolling the dice.

Odom played great as a starter the first 20 games or so when Bynum was out.

 

20 games does not a career make........Kwame Brown looked like an all-star for a 20 game stretch his 3rd or 4th year in the league.

I wouldn't do it if I was the Nuggets but it is the best potential deal I have seen them offered so far.

 

I don't think it's that great of a deal. If the NBA draft were looking better for this year, I think the other trade would be head and shoulders better because of Bynum's injury history and the fact that he's probably not ever going to be a guy you can build your team around.

 

If I'm Denver the only way I do the Melo for Bynum trade is if LA will eat Harrington's salary. I would take any combination of players on LA's roster to get rid of him.

The Lakers do need help and when Kobe starts to decline it will become Melo's team.

 

If Kobe's on the roster it will always be his team IMO and I don't care who they bring in. Melo, LeBron, Dwight Howard, anyone.

Lakers beat writer says this is all false and pretty much no chance this happens which I think most of us already knew.

Bynum is the only one of those guys mentioned that is even close to being a franchise player.

 

No one being mentioned in this deal is even close to being a franchise player except Melo. Bynum is not, Chandler is not and Brewer is not.

 

Bynum is one player that average 56 games per season. Right now, he is giving you 11 pts. per games with Kobe on the wing drawing attention and Pau as another big drawing post attention. He won't have those luxaries in Denver and he will be asked to play big minute totals. Considering the history of his knees to this point, that is a gamble. He has been around for six years- if he is even close to being a franchise player, he would have shown it by now, imo.

 

The Knick deal gives you two wings that will go right into your rotation and fill the void left by Melo from a positional stand point (not production-wise, but that is why he is a franchise player). Chandler gives the Knicks 16 and 6 boards and he averages 14 and 5 boards per game for his career while Brewer gives you another top level athlete who averages 9 points per game for his career to come off of the bench. The potential of the first round pick is huge and it will be Minnesota's; that pick will be a lottery pick barring a miracle turnaround. You can look to get another piece to build around along with Denver's original number 1 or you can package two picks to move up in the draft or get another player to add to the mix.

 

I think the Knick trade is clearly better, JMO.

20 games does not a career make........Kwame Brown looked like an all-star for a 20 game stretch his 3rd or 4th year in the league.

 

I think Odom has proven himself to be a notch above the Kwame Brown class.

Am I the only one that doesn't like this move? I think it's more of an NBA Live or 2K move. All the things said about how LBJ and DWade could not play together would go in here as well, only worse because neither Kobe or Melo is really much of a passer. Kobe has the ability to do it, but he's not going to differ to anyone. Gasol is a horrible center, and Odom is much better off the bench. I think Bynum was a huge part in why the Lakers won the last two titles. It's a great move on paper, but I wouldn't like their chances against the Celtics at all, and I really wouldn't be shocked to see San Antonio or Miami beat them.

 

There is no reason for LA to panic right now, they were struggling some at this time last year and people were saying Kobe was done. Artest is a liability, but he always is. Kobe is their best player but the key for LA to me is the trio inside. JMO, but I will be the first on record to say that I don't think this is a great trade or even one LA should do.

 

I agree with you, but the Lakers would do this to set themselves up long term. I think the Celtics last legitimate shot if they don't get younger is this year. Melo could take some of the scoring and playmaking load off of Kobe's shoulders for the next 3-5 years. If Dwight Howard is serious about wanting to go to LA the Lakers should role the dice with this move even though I think it makes Boston the favorite this year. LA, to me any way is the favorite right now. Miami is also going to get better every year the next couple years even if they don't get a really good big man and you would think they are the East favorite for the next few years. LA would be built more in the mode to beat them than they are currently which is to beat Boston.

I think Odom has proven himself to be a notch above the Kwame Brown class.

 

But he's never proven to be a championship caliber starter. The last time he went into the playoffs as a starter the Celtics embarrassed the Lakers.

 

I agree with you, but the Lakers would do this to set themselves up long term. I think the Celtics last legitimate shot if they don't get younger is this year. Melo could take some of the scoring and playmaking load off of Kobe's shoulders for the next 3-5 years. If Dwight Howard is serious about wanting to go to LA the Lakers should role the dice with this move even though I think it makes Boston the favorite this year. LA, to me any way is the favorite right now. Miami is also going to get better every year the next couple years even if they don't get a really good big man and you would think they are the East favorite for the next few years. LA would be built more in the mode to beat them than they are currently which is to beat Boston.

 

I could see that but with the probability of the hard cap coming in the Lakers will be in worse shape than anyone. I don't know how it would work out with current contracts and what-not, but Kobe's making close to 30 million at the end of his deal, Melo will get the max if he's traded this year and Gasol has to be making a crazy amount of money. They would be in worse shape than Miami going forward at being able to bring in talent. If I'm them I wait and make a run at Howard. I think Kobe and Anthony would be a terrible combo, well as terrible as two all-star franchise type guys can be together. JMO.

I think Kobe and Anthony would be a terrible combo, well as terrible as two all-star franchise type guys can be together. JMO.

 

I totally agree. Couldn't see the two of them playing together bettering the team at all.

I totally agree. Couldn't see the two of them playing together bettering the team at all.

 

You don't think the fact that they're good friends would allow them to defer to one another?

You don't think the fact that they're good friends would allow them to defer to one another?

 

I don't. Neither is much for deferring to anyone. Is Kobe going to let Melo shoot a game winner? Is Melo going to be happy on nights when he only gets 10 shots?

^ Is Melo happy now?