Aren't Melo and Chris Paul buddies and doesn't Chauncey's contract end before too long? Also Deron Williams is a free agent soon.

 

Chauncey has a team option for 14 Mil next year.

Chauncey has a team option for 14 Mil next year.

 

I'm sure the Nets would decline the team option if they knew they could get Paul.

The only way they are getting Chris Paul before the 2012/2013 season is by trade and they won't have anything to offer.

I dont follow the NBA a ton but that just seems like so much to give up if your the nets. I think their owner was right last month when he said the deal was to expensive and they quit trying to get Melo.

But even with the cap, they still will have so many mid level exemptions like the Heat did this season.

But even with the cap, they still will have so many mid level exemptions like the Heat did this season.

 

Heat did not have a mid-level this year. Mid-level only applies to teams that are over the salary cap at the beginning of the off-season. James, Wade, Bosh, Miller and Haslem were signed with cap money. Big Z and the rest are on minimum contracts, with the exception of Chalmers who is in his rookie deal and I believe they had an option on Joel Anthony for around the minimum.

 

Also, it is very likely that the mid-level exception will be done away with in the new CBA. Might be only minimum contracts available for teams over the cap, or very possibly a hard cap that you cannot go over.

I didn't mean to come off snooty on the last post, I just love talking NBA salary cap and salary rules. It's nerdy but I love it.

 

As for the deal, I'll be in the "I don't think this one happens" camp. I think, and maybe this is just out of hoping, that he ends up with the Knicks.

Seems the Nets are thinking 'Melo is a LeBron type of player who will make everyone better. While I think 'Melo is good, he isn't that kind of player. If I'm the Nets, I wait for him to be a free agent and go after him and keep the good 1st round picks.

Seems the Nets are thinking 'Melo is a LeBron type of player who will make everyone better. While I think 'Melo is good, he isn't that kind of player. If I'm the Nets, I wait for him to be a free agent and go after him and keep the good 1st round picks.

 

I agree. I think Amare is closer to a franchise player that can carry a team in the playoffs than Melo is. He's a great scorer but that is all that he is. To be honest they need Deron Williams or CP3 in the worst way. If they could get Melo during the summer and one of those two after next year while keeping Gallinari, Fields and Chandler they would be really tough. I think that would be the best team in the league if Mozgov develops. I think those pieces fit together better than Miami Thrice, and CP3/DWill against the Lakers with some real teammates would be unfair.

I think the Nets would be giving up too much in this deal. Who in the world signed Troy Murphy to an 11.9 million contract?

The Nets would be giving up too much, but they want Melo to sell tickets. This is a fantastic trade for NJ if they get a 25+ point scorer for 3.5 years. It's going to be easier to attract big time free agents if they have Melo.