More 'Melo Talk

The Lottery is tomorrow and Jay-Z will be sitting for the Nets. Kiki Vandeweghe will be there. Rod Thorn isn’t sure where he’ll be, but he will be watching from wherever he is.

Thorn said he always watched even when he wasn’t in the lottery. This is somewhat new territory for him. It’s only his second time in the lottery since becoming a Nets’ executive.

Thorn took the job after Lewis Katz pounded his fist a couple of times in 2000 when the Nets won the lottery and the right to draft Kenyon Martin.

Back in Secaucus the next year, the Nets actually moved down from sixth to seventh, but still were able to make a franchise-changing trade when they dealt No. 7 (Eddie Griffin) to the Rockets for the rights of Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong.

The Nets hope tomorrow is another franchise-changing or franchise-shaping event. If they stay where they are – at roughly 10 - they may be able to get a Kevin Love or Marreese Speights or Darrell Arthur.

Those names are speculative. They have interest, but the Nets haven’t had a single individual workout with those or any other players. No team has. They’re not allowed until June 4. Then again, in Nets’ recent history they haven’t always drafted the guys they worked out.

Thorn said as of now he expects to keep the Nets’ lottery pick and their second first-rounder – No. 21 from the Jason Kidd trade. If the Nets do, it won’t be from lack of trying.

As I wrote on the print side today, the the talks between the Nets and Nuggets were more than exploratory. The sources I spoke to said a proposal was exchanged. I’m sure other writers are going to shoot it down and of course question why the Nuggets would give up Carmelo Anthony so soon?

I can’t answer the latter, but I’ve been told the Nets’ offer is being considered. I never said it would happen. But it’s not dead yet, I'm told. No deal is dead until the main player or players have been traded elsewhere.

My guess is other teams will try and get in the sweepstakes and could offer more than the Nets.

I don’t know if the Nuggets have determined that they want to move Anthony yet. But his recent legal problems, the fact that they haven’t won a playoff series in five tries with him and that he and Allen Iverson don’t mesh well are reasons they’re considering moving the No. 3 pick in 2003.

The scenario discussed would be Anthony and Marcus Camby for a package that includes Richard Jefferson, Marcus Williams, Keith Van Horn’s contract and at least the Nets’ lottery pick. More definitely is involved to make the trade work and could also include another Nets’ pick, which would make sense for one of the NBA’s top scorers.

This part is total speculation: but I would think if the Nets move up in Lottery it could improve their chances of enticing Denver. I don’t know what happens if they move down – probably doesn’t help – or stay the same.

The bottom line is this: the Nets are trying to make something happen. They want to make “some bold moves” I was told and to me that translates into probably giving up one if not both picks.

Ray Allen doesn’t get traded to Boston without Seattle getting the No. 5 pick back. The Celtics don’t get Kevin Garnett without including two draft picks. The Nets don’t move Kidd without getting two picks from Dallas or get Vince Carter without the picks they acquired from the Martin deal with Denver.

What the Nets are weighing now is whether they can live with taking someone at 10 and perhaps 21 and potentially waiting a year or so for him or them to develop when they want to be competitive next season.

The Nets have assets to get better in a short time and since teams are looking to cut payroll the draft picks and Van Horn’s expiring contract are valuable. So even if it’s not Anthony, they will try to make something big happen. They need to be aggressive, as I’ve stated numerous times.

Also, in response to some of your comments from the last blog, the $3.3 million trade exception is a good asset too. But, it cannot be combined with a player in a trade so it wouldn’t be in this Anthony scenario.

Comments

[frustrated fron va]

I dont know....on one end, getting Melo and Camby in a deal wouldnt be so bad.

Starting five: Harris, VC, Melo, Camby and Kristic

But honestly....if we have a legitimate chance of grabbing Lebron in two years, I think the Nets should wait it out.

[Mr. Dollar Bills]

Lebron James is pure fantasy, this on the other hand appears to have legs.

I say the Nets should make the gamble, Carmelo is worth it. How many years is Camby in for, 2? I can deal with that.

[Steve]

Lebron is starting to drive me crazy. He takes too many pull up jumpers. Honestly too many bad decisions that he can make up with due to athleticism. My roommate is actually from Cleveland and always jokes how he hopes the Nets game him so Lebron can annoy us as much is he annoys Cavs fans when he shoots under 40% not because of good defense but because he takes too many low percentage shots due to what appears to be laziness. That and honestly after this series I think Lebron can't play defense to save his life. He's a good help defender but christ Paul Pierce burned you a number of times. That shouldn't happen. He is too flat footed and gives too much initial space on defense.

Bottom line, if Denver is willing to give us Melo and Camby for RJ/Marcus/Fillers, I'm all for it. Camby will still be a force defensively in the East. As long as Melo and Vince can coexist, that's a solid starting 5 in my opinion that can do damage in the East for a few years.

[whozgotnext]

One thing that everyone should keep in mind about Lebron is that he and Jay-Z feel like they are playing in a different universe from everyone else - and in a sense they are. It may not actually take max money to sign him.

Think about this. What's it worth to be the best player on the planet, winning championships in NYC, when you're attached at the him to the most successful hip-hop entrepreneur on earth? The difference between max money and something a bit less (say, 2/3) to fit under the Nets cap and make that scenario real might still make the most financial sense.

It would require, of course, supreme confidence that your team in Brooklyn was going to win a couple of rings while you were there, and that your marketing savvy will maximize that potential. But if there's one thing that neither Lebron or Jay-Z lack, it's confidence in their abilities.

LebronInHisPrime+JayZ+BrooklynNYC
+championships=$1Billion

What the hell's $25 or $40 million over the course of seven years?

You don't think that Jay Z is thinking this as the Nets go after Melo? You're on the ground, and these guys are mapping strategy like Google.

[Jeff]

I refuse to believe this rumor until the trade actually happens. I don't want to get my hopes up for nothing.

[Adam.y]

Im actually one of the believer's in the Lebron coming to the Broklyn Nets in 2010 (face it a Jay+a great supporting cast that's a leader short from contending+a move to the biggest market on earth really puts us over the top in the Lebron sweepstakes).
However if Denver agrees to trade us Carmelo we have to do it, if you can get a young franchise player still with plenty of upside that's somewhat of a perfect fit in your system (Devin+Carmelo+Vince= damage) you have to pull the trigger.
Also Camby is a guy that we can really use(finally a 1 good big man instead of 6 mediocre-terrible one's) and Denver's looking to get rid of so its a win win situation as far as he goes

Either way words cant express how happy I am that Thorn and Kiki are looking to improve NOW instead of going into a long and depressing all out rebuild of the team and with all our assets I fully expect something big to happen.

P.S I still believe that we have to look at Elton Brand as far as blockbuster trade's go, the guy's exactly what we need and what's even better we have a great chance to get him without touching our main core in RJ-Vince-Harris.
Maybe you can hint Thorn and or Kiki about this advice AI :)

[Angel]

Make it happen Thorn and Kiki!

[Jad Alameddine]

Still the question is why would Denver do this? When teams like Chicago can offer more.

[paulvard]

I believe trading for Melo and Camby will be more of the same: mediocrity. I rather the Nets take chance with the draft and maybe Lebron and collect reasonably priced proven 3-point shooters.

[bobbo]

'Melo has been disappointing this year. Team won 50 games but there were obvious chemistry issues and both the Nuggets and he were awful in the playoffs. It's the fifth year he's one round and out.

Only days earlier, he had been busted for DUI, almost twice the legal limit. He admits to it and says it was "unacceptable". It was also wrong and stupid.

Then, he gets a ticket for speeding after playoffs, a minor offense but not something the Nuggets could like.

Two years ago, he was tarred by appearing, if only in the background, of a drug dealer's video threatening "snitches"--people who are so fed up with their neighborhood being ravaged by drugs they call the cops. His appearance in that video results in a talk with the commissioner.

On the other hand, he is 23 years old, an incredibly gifted player who was the most valuable player in the Americas tournament, the USA Basketball player of the year (and probably the best international player in the world...rules make it easy for him.)

Kiki must think he's worth the risk.