Posting and Toasting - Carmelo Anthony's free agency~https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/29802/posting_fave.png2014-07-25T16:28:25-04:00http://www.postingandtoasting.com/rss/stream/56210632014-07-25T16:28:25-04:002014-07-25T16:28:25-04:00Carmelo Anthony spoke about his decision to return
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yC-gOa-TfX3tagBj93eQjcFgG0I=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/36076626/463332479.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Al Bello</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>"I was flip-flopping."</p> <p>For the first real time-- <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtXRyPkFmvY">like not just answering off-hand questions while preparing to play soccer</a>-- <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> gave an interview regarding his decision to stay with the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Knicks</a> on a 5-year, $124 million deal. <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/11263468/carmelo-anthony-talks-decision-return-new-york-knicks?src=mobile&rand=ref~%7B%22ref%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FmPKy4G7jXO%22%7D">The whole ESPN article is here</a>. A few selections:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I want to win. I don't care about the money," Anthony told ESPN.com. "I believe Phil will do what he has to do to take care of that.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>"I don't think we're that far away," he added. "People use 'rebuilding' too loosely."</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>"I was flip-flopping," he admitted. "It was hard. It was Chicago, but then after I met with L.A., it was L.A. But it came back to Chicago -- and was pretty much always Chicago or New York. That's a situation where I could have walked in now to an opportunity to compete for the next however many years."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That was actually a bit illuminating. For one, Melo confirmed that the back-and-forth rumors throughout the last couple weeks were not the product of competing leaks and questionable sources but genuine indecision on his part. For two, Melo doesn't seem to mind that saying he would take less money "<a href="http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/2/14/5412322/carmelo-anthony-kind-of-actually-said-some-things" target="_blank">without a doubt</a>," then signing a contract a trifle below the mega-max, then proclaiming "I don't care about the money" looks kinda silly.</p>
<p>He's a Knick now, his contract is what is contract is, and I've moved on from all the doubt, but...there you go. There's what Melo has to say about his decision. Sounds like he went through some doubt of his own.</p>
https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/25/5937893/carmelo-anthony-spoke-about-his-decision-to-return-to-the-knicksSeth2014-07-15T20:57:36-04:002014-07-15T20:57:36-04:00How will Melo's contract affect the Knicks future?
<figure>
<img alt="He's back!" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PaYwdPNN7N9tlRVZWI3C0WHGdIg=/0x133:4000x2800/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35632854/481227959.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>He's back! | Christian Petersen</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A comparison of the pay cut Melo took to other possible contracts and how each option would affect the Knicks' cap.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As you probably know by now, <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> has returned to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">Knicks</a> on a <a href="https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/489194695919038464" target="_blank">5 year, $124 million deal</a> with an <a href="https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/489200450340941824" target="_blank">Early Termination Option after year 4</a>. Frank Isola also says, with the requisite snark, that Melo has a <a href="https://twitter.com/FisolaNYDN/status/489198555198808064" target="_blank">no-trade clause</a>. I'm sure the first thought in many people's minds when they see that number is "Well, that's not much of a paycut at all!" Of course, you'd be right. The issue is that the assumption for those same people is often that a larger cut would be a huge help with respect to the Knicks' cap space next summer. However, that's not exactly the case.</p>
<p>Based on the reported $124 million number, I'd guess Melo's contract looks something like this:</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;" width="242" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<caption><b>Melo's Reported Contract</b></caption> <colgroup> <col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4169; width: 86pt;" width="114"> <col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt; width: 48pt;" width="64" class="xl65" height="20"><b>Year</b></td>
<td style="width: 86pt;" width="114" class="xl68"><b> Amount </b></td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64" class="xl65"><b>Raise</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="right" height="20">2015</td>
<td class="xl63">$ 22,458,401.70</td>
<td align="right" class="xl67">5.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="right" height="20">2016</td>
<td class="xl64">$ 22,907,569.73</td>
<td align="right" class="xl67">2.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="right" height="20">2017</td>
<td class="xl64">$ 24,591,949.86</td>
<td align="right" class="xl67">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="right" height="20">2018</td>
<td class="xl64">$ 26,276,329.99</td>
<td align="right" class="xl67">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="right" height="20">2019</td>
<td class="xl64">$ 27,960,710.12</td>
<td align="right" class="xl67">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" class="xl65" height="20"><b>Total</b></td>
<td class="xl66"><b> $ 124,194,961.40 </b></td>
<td class="xl65"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><br>That contract starts at the full max for 2014-15, which is a 5% increase over Melo's 2013-14 salary. His salary only increases by 2% for 2015-16, but he gets the full 7.5% raise he's allowed each year afterwards. That raise, to be perfectly clear, is always 7.5% of his first year salary (i.e. it doesn't compound).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let's take a look at the Knicks' current cap situation without Melo (or <span>Jason Smith</span>, who won't affect anything I'm doing since he's on a one-year deal) included. By the way, a good thing to have on hand while reading this is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm">Larry Coon's Cap FAQ</a>. I'll attempt to explain my process to the best of my abilities, but I learned pretty much everything I know about the salary cap from that site. All of the salary figures I'm using come from <a target="_blank" href="http://data.shamsports.com/content/pages/data/salaries/knicks.jsp">ShamSports</a>. I apologize for my <i>terrible</i> MS Paint skills.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4751662/output_kNaxG3.gif"><img src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4751662/output_kNaxG3_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Output_knaxg3_medium"></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A few notes here: The cap/tax projection for 2015-16 is taken from <a target="_blank" href="http://cbafaq.com/blog/?p=304">here</a>, but I made the projection for 2016-17 myself based on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q18">this</a>. Also, if the Knicks decide not to extend a qualifying offer to <span>Iman Shumpert</span>, a cap hold of $6,542,438 would take the place of the $3,695,169 QO on the cap. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q38">That cap hold is 250% of his 2014-15 salary.</a> I used that cap hold to estimate a 2016-17 cap hold for Shump as well, since that $9,813,697 number is 150% of his 2015-16 hold. Other cap holds: for Amar'e Stoudemire in 2015-16, it's 105% of his 2014-15 salary; for <span>Andrea Bargnani</span> and JR Smith, it's 150% of their previous year's salary; for <span>Pablo Prigioni</span>, it's 190% of his previous year's salary; for <span>Wayne Ellington</span> and <span>Samuel Dalembert</span>, it's 130% of their previous year's salary; and for <span>Cole Aldrich</span>, <span>Cleanthony Early</span>, and <span>Thanasis Antetokounmpo</span>, it's the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q16">minimum salary</a>.</p>
<p>Here's what the Knicks' cap sheet looks like with Melo included.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4762460/melo1.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Melo1_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4762460/melo1_medium.png"></a> <br id="1405469749115"></p>
<p>Assuming New York renounces every one of its cap holds, the team will have about $18 million in cap room next summer. They could go even further by refusing to extend Shump a qualifying offer, waiving Pablo, and not picking up the Team Options on Larkin and Timmy. This would give the Knicks almost $26.5 million in space. However, if I were a betting man, I'd say only Pablo gets sent packing of that quartet, which would amount to about $20 million in cap space. (To get that $20 million, I'm just adding Pablo's $1.7 million in unguaranteed salary to the $18 million the Knicks could have if they renounce their cap holds and rounding it from $19.7 million to $20 million. I'll be doing that same thing a few more times throughout the article.) It hurts me as much as I'm sure it hurts all of you to suggest that Pablo won't be a Knick forever, but I'm trying to be realistic.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">$20 million in cap space is certainly enough for a max salary free agent if that's what interests you. More specifically, it's enough for <span>Marc Gasol</span> (who seems to be at the top of fans' wish lists). A max contract for him would start at $19,950,000 (30% of the projected salary cap) because he has between 7-9 years of NBA service. Blowing all of the cap space on one player may not be the most prudent use of it, though. Further, signing Gasol would also take some Daryl Morey-style cap manipulation unless the Knicks don't plan on matching an offer sheet for Shumpert.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2016-17, the Knicks could have up to more than $35 million in cap space, but that would leave only Anthony, <span>Jose Calderon</span>, and the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbafaq.com/scale2011.htm">2015 1<sup>st</sup> Round pick</a> on the roster. (It's also worth mentioning that since Larkin and Hardaway have 2-year Team Options, both years must either be picked up or waived by next summer. So, really, it's much more likely the Knicks will have the ability to clear up to about $30 million in space and have 5 players on the roster instead of 3.) <span>Kevin Durant</span> is a free agent that summer, and I would certainly be willing to jettison any cap holds to sign him. However, if Marc Gasol is on the cap as well at a max contract, the Knicks will have closer to $10 million in space, which would not be enough to sign Durant. That's certainly something to consider. There's also the option of signing more players on smaller contracts, which, again, may be more prudent than spending all the cap space on one or two max players. Keep in mind that, by dipping so far below the cap, the Knicks will forfeit their ability to use the Mid-Level Exception and the Bi-Annual Exception. Once they've exhausted their cap space, they'll be stuck signing minimum contracts for the remainder of the summer unless they use the Room Exception, which is reserved for teams who dip below the cap then go back up to it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I'm sure you're wondering at this point what difference the pay cut Melo took really made. Well, I can show you! This is what a full max contract would have looked like:</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="242" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<caption><b>Melo's Super Max</b></caption> <colgroup> <col width="64" style="width: 48pt;"> <col width="114" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4169; width: 86pt;"> <col width="64" style="width: 48pt;"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" class="xl66" width="64" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 48pt;"><b>Year</b></td>
<td class="xl68" width="114" style="width: 86pt;"><b> Amount </b></td>
<td class="xl66" width="64" style="width: 48pt;"><b>Raise</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2015</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 22,458,401.70</td>
<td class="xl67" align="right">5.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2016</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 24,142,781.83</td>
<td class="xl67" align="right">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2017</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 25,827,161.96</td>
<td class="xl67" align="right">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2018</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 27,511,542.08</td>
<td class="xl67" align="right">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2019</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 29,195,922.21</td>
<td class="xl67" align="right">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" class="xl66" style="height: 15.0pt;"><b>Total</b></td>
<td class="xl68"><b> $ 129,135,809.78 </b></td>
<td class="xl66"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>And here's what it would've done to New York's cap sheet:</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4760620/Melo2.png"><img src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4760620/Melo2_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Melo2_medium"></a> <br id="1405448158189"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A full 7.5% raise in 2015-16 would leave the Knicks with less than enough for a max contract if they renounced their cap holds, though waiving Pablo's unguaranteed salary would probably leave them with just enough. <a href="http://nypost.com/2014/07/13/melo-took-less-money-so-phil-can-improve-supporting-cast/" target="_blank">So, as Phil Jackson said, Melo did exactly what he asked.</a> (Ignore the incorrect contract amount in there.) By accepting a smaller raise in year two of his contract, Melo opened up max cap space for the Knicks in 2015-16.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One thing I mentioned at the very beginning of this piece is that a larger pay cut might not have changed much for the Knicks. To illustrate that point, we can also take a look at how some commonly suggested pay cuts would have affected the cap sheet. First, the widely requested 5-year, $115 million contract where Melo takes a 7.5% pay decrease in year 2.</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="242" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<caption><b>Decrease in Year 2</b></caption> <colgroup> <col width="64" style="width: 48pt;"> <col width="114" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4169; width: 86pt;"> <col width="64" style="width: 48pt;"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" class="xl67" width="64" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 48pt;"><b>Year</b></td>
<td class="xl70" width="114" style="width: 86pt;"><b> Amount </b></td>
<td class="xl67" width="64" style="width: 48pt;"><b>Raise</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2015</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 22,458,401.70</td>
<td class="xl69" align="right">5.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2016</td>
<td class="xl66">$ 20,774,021.57</td>
<td class="xl69" align="right">-7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2017</td>
<td class="xl66">$ 22,458,401.70</td>
<td class="xl69" align="right">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2018</td>
<td class="xl66">$ 24,142,781.83</td>
<td class="xl69" align="right">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2019</td>
<td class="xl66">$ 25,827,161.96</td>
<td class="xl69" align="right">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" class="xl67" style="height: 15.0pt;"><b>Total</b></td>
<td class="xl68"><b> $ 115,660,768.76 </b></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just as with the contract Melo actually took, the foregoing of a maximum increase in 2015-16 leads to less money in each subsequent year. This is what the cap sheet would've looked like:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4760628/Melo3.png"><img src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4760628/Melo3_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Melo3_medium"></a> <br id="1405448270028"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Renouncing every cap hold for 2015-16 would give the Knicks more than $20 million in space; waiving Pablo would push that number close to $22 million. If New York were to use $19.95 million of that space on Marc Gasol, they would have about $2 million left over. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q25">The BAE is projected to be $2.14 million in 2015-16</a>, which means the Knicks would effectively be working with a bit less than the BAE after signing Gasol. The Room Exception is projected at $2.81 million for 2015-16, so the extra $2 million means almost nothing. This contract would also only give the Knicks $3.5 million extra in cap space for 2016-17; that's basically the mini-MLE.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">People have also suggested that Melo take a 5-year, $100 million contract. This would be a pretty large sacrifice for Anthony.</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="254" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<caption><b>Melo is Super Selfless!</b></caption> <colgroup> <col width="64" style="width: 48pt;"> <col width="126" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4608; width: 95pt;"> <col width="64" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2340; width: 48pt;"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" class="xl66" width="64" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 48pt;"><b>Year</b></td>
<td class="xl69" width="126" style="width: 95pt;"><b> Amount </b></td>
<td class="xl66" width="64" style="width: 48pt;"><b>Raise</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2015</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 19,784,782.45</td>
<td class="xl68" align="right">-7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2016</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 18,300,923.77</td>
<td class="xl68" align="right">-7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2017</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 19,784,782.45</td>
<td class="xl68" align="right">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2018</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 21,268,641.13</td>
<td class="xl68" align="right">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" align="right" style="height: 15.0pt;">2019</td>
<td class="xl65">$ 22,752,499.82</td>
<td class="xl68" align="right">7.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" class="xl66" style="height: 15.0pt;"><b>Total</b></td>
<td class="xl67"><b> $ 101,891,629.62 </b></td>
<td class="xl66"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here, Carmelo would be taking a 7.5% decrease in both year 1 and year 2 and gets smaller raises since he started at a lower salary. I realize the total value of the contract is still more than the max he could get from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a>, but the AAV of the contract is about $4 million lower than either of those hypothetical contracts due to the extra year. Let's see how this contract would've changed the cap sheet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4760646/Melo4.png"><img src="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4760646/Melo4_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Melo4_medium"></a> <br id="1405448353419"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There's no denying that this would have helped. If the Knicks were to renounce all cap holds and waive Pablo, they would have almost $24.5 million in cap space next summer. Even if the Knicks were to spend almost $20 million on Marc Gasol, they'd still have $4.5 million to work with. A team can certainly sign an effective player for $4.5 million. However, it's still less than the MLE, which the Knicks would not have access to next year.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Basically, if we assume the Knicks are planning to sign someone to a maximum contract next summer, Carmelo Anthony would have to take an even bigger decrease than any I've looked at so far. Not even Melo's most vocal opponents have suggested he take a contract smaller than 5 years, $100 million. To do so would be a huge risk for Anthony, as he would be sacrificing upwards of $30 million and hoping that <span>Phil Jackson</span> can put together a championship team. I have faith in Phil, and I'm sure Melo does as well, but that's a huge ask. Phil says Melo took the pay cut he was asked to take, and I trust that he's telling the truth. Let's celebrate the fact that Carmelo Anthony is still a Knick and appreciate that he took less money than he could have. A larger pay cut wouldn't have changed much anyway.</p>
https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/15/5897135/melo-paycut-effect-on-future-capMattRW2014-07-13T19:20:48-04:002014-07-13T19:20:48-04:00Jackson: Melo took the pay cut the Knicks wanted
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yLC37Ju4BZqTRZkG4WiwxJOJWnA=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35563260/463332479.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Al Bello</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We still don't know exactly how much that was, but okay.</p> <p>Oddly, we still haven't seen exact financial details for Carmelo Anthony's new five-year contract with the Knicks. <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--carmelo-anthony-returning-to-knicks-175747449.html" target="_blank">Last we heard</a>, it's somewhere between $120 million and the full mega-max of $129 million. That is a modest pay cut (once we have exact numbers, MattRW will flesh out the effect), but Phil Jackson told reporters Sunday that it's exactly what the Knicks asked of him:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Phil suggests that Melo did take less money. "He did exactly what we asked him to," & that it may provide a little more wiggle room in 2015.</p>
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/HerringWSJ/statuses/488442371269341184">July 13, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>To be clear: Phil suggested that Melo structured his deal in a way to take less money in 2015. Still a near-max deal in all likelihood.</p>
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/HerringWSJ/statuses/488444449395986433">July 13, 2014</a>
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<p>And went on to describe the Knicks' plan going forward:</p>
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<p>Phil: "It may not be instantaneous" for us to be highly competitive, but we were able to convince Carmelo that we'll get there.</p>
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/HerringWSJ/statuses/488442096764715009">July 13, 2014</a>
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<p>Phil, on what's next for NYK now with Melo in the fold: "I wanna be fiscally responsible" in the years to come.</p>
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/HerringWSJ/statuses/488443085295079427">July 13, 2014</a>
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<p>Phil says the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Knicks?src=hash">#Knicks</a> are "long at the guard position," so that'll take "some roster management."</p>
— charlie widdoes (@charliewiddoes) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliewiddoes/statuses/488443386181861377">July 13, 2014</a>
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<p>Jackson added does not expect to make a lot of moves now. May or may not use midlevel exception.</p>
— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPost_Berman/statuses/488444232542076929">July 13, 2014</a>
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<p>I'll be forthright: I have a bunch of words sitting in the drafts about how Melo taking such a small pay cut disappoints me. I wrote it in advance, expecting my little feelings would be hurt by Melo leaving the Knicks so little extra cash. And yeah, a cut adding up to ten million or less over five years doesn't create much room. It doesn't quite match the bravado of Melo's <a href="http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/10458306/carmelo-anthony-says-take-less-money-free-agency-re-sign-new-york-knicks" target="_blank">explicit assertions</a> that he doesn't care about money and would rather grant the Knicks extra flexibility.</p>
<p>But fuck it, man. I'm already over it. I'm sure Phil Jackson and company would prefer Melo take even less-- every executive wishes every player would take less-- but if Phil's cool with it, so am I. The Knicks always had the option to let the guy walk. If Melo had a dial with "flexibility" at one end and "$" at the other and decided to crank it just a notch short of full $, then the Knicks ultimately held a switch. They flipped it toward Melo. Now it's their task to maximize his next five seasons while building something excellent using the remaining two-thirds or so of the yearly salary cap. And from the sound of things, management intends to approach the coming years like a normal, sensible (albeit rich) team, not with the impulsive, name-hungry recklessness we're used to. With a coherent regime in place, some cap room and a draft pick on the horizon-- plus Melo!-- this future looks more tractable than many Knicks futures past.</p>
<p>The contract's signed for some indeterminate sum and I'm done worrying about Melo's money. Welcome back. Let's go.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4641765/sce5.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Sce5_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4641765/sce5_medium.png"></a> <br id="1405191573681"></p>
https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/13/5893763/phil-jackson-carmelo-anthony-took-the-pay-cut-the-knicks-wantedSeth2014-07-13T12:35:35-04:002014-07-13T12:35:35-04:00Melo announces he's returning to the Knicks
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<figcaption>Elsa</figcaption>
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<p>On his website!</p> <p>Carmelo Anthony's website splash page <a href="http://www.thisismelo.com/" target="_blank">just turned into this</a> LeBron-style open letter (though much more concise!):</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4749532/Screen_Shot_2014-07-13_at_12.25.25_PM.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Screen_shot_2014-07-13_at_12.25.25_pm_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4749532/Screen_Shot_2014-07-13_at_12.25.25_PM_medium.png"></a> <br id="1405268747801"></p>
<p>So yeah, I think the rumors are true: Carmelo Anthony will continue to be a Knick. Hi, Melo! I like you and I look forward to watching you continue playing basketball for the Knicks, especially with<a href="https://medium.com/the-cauldron/e947804d344" target="_blank"> Derek Fisher's triangle in place to accentuate his virtues</a>.</p>
<p>We still don't know the final contract details, but he's back. Welcome back! Sorry I definitely didn't click "CONTINUE TO THISISMELO.COM."</p>
<p>And here are the Knicks:</p>
<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>July 13, 2014 – NYK President Phil Jackson announced today that the team will re-sign seven-time NBA All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony.</p>
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NY_KnicksPR/statuses/488364434990317569">July 13, 2014</a>
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<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>"Steve Mills and I have assured Carmelo through our conversations, that we share the vision and the determination to build this team."</p>
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NY_KnicksPR/statuses/488365674193223680">July 13, 2014</a>
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https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/13/5895549/carmelo-anthony-announces-hes-returning-to-the-knicksSeth2014-07-12T13:49:13-04:002014-07-12T13:49:13-04:00Reports: Melo will re-sign, no seriously this time
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<figcaption>Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>No money details yet, though.</p> <p>Okay, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/488003973472088065">Woj had today's first report</a> suggesting <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> would pick the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Knicks</a>, and now we hear the other teams in contention <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/11207201/carmelo-anthony-new-york-knicks-negotiating-deal-chicago-bulls-out">have been informed as well</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Representatives for Carmelo Anthony are presently in negotiations on a contract that will bring him back to the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bulls</a> and the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Rockets</a> have been told by Anthony's representatives to move on, the sources said.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/KBergCBS/status/488013957936848896">Others</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/FisolaNYDN/status/488014556505972737">agree</a>. So if all other teams are out, what are we waiting on? The "negotiations" bit in there suggests the exact terms of the new deal aren't yet final. I'll hold out hope Melo is generous enough to follow up on what he suggested back in February and leave the Knicks some extra cash. Not counting on it. More likely, they're talking about clauses and opt-outs and other stuff like that.</p>
<p>Still not done, but other teams getting the thumbs down suggests we can finally, truly assume it will be. Just a matter of how and when at this point.</p>
<p><b>Update</b>: <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--carmelo-anthony-returning-to-knicks-175747449.html">Woj reports</a> the deal could be the full max, but also hears Melo may take a pay cut as low as $120 million overall, which is a very modest help, but more on that later. This still isn't done. Woj also reports Melo will make an official announcement Sunday.</p>
https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/12/5893607/reports-carmelo-anthony-will-re-sign-with-the-knicks-no-seriouslySeth2014-07-12T11:34:56-04:002014-07-12T11:34:56-04:00Wait for Melo continues, Bulls move in on Gasol
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<figcaption>Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>12 days in, still no answer.</p> <p>Good day, friends. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">Knicks</a> have another Summer League game this afternoon, and Scott will have that covered for y'all while I fly out to Vegas. In the meantime, I am very antsy because we still don't have a firm word on what's up with <span>Carmelo Anthony</span>.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/melo-leaning-re-signing-knicks-source-article-1.1863951">Reporters</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://nypost.com/2014/07/11/lebron-signing-clears-way-for-melo-who-likely-will-pick-knicks/">from</a> <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-bulls-working-to-land-pau-gasol-20140712,0,5313900.story" target="_blank">absolutely</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/487799666621550592">everywhere</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/alanhahn/status/487978549144715265" target="_blank">suggest</a>-- like they've mostly been suggesting-- that Melo will eventually sign with the Knicks. With the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> out of the picture and other teams seemingly faded, it's pretty much down to the Knicks and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a>, and everyone's sources point toward New York.</p>
<p>The Bulls, meanwhile, <a href="http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/11206547/pau-gasol-chicago-bulls-deal-according-reports" target="_blank">are reported to be nearing a deal</a> with noted <span>Phil Jackson</span> target <span>Pau Gasol</span>. They <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/487974107200651264" target="_blank">have not heard from Melo yet</a>, but they're moving along anyway. The obvious conclusion there is that they've moved on from Melo and are shifting to their next free agency target (and, as bad luck would have it, the Knicks' next free agency target).</p>
<p>The lingering, tantalizingly slim possibility is that the Gasol stuff will somehow precede a Melo sign-and-trade to the Bulls. My understanding of how and when you can trade people lacks no matter how long I stare at the <a href="http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm" target="_blank">CBA FAQ</a>, but <a href="https://twitter.com/JADubin5" target="_blank">smart, trustworthy individuals</a> suggest one does not rule out the other, even if it narrows the path. And we heard before that Gasol and Melo talked about playing together. But this is a weird, small possibility. You can dismiss this paragraph. Stupid paragraph.</p>
<p>We've been told to assume Melo's coming back, so I assume he's coming back. If it's truly down to just the Knicks and Bulls, I reckon the Knicks should have leverage in any remaining contract negotiations (and, if the Bulls are actually part of this, leverage in any trade talks). Right?</p>
<p>I'll be looking for updates all day and Scott will take care of you this evening.</p>
<p><b>Update: This is bizarre.</b></p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Just a matter of hours until Carmelo Anthony informs the Knicks of his return on a five-year deal, as <a href="https://twitter.com/FisolaNYDN">@FisolaNYDN</a> reported this week.</p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/488003973472088065">July 12, 2014</a>
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https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/12/5893305/the-wait-for-carmelo-anthony-continues-bulls-move-in-on-pau-gasolSeth2014-07-11T14:04:11-04:002014-07-11T14:04:11-04:00Okay, now your turn, Melo
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<figcaption>Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>They say it's down to the Knicks and Bulls now.</p> <p>Sources tell Posting and Toasting LeBron James is headed back to Cleveland. <strike>Chris Bosh<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/487642323174846465"> is very likely headed to the Rockets next</a></strike>. It felt like-- and we heard-- <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> was waiting on those guys to move. Houston is surely out now (Update: ?), and unless the Cavs want to trade for Anthony, LeBron is no longer a factor. So now it's just up to Melo.</p>
<p>Marc J. Spears reports we won't hear "decision" today:</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>In regards to a decision for <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Knicks</a> free agent forward Carmelo Anthony, a source said: "It's coming... Not today."</p>
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/statuses/487643104699101185">July 11, 2014</a>
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<p>I don't know if "decision" means brain decision or just official, announced decision, so I suppose there's still a chance something could leak today.</p>
<p>We were hearing Knicks-<a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Lakers</a>-<a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bulls</a> before (after hearing just Bulls-Knicks, then just Knicks, then Knicks-Lakers, then I don't even know), and now this:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Sources say <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Rockets</a> trying to trade <span>Jeremy Lin</span> to the Los Angeles Lakers. Report now on <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter">@SportsCenter</a></p>
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/487655309524348928">July 11, 2014</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>ESPN's <a href="https://twitter.com/stephenasmith">@stephenasmith</a> reports that Carmelo is undecieded between the Knicks & Bulls. Decsion could be made at any time. The Lakers are out.</p>
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) <a href="https://twitter.com/IanBegley/statuses/487655453955215361">July 11, 2014</a>
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<p>I saw the first thing and was like "oh, so the Lakers are out" and then laughed a little, but then I soon saw the second thing and...there you go! Of course, we've heard of teams moving in and out of contention for weeks now, so any final-sounding thing we're told is subject to change.</p>
<p>If it's the Knicks, all that remains to see is which of several offers Melo accepts. If it's the Bulls, we'll have to see if Chicago can clear (or I guess already have) enough space to sign Melo outright at a salary he prefers, or if the Knicks and Bulls begin working on a sign-and-trade. Of course, it could still be the Lakers no matter what people's sources are telling them. Or anyone else. More as it comes.</p>
https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/11/5891131/carmelo-anthony-your-turn-lebron-jamesSeth2014-07-11T00:53:26-04:002014-07-11T00:53:26-04:00It is Friday and Melo is still a free agent
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<figcaption>Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>So much for the Thursday announcement.</p> <p>I usually leave these little round-ups until the morning, but whatever, I'm not sleeping anytime soon anyway. It is now Friday EST. Nothing real has changed with the situation of <span>Carmelo Anthony</span>-- he remains a free agent, and no team pursuing him has gotten word of a decision.</p>
<p>This extended nothingness comes after <a href="http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/9/5885153/isola-carmelo-anthony-will-announce-his-return-to-the-knicks" target="_blank">Melo's "friend" told Frank Isola Melo was going to announce his return</a> to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">Knicks</a> on Thursday, and it comes after <a href="http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/10/5888513/the-knicks-have-made-several-offers-to-carmelo-anthony" target="_blank">Phil Jackson mentioned 5 different offers for Melo</a>, teased him a bit, then reiterated that the Knicks are ready for any outcome from a straight walk-out to the full mega-max. (<a href="http://nypost.com/2014/07/10/jackson-tries-to-lure-gasol-to-new-york/" target="_blank">Jackson and Jose Calderon also carried on</a> their quest to lure <span>Pau Gasol</span>.)</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/writer/ken-berger/24615237/source-knicks-bulls-lakers-still-in-mix-for-melo" target="_blank">Ken Berger</a> and others backed up <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/7/11/5889617/lebron-james-nba-free-agency-decision-heat-cavaliers" target="_blank">Stephen A. Smith's radio thing</a> suggesting Melo was still considering-- or perhaps considering again-- a departure for Chicago.. That Berger report includes some speculation regarding hideously desperate trades of Amar'e Stoudemire or <span>Andrea Bargnani</span> to make the roster please Melo, but other than that, it's pretty much just "yeah, maybe Chicago could still be a thing, too." <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-carmelo-anthony-lebron-james-nba-free-agency-20140710,0,1722576.story" target="_blank">K.C. Johnson reports</a> the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> may seek a third team to complete a sign-and-trade should Melo desire to join them on the greatest salary possible. I wouldn't hate a sign-and-trade with the Bulls if that's what Melo wants. Not one bit.</p>
<p>But I digress, because even the notion of a sign-and-trade would be something and we are still deep in a sea of nothing. Here's where I remind myself that Melo's decision is difficult and might indeed be subject to vacillation, but a lot of the twists and inconsitences we see are due to the variety of reporters soliciting a variety of sources with a variety of agendas. There are reasons we hear New York is definitely the spot, then suddenly Los Angeles, then suddenly the Bulls back from the dead, and so on. Somewhere in there is Melo's actual thought process, but it's wrapped in layers of bullshit. 'Tis the season for bullshit-wrapping.</p>
<p>So we keep waiting. They say <span>LeBron James</span> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/7/11/5889617/lebron-james-nba-free-agency-decision-heat-cavaliers" target="_blank">will make his decision before he flies down to the World Cup final</a>, and his decision might start the cascade, but we've already busted through several reported deadlines. I believe nothing. I don't even know if I'm me anymore.</p>
<p>Summer league soon! <a href="http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/10/5858268/knicks-las-vegas-summer-league-expectations-triangle" target="_blank">Read stingy's thing</a>. Don't worry about this silliness.</p>
https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2014/7/11/5889609/it-is-friday-and-carmelo-anthony-is-still-a-free-agentSeth