Who got the best deal?

[JamStone]

they already got billups to distribute, a center who can protect the rim is a much bigger need for them to fill imho

Billups should be fine. He's not an explosive playmaker, but a lot of his decision making will make up for it. His three point shooting will help both Melo and Amare in terms of spacing and giving them room to make one-on-one moves. Plus, in D'Antoni's style of play, Billups won't have to worry much about expending energy defensively. His composure and free throw shooting at the end of games is a plus, at least for this season.

I think they'd want to target you (Tyson Chandler) this summer but it's probably unrealistic because I think Mark Cuban will try to keep you and the Knicks probably would rather try to maneuver cap space for 2012 CP3 or Deron Williams. But I wonder if Samuel Dalembert might be a good fit for the Knicks for the next few years if he will accept a smaller salary now that he's over 30 and got his big contract already.

[coyotes_geek]

they already got billups to distribute, a center who can protect the rim is a much bigger need for them to fill imho

"You're a funny guy. Now get me Jason Kapono!!!"

[Supergirl]

Unless Gallo turns into a superstar (Doubt it) then the nuggets didn't really make out like bandits. This is still a superstar league (Melo was the closest thing Denver had in that). They better hope they can lure someone in free agency or get a lottery pick. Right now they just have a bunch of role players. That isn't much to build on. None of those guys will be superstars. I doubt Denver even makes the playoffs this year. Even if they do, they will be bounced in 4-5 games.

As for the Knicks, we will see in 1-2 years how they build around these 2 stars. They will also need a better coach.


At the moment, the Knicks got the better deal because they have 2 stars compared to 0 stars on the Nuggets. We will see what happened a year or 2 from now to really see who got the best end.

the thing is, that Amare and Melo together could ONLY work in a D'Antoni system because they're both so averse to playing defense. But that is also the reason that Amare and Melo will get the Knicks into the first round of the playoffs at best.

[Obstructed_View]

I don't buy that. Melo has already made roughly $75 million in salary over his NBA career. With endorsements, he's made well over $100 million, probably over $125 million. Even if the next CBA reduces what he could make, you're probably talking Melo losing $10 million by not signing an extension. Even if it's $20+ million he loses by not signing now, you're talking about a really small fraction of what he'll end up making over his career. Melo will end up making well over $200 million in salary and endorsement money. While $10 million is still a huge amount of money, especially to most of us, I don't think it's at all certain it would be the determining factor if he and just as importantly his wife really wanted to go to New York.

Guaranteed money > uncertainty. Even if he were the kind of guy who got endorsements, could Tim Duncan have made up the money he lost out on with the last CBA?