Official 2017 Knicks Offseason thread, Phil Jackson gone

Trading Wilson Chandler Makes Too Much Sense For Everyone

Wilson Chandler represents a pivot point for the Denver Nuggets. He’s a rock solid wing who nears his 30th birthday playing some of the best basketball of his career. Free agency is just around the corner, too. (Chandler can opt out two years from now, and is owed a little over $12 million next season. Total bargain.)

Once an intriguing piece in the deal that sent Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks, Chandler missed all of last year thanks to his second hip surgery since 2012, but is somehow averaging a career-high 18 points and three free-throw attempts per game. The Nuggets struggle to score when he’s not in the game, he’s more effective in the non-restricted area of the paint than DeMarcus Cousins and Russell Westbrook, and, at this rate, nobody will be surprised if he wins Sixth Man of the Year.

But no good team will ever let Chandler lead them in shots, as he’s currently doing with Denver. The Nuggets rank 24th in net rating, 19th in offensive rating and dead last in points off turnovers. They aren’t expected to make the postseason.

Despite having a bunch of cap space this summer, Denver's short-term improvement mostly depends on internal growth. The Nuggets are rebuilding whether they care to admit it or not, with the fifth-youngest roster in the league, and probable building blocks that are 19, 20, and 21 years old.

The question regarding Chandler’s place in their long-term plan then becomes: Will he sustain his current play (or an approximation of it) until Jamal Murray, Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokic begin to enter their respective primes?

Given his age and injury history, smart money is on no, which makes trading him more rational than not. But if those factors cool Chandler’s worth on the open market when he can opt-out and become an unrestricted free agent, the Nuggets could re-sign him through his mid-30s as a score-first swingman who creates matchup problems off the bench.

But being that he still has one more very affordable year on his contract, Chandler’s usefulness would increase dramatically on a championship contender, or even any team one rung below: The Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, etc.

Players like Wilson Chandler don’t grow on trees. He’s 6’8”, with enough length and quickness to avoid being the weak link in a switch-everything scheme. So long as he’s beside other players who can collapse the defense before a kick out (like trusty old Jameer Nelson), Chandler is a weapon. He’s up to 41 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, and is more accurate than Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, Kyle Lowry, Damian Lillard, James Harden and Carmelo Anthony when contested behind the line.

Few players in the league have been more efficient as roll men; Chandler can either slip the screen, get into open space and attack, or pop out behind the three-point line for an efficient look at the basket.

His aggressiveness is something potential trade partners love, especially coming back from an injury that some thought might glue him to the perimeter, but his responsibilities on a better team would have to change. (Again: He leads Denver in shots.) That’s fine. Chandler isn’t a primary or secondary ball-handler, but he can punish rotating defenders, get in the paint and finish outside the restricted area.

Apart from his physical build, what makes him so solid on the other end is his intelligence. Chandler is a disciplined defender who understands the scouting report and knows who deserves a hard close-out and who he can let fire away. As a small-ball four, very few bigs can take him off the dribble.

Every team in the league wants this exact type of player, but what’s the asking price? Being that the Clippers forfeited a protected first-round pick for Jeff Green at last year’s deadline, the cost could be steep.

Imagining him on a title contender is easy, but few have enough assets to get something done. The Nuggets are super young and set to add two potential lottery picks to their roster next season (the Memphis Grizzlies owe them a top-five protected pick this June). If they can flip Chandler to a middling team that wants to add a reliable veteran who fills a helpful role, Denver should bite.

One possible destination is the Minnesota Timberwolves. By surrendering his unprotected 2020 first-round pick (and waiving John Lucas III), Tom Thibodeau can add a dependable presence to his bench for a future asset that’s far more value in Denver than Minnesota. The Timberwolves are set to own the universe three years from now, and it’s hard to picture a late first-round draft pick helping them more then than Chandler can now.

The Nuggets have a difficult decision to make, but if they want to be honest with themselves, shopping Chandler is the smart move.
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No reason even discussing a Melo trade if he's shown no signs of wanting to leave.
 
Was too busy yesterday so missed the game. Just found out Rose went out with back spasms again. I can't do this no more.
 
I hope not but if Rose continues the same style of play, back spasms are going to be re occurring unless he gets the right treatments etc. I love his aggressiveness, just wish he was more shifty and a true point at his age and with this roster.
 
[thread="653116"]Official 2016 2017 Knicks Season Thread/8280_40#post_27132665Quote:
Originally Posted by PHAMO  

I hope not but if Rose continues the same style of play, back spasms are going to be re occurring unless he gets the right treatments etc. I love his aggressiveness, just wish he was more shifty and a true point at his age and with this roster.
[/thread]
What's depressing is he's 28. That's when a lot of NBA players hit their prime. Maybe not athletically, but in terms of overall performance 27-30 is an average NBA players' prime. Sigh. I can't.
 
Rose and his back problems are the biggest issue so far this season. He's such a necessity on this team and when he's not in it just seems like it's harder for us to consistently score and defend opposing PG's.
 
[thread="653116"]Official 2016 2017 Knicks Season Thread/8280_40#post_27132922Quote:
Originally Posted by KingFoamNYC  

Rose and his back problems are the biggest issue so far this season. He's such a necessity on this team and when he's not in it just seems like it's harder for us to consistently score and defend opposing PG's.
[/thread]
Yep. Rose has been a good defender this season and even when he misses on his drives he's the only one on the team who can consistently get to the rim and force the defense to collapse. 
 
New CBA allowing for 6 year max contracts. This has disaster written all over it :smh:
 
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i dont care whose team it is as long as they win... the defense on this team sucks especially with the pick and roll... so im not going to place blame on melo or anyone... what bothers me most is the fans here saying to get rid of melo like we have a choice... he controlled his own destiny by having the no trade clause in his contract which means he can pick if he leaves or not...
 
youngin33 said:
How much if u don't mind sharing? Those are great seats, that would be a grip at MSG. Wondering how it is in a smaller market.
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Only $180 per ticket 
tongue.gif
 
worldbeefreeg said:
And they said it wasn't KP's team :rofl:

That's the difference between KP and Melo at this point. When KP is off you can still count on his rebounding/defense but Melo just forces it.

If he is still going to be effective these next couple years, he has to learn how to move the ball much better.
Click to expand...

It's not.

It will be in due time but it's not yet.

Melo has had 2 horrendous games....but let's not forget KP had 4 terrible shooting games prior to the last game and he still missed the game winner and fouled out in the last one.

Give him his time. He'll get there, No need to force it to fit a narrative.

Y'all want him to develop into the best player possible right?...then let it happen naturally. The kid is still learning the game and his abilities. No need to feed him to the NY wolves yet.

He's in the perfect position to grow into a Top 10 player. And his teammates are facilitating that. This is why I can't wrap my head around the Melo and D. Rose hate. They're making it easier for KP to flourish and mature properly.

But for all we know, this could be D. Rose's team.

Root for the team as a whole and let things develop how it's supposed to develop.
 
Dudes sounding like ESPN running the same stories with all the whose team is it trade Melo stuff all the time.
 
Jeff Hornacek after tomorrow's practice:

Alright guys, just wanted to make an announcement, that after weeks of speculation and anticipation, the team is now officially Kristaps Porzingis's. *Camera pans into D Rose in obvious disappointment*. In recognition of the team now belonging to Kristaps, he'll receive this certificate, and Carmelo will gracefully pass on the 100% Legal Illegal Cablevision box that he received from Amare.
 
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