Give me......

[Guest]

Good to see HS hasn't changed. Let's not bring a superstar like Melo to energize the fan base and bring life to the franchise. No lets bring in stiffs like Asik and Gortat and be a weaker version of the Spurs and get killed in the second round with empty seats while Charlotte, Sixers and the Raptors fly right past us.

Melo is a glorified jump shooter. The end.

[Watchman]

Good to see HS hasn't changed. Let's not bring a superstar like Melo to energize the fan base and bring life to the franchise. No lets bring in stiffs like Asik and Gortat and be a weaker version of the Spurs and get killed in the second round with empty seats while Charlotte, Sixers and the Raptors fly right past us.

Next time Melo does anything significant other than padding his own stats, let me know. He does not have what is required to be a finals player.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

If Lebron, Durant, and Duncan had JR Smith as his 2nd best player on the team, they wouldn't win anything either.

Melo is a fantastic talent that has only played with 2 other All-NBA players in their primes ( Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups ). That "glorified jumpshooter" is easily the most versatile offensive weapon n the league. It's not his fault that he plays with a bunch of bums in New York.

[Watchman]

If Lebron, Durant, and Duncan had JR Smith as his 2nd best player on the team, they wouldn't win anything either.

Melo is a fantastic talent that has only played with 2 other All-NBA players in their primes ( Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups ). That "glorified jumpshooter" is easily the most versatile offensive weapon n the league. It's not his fault that he plays with a bunch of bums in New York.

Like the bums Lebron played with in Cleveland were better?

[AHF]

Carmelo is a good but flawed player but he isn't as good as Lebron. That doesn't mean I wouldn't add him if he was interested in coming to Atlanta but he would need to want to move away from iso-ball and to a team style ala the Olympic ball where he really excelled. Give him and Lebron the same teams, though, and Lebron wins every time. That can be said of every player on our team, though.

[LamarHampton]

Good to see HS hasn't changed. Let's not bring a superstar like Melo to energize the fan base and bring life to the franchise. No lets bring in stiffs like Asik and Gortat and be a weaker version of the Spurs and get killed in the second round with empty seats while Charlotte, Sixers and the Raptors fly right past us.

I'd take Melo in a heartbeat, unlike a lot of folks on here. We need a scorer like him to get us into contention. With him and our system of eager and willing passing we'd be pretty impressive. He'd have to change his style some, but he's smart enough to buy into the program and thrive in it. If Monta Ellis can adapt, Melo can adapt.

[JTB]

There is no pitch here as we don't have the cap. If they forced their hand to play together; SNT is how we would do it. Horford and Millsap would get us the room. My pitch to Melo and Bron is simple:

You guys have been wanting to play together since your team USA days; we can make it happen. Not only make it happen but also surround you with quality guards in Korver and Teague; to go along with a great team concept and coach. I don't know how in the hell we get Gortat though.

We may not have the cap but I will say this. If you feel that you have a team that can be a championship team by adding one of these stars than you go into the lux tax to get your guy.

You go into the lux tax to get your player if and only if you feel that player has the ability to work with your current group to be a definite nba championship contender.

If I'm ferry and I have Sap (all-star), Horford (all-star), Teague (quality guard and potential all-star), Korver (surely a top 5 3pt shooter no doubt), DMC (very underrated defender with an improved shot), Coach Bud (great coach and great team system)....then yeah I'm making my sales pitch to owners to pay the lux tax for a guy like lebron or melo if I truly feel they can make us nba championship contenders instantly from the time they are signed.

Just my two scents...the nba isn't like the nfl, you have to take advantage of the opportunity. Waiting for a high draft pick to turn into a star is very likely not to happen in nba but nfl you have a 50-50 chance each and every off season.

[JTB]

Melo is a glorified jump shooter. The end.

It takes the right coach and team to change him. If he's serious about winning a ring, he should be serious about changing his style of play.

He's already said he's serious about winning a ring.

[JTB]

I'll play.

LEBRON:

Look at what is around you in Miami. Sure, you have the beautiful scenery, weather, women and culture that is Miami . . but that team, specifically your sidekick, is going to age horribly. Even if The Godfather Pat Riley can get quality NBA vets to take a pay cut to play with you, it still may not be enough to get out of the East because The Flash is about to become The Strobelight . . a light that just flickers on and off for no real reason, and ends up sending you into an epileptic coma.

So come to Atlanta. Horford is better than Bosh, and the type of big man sidekick that you need to go into battle with. Teague is better than Chalmers, who has flat out disappeared on you. Korver is the knockdown shooter that you need to pass the ball to, when you're doing your thing with the ball. And Millsap is another high quality frontline player that will keep the squad afloat against elite teams.

PG - Teague

G - Korver

F - Lebron

PF - Millsap

C - Horford

That could be your starting lineup man. Look at it. No more worrying about having to get 10 rebounds a game, just to keep your team in the mix. No more worrying about a PG that can't create a shot for himself. No more having to play you out of position at PF, because the rest of your squad isn't good enough to play the spot. No more having the executive producer all up in the video . . dancing, rapping . . .

As far as the money goes, it's whatever you want homie. If you want a MAX 4 year deal, you got it. In 2015, when we'll have the cap space to give you that deal, you can easily get it. But . . if you want to follow the path that Tim Duncan did, and take less than what you're worth, to add quality players to the squad, you can do that too. Would a 4 year - 72 million deal be enough to satisfy you, while enabling us to add quality role players around you?

As much as they worship you in Miami, you will become IMMORTAL in Atlanta. The biggest sports icon the city has ever seen. Bigger than Vick. Bigger than Nique. Bigger than Dale Murphy. They will paint murals of your face outside of abandoned buildings. Construct statues of you in front of Philips. Give you free access to every strip club in Atlanta. And every rapper in the city will make songs about you.

Most of all, you will give the city HOPE. Hope that the Hawks can win it's first Championship while in Atlanta. If you did, you will become 2nd only to Jesus Christ himself in Metro Atlanta.

---------------------------------

MELO:

It's time. It's time brotha. Just like in the movie Belly, when the Minister was trying to talk DMX out of assassinating him, it's time to make a change. We now have a system in Atlanta that is TAILOR-MADE to your skill set. The system isn't going to work for us, without that engine that can power the team. You're than engine man. The most versatile scorer in the league.

A lot of people don't like you because they think you shoot too much. Those people are wrong. You take a volume of shots, because the talent around you has been fairly weak, especially since you've arrived in New York. People want you to pass to guys like Iman Shumpert, JR "I've never seen a bad shot" Smith, and Pablo Prignoni. Really?

Look at the lineup Melo . .

PG - Teague

G - Korver

F - Melo

PF - Millsap

C - Horford

Look at that. You could make the Hawks the most exciting offensive team in the league. In Bud's system, you taking an open 3 pointer is not going to be frowned upon . . as long as you're open. But you're also an elite post up player, so you'll be able to get the ball anywhere you like it.

And look at the supporting cast you now have. Korver is a marksman. Horford is a marksman from 18 feet. Millsap is a versatile 20 feet and in scorer. And Teague can knife right through a defense. No longer would you have to hold the entire weight of the world on your shoulders, and do it all.

Join us, and while your scoring and rebounding averages may fall, you may become a much more efficient player and possibly become something you haven't achieved yet . . . a league MVP . . and a NBA Champion. Money isn't a problem. If you want that money, we got you. You're easily worth 4 yrs - 90 million. If you want to take a slight pay cut to enable us to sign quality bench guys, that would be great. If we could talk you down to 4 yrs - 70 million, that would be ideal. You'll be able to make it up in endorsements though. Coca-Cola headquarters is right here. Home Depot headquarters is right here. We can get you that extra money in endorsement deals, if you take that pay cut.

But the other thing Atlanta gives you an opportunity to do, is to please WIFEY. Lala is a budding actress. And outside of being in LA, Atlanta is the best place for her career. She's already made a couple of movies in the city. You have the opportunity to keep the wife happy, become a legend in Atlanta, and win a title. Let's face it. Can you really trust Derek Fisher as your coach for the next 4 years? And can you trust Phil Jackson to bring the talent you need to New York? He couldn't even get the coach he wanted, so how can you trust him to get the players he wants?

Get the hell out of NY man. Come to the Dirty Dirty and be a legend.

--------------------------

GORTAT:

Marcin, it's simple man. You come to play with us, and you're going to be the most beloved big man since Zaza Pachulia. And unlike Zaza, you actually have a somewhat more polished offensive and defensive game. You will instantly become a fan favorite, since our fan base likes cheering for underdog white guys like yourself.

PG - Teague

G - Korver

F - Millsap

PF - Horford

C - Gortat

You will give us an opportunity to conduct an experiment, to see if Millsap can adequately play about 40% of his minutes at SF, while enabling us to move Hoford to move to PF, and you anchor the middle. We need more help, QUALITY HELP on that frontline. Your presence will help to make our frontline a top 5 unit in the league. And with the ability to bring DeMarre Carroll off the bench, it makes us even more versatile. We may not be a championship squad if we add you, but we will be a top 4 team in the East, and definitely headed in the right direction.

Your current team will have to make a decision. Which guy do they value more? You or Ariza? They can pay you both, and kill their cap space. Or they can keep one of you, and keep their "flexibility". So how about we give them something to think about

3 years - 27 million . . . . We need to keep you on for at least 3 seasons, to use you as an incentive for Al Horford to possibly re-sign. If we opt not to re-sign him, we still may possibly have Millsap in the mix, and can move him back to PF.

----------------------

FANS:

OK fans. We have given you what some of you wanted. We've changed coaches. We've gotten rid of Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. We bought the PAC back. We even let you beat up a car with a sledgehammer right before a playoff game. So what's the problem? Oh yeah, we're not winning.

So what can we do to bring more of you in?

ALMOST NOTHING

We've tried everything we can think of to bring more of you guys and gals to the games. It doesn't work. Promotions doesn't work. Reduced ticket prices to certain games doesn't work. Bringing in musical artists doesn't work.

The only thing we can do, is to try to continue winning, and hope we can either acquire or develop a player that can be the charismatic face of the franchise. A guy that even the casual fan would pay money to see . . . instead of seeing the star of the other team.

That's all we can do fans. We can't hold a gun to your heads and make you go to our games.

Love it!!!...EXCELLENT post!!!....i think these are great sale pitches for all these guys.

[Diesel]

If Lebron, Durant, and Duncan had JR Smith as his 2nd best player on the team, they wouldn't win anything either.

Melo is a fantastic talent that has only played with 2 other All-NBA players in their primes ( Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups ). That "glorified jumpshooter" is easily the most versatile offensive weapon n the league. It's not his fault that he plays with a bunch of bums in New York.

I would love to have Melo if:

1. His price were made very reasonable.

2. Bud could make him into a post up SF.

The way I see it, if we had a starting 5 of: Horf, Sap, Melo, Korver, and Teague.... With Sap in the Midrange, Horf, High Post, Teague High Post, and Korver at the 3pt line...Melo could have the whole low post to work with.

I would actually start with a Teague/Horf Pick and Pop.. then set the table for Melo to work with a barrage from Korver and Sap.

Our theme would have to be we will outscore you efficiently. Our defense wouldn't be good enough to really stop anybody. And yes, we're more Utah than San Antonio.

[JTB]

I would love to have Melo if:

1. His price were made very reasonable.

2. Bud could make him into a post up SF.

The way I see it, if we had a starting 5 of: Horf, Sap, Melo, Korver, and Teague.... With Sap in the Midrange, Horf, High Post, Teague High Post, and Korver at the 3pt line...Melo could have the whole low post to work with.

I would actually start with a Teague/Horf Pick and Pop.. then set the table for Melo to work with a barrage from Korver and Sap.

Our theme would have to be we will outscore you efficiently. Our defense wouldn't be good enough to really stop anybody. And yes, we're more Utah than San Antonio.

I'm loving this thread! I agree with you here...melo can make this hawks offense virtually unguardable with a theme of "out score you efficiently"...I easily see that possible as long as melo buys into coach buds team system.

Defense would be the downfall here like you mentioned. However I have seen melo actually play defense well especially the year he got the nuggets to the WCF against the lakers. So while I can say melo is a bad defender, I also believe it takes the right coach to get him to actually even commit to playing defense.

Lebron is a whole different story. Him and DMC would lock the perimeter down and on offense lebron, sap, horford in the front court would be the best in the league.

[Duff_Man]

You be the GM.......

Give me your best pitch to Bring Lebron to Atlanta (complete with Salary).

"Our coach runs the system that just put on a basketball camp right in your face. Here is $1 billion."

Give me your best pitch to bring Melo to Atlanta (complete with Salary).

"You should probably follow Mike Woodson wherever he goes so you can just chuck shots every night".

Give me your best pitch to bring Gortat to Atlanta (complete wth Salary)

"Hey, we have Lebron!"

Give me your best pitch to bring Fans to the games.

"We did not sign Carmello Anthony...oh and FREE WIFI!"

[AHF]

We may not have the cap but I will say this. If you feel that you have a team that can be a championship team by adding one of these stars than you go into the lux tax to get your guy.

You go into the lux tax to get your player if and only if you feel that player has the ability to work with your current group to be a definite nba championship contender.

If I'm ferry and I have Sap (all-star), Horford (all-star), Teague (quality guard and potential all-star), Korver (surely a top 5 3pt shooter no doubt), DMC (very underrated defender with an improved shot), Coach Bud (great coach and great team system)....then yeah I'm making my sales pitch to owners to pay the lux tax for a guy like lebron or melo if I truly feel they can make us nba championship contenders instantly from the time they are signed.

Just my two scents...the nba isn't like the nfl, you have to take advantage of the opportunity. Waiting for a high draft pick to turn into a star is very likely not to happen in nba but nfl you have a 50-50 chance each and every off season.

You don't go into the luxury tax signing a Lebron or Melo. They are FAs and so we have to have room under the cap to sign them. Once you sign them you are at the cap and have room above it to sign players with exceptions and fill out the rest of your roster. If you stretch too far in that area or resigning your own FAs, you can end up in the luxury tax area. For us, however, the question of whether to go after Lebron or Melo doesn't really have anything to do with the luxury tax unless you are simply promising those guys you will go into the tax to surround them with talent.

[JTB]

You don't go into the luxury tax signing a Lebron or Melo. They are FAs and so we have to have room under the cap to sign them. Once you sign them you are at the cap and have room above it to sign players with exceptions and fill out the rest of your roster. If you stretch too far in that area or resigning your own FAs, you can end up in the luxury tax area. For us, however, the question of whether to go after Lebron or Melo doesn't really have anything to do with the luxury tax unless you are simply promising those guys you will go into the tax to surround them with talent.

Oh ok....thanks for clearing that up. This whole time I had it wrong.

Well let me change what I said earlier. If ferry or any gm thinks lebron or melo would take their team to championship contender instantly once signed than you do whatever it takes to get under the cap to sign them and you commit to them that you will go into the lux tax to surround talent around them.

Same process basically.

If I'm a gm in the nba and our franchise is serious about winning. I would convince owners to do this. I mean you aren't guranteed championships but then again you could be if you are willing to pay lux tax and put the right talent on the court that fits together. (I get that money is an issue for most franchises though...and this is why I expect to see more paycuts around the nba like what the spurs had to do)