d-mar: I guess the big wildcard is the CBA and the threat of a lockout   

I don’t think the new CBA is a wild card. I think it is THE card. It’s the only reason Carmelo is in this situation, and it is what is going to keep him from entering free agency this summer.

I’m not sure I would trade AR for Iggy (unless AR rubs Walshtoni the wrong way and they’re pessimistic about him). I like Iggy, but AR can do a lot of what he does and is significantly taller/longer, younger, and currently cheaper. It’s definitely intriguing–especially the playmaking he’d bring–but I don’t think it answers the Knicks questions at the 2. Iggy played the 4 in the WCs. Given his mediocre jumper that’s also where I’d envision him for D’Antoni. So the playmaking would be huge and he might score very well in the Shawn Marion role, but there would be a trade-off with rebounding and defense. I guess I’d be 50/50 on it.

ess-dog: Mason sounds like he’s regained his shooting form and could be valuable if he regains the form he had before last year.

Since he was injured last year and had a long track-record of good outside shooting, I think this was a good bet.

ess-dog: And I think Randolph is a pf. Which leaves him a little out in the cold if D’Antoni commits to playing a center (Mosgov/Turiaf.)

If Amare’s playing 35 mpg with 8 of those in a smaller line-up (whether he or AR is the 5), and Timo/Turiaf are combining for 35 mpg… there’s 26 mpg for AR right there… plus any time at the 3. That, of course, would be a new career high. If only one of Timo/Turiaf is in the rotation, there’s a surplus of front-court minutes.

Frank: How about this lineup for 15 minutes/game or more:

We discussed this to death earlier, but the huge weakness with that line-up is perimeter shooting when Felton is on the floor. Not to say it can’t work for stretches, just to say that it’s not an ideal long-term solution unless Randolph’s shot improves 1000000000% and/or TD can run the point and/or Gallo/AR’s ball-handling/playmaking really picks up this season in line with what we all think they’re capable of on paper.

Frank: Anyone have any idea whether Randolph has any post game?  

Not much that I’ve seen, and the question is whether he even wants to. He describes himself as a 1-3 hybrid; although, D’Antoni has made comments about him being very coachable. If he were guarded by a 2, maybe he could exploit that match-up in the post. A team might stick their 2 on Gallo, though, and defend AR with their 3.

C: Mozgov or Turiaf
PF: Amare
SF: Gallo
SG: Randolph
PG: Felton or TD

That is a BIG lineup which has no obvious holes defensively. I haven’t seen too much of Randolph but by all reports he should be able to guard most 2′s. Felton/TD and Gallo can be the 3-ball shooters, Amare can shoot everything from 15 feet in, and Mozgov/Turiaf and Randolph can concentrate on O-rebounds.

Anyone have any idea whether Randolph has any post game?

Well, not to get involved but our man Alan Hahn did tweet:
alanhahn: Carmelo, finally, gets on the LeBron ’09 Script, and Knicks have to love what they hear: http://bit.ly/b8aRsR #nyknicks #NBA

DS: he’ll have to exaggerate in interviews the likelihood that he’ll stay and his desire for the team to do well.

I don’t know… he can avoid questions on whether he’ll stay and even if he has no intention of staying he can still hope the Nuggets win every game and give 100% effort.

DS: I don’t know how much credit I give him for telling the Nuggets he’s unlikely to stay. 

It is hard to say because it’s in his own self interest to tell them he wants out with the CBA expiring and his wife apparently wanting out of Denver, whereas that was not the case for LeBron or Chris Bosh (though I guess Bosh did want to leave Toronto). LeBron especially also had the hometown factor working against him a bit to come out and declare he was leaving Cleveland before/early in the season… and Miami wouldn’t really have had the assets to make good offers for LeBron and/or Bosh… further complicating the situation for both the players and the old teams: if they would only sign extensions with Miami.
The two contexts make it likely both players were just acting in their own self-interests, but Melo still told Denver while LeBron didn’t so there is the possibility Melo is just being more respectful of the Denver organization… who knows.

I still don’t really understand Frank’s original comment about taking a page from LeBron’s playbook, though.

I agree that he won’t antagonize the Nuggets and the rest of the country outside of NY the way LeBron did. I don’t know how much credit I give him for telling the Nuggets he’s unlikely to stay.

DS: The page that says to act like you’re interested in helping your current team when you’re just playing out your contract and planning to join your friends in a better city ASAP.  

LeBron never did the Cavs the service of letting them know he wasn’t re-signing. Apparently he didn’t even call them before his tv special went on air, let alone tell them before the season even began. Melo, on the other hand, has told the Nuggets he’s unlikely to re-sign there. Given them a chance to evaluate their options. If the Nuggets think their best option is to keep Anthony all season and try to re-sign him, that’s their call. Ultimately Melo has every right to look after his own self-interest and do what makes him and his family happy. He’s done that with a lot more class to date than LeBron, in my opinion. He doesn’t owe it to Denver to sign an extension he doesn’t want to sign with either them or any other team.

Anyway, just a thought as the rumors continue to swirl.