We Want Melooo!!!

         If you think super teams are bad for the NBA well you just cringed at the recent news of all star point guard Chris Paul being traded to the Houston Rockets. This trade now puts Houston in the conversation of best backcourt…. well on paper at least. It sounds like the sweet and sour candy commercial to be completely honest. The purest point guard in the league paired up with the best offensive player in the league in James Harden who also just came off his best season in his career both statistically and in performance. Here's the catch though, James Harden did all of this while playing point guard for the first time in his career while under the Mike D’Antoni system. Now James goes back to the 2 and CP3 of course at the one and now we have two ball dominant guards who to put it bluntly, must have the ball in their hands to excel at the highest level. But let's go from one move made to another move that should've been made about three to four years ago and needs to be made now.

       Carmelo since coming into the league in 2003 has been one of the most prolific scorers we have ever seen. With his ability to handle the rock and be able to pull up in your grill with ease while also having the quickness to drive by you was something the NBA had to deal with and honestly could not stop. He was in my opinion the best scorer of the basketball in his prime during what I like to call the golden era of basketball for my generation from around 2006 to 2011. Granted we all know Melo was never a premiere defender but best believe he will get his on the offensive end and the production was premium in big match ups. We remember the Kobe matchups in the western conference playoffs and the seasonal matchups against Lebron James and Dwayne wade where the superstars were going at each other bucket for bucket for bucket. Aaahh what a time it was for basketball.

         After constantly losing in the playoffs to the likes of Kobe and other tough teams in the west, Carmelo was able to force a trade to the New York Knicks to play with Amar’e Stoudemire. Who wouldn't want to play in The Garden where the lights always seem to shine brightest? It was a fresh new start and a new opportunity to build something new as the face of the team. The Knicks got to 2nd in the east at a time but again Melo ran into a dominant superstar in Lebron James and couldn't get over the hump and make a serious push for a ring. Times eventually got harder in New York and then there was the 2014 offseason where Carmelo’s contract was up and had a chance to test the waters of free agency as his nba brothers have been doing. Chicago seemed to be the best option at the time with a rising superstar in Jimmy Butler and still a productive D Rose post knee injury combined with a bench good enough to compete for a title somewhere down the line. But Carmelo took the money and signed a max deal with the Knicks. With money came more disappointing seasons to now not even making the playoffs and being one of the laughing stalks of the eastern conference. Carmelo became the only bright spot the Knicks had but time is undefeated and the quick explosive Melo we all used to love isn't as dominant. Injuries came, new coaches and people in front office came, boos from the garden crowd came, and ultimately Carmelo was never the same Carmelo. And at this point even when Melo did all he could he was still crucified and disrespected by what was Knicks president Phil Jackson. His worth has somehow been diminished so drastically by a man who was supposed to be the savior for the Knicks organization.

           Now where to next?? Carmelo would need to join a contending team where he wouldn't be the number one or number 2 option. A team where he can sit back and simply play his game and hit the big shots down the stretch of the game while not having to carry as heavy a workload as he once did. Teams such as the Cavaliers, Clippers(before Chris Paul was traded), and Celtics etc. Although who is willing to take a chance on a clearly aging Melo with a big contract and what are you willing to give up for Melo? At this point we know Carmelo is getting his ass out of New York; he honestly should remove his no trade clause before he officially ruins his career. He has done his due diligence for New York and it has been a pleasure watching him put on a show all these years in a Knick jersey. The NBA and its fans need to see the good ole Melo in championship contention. Melo needs to do what is right for his career and somehow get himself back into winning basketball. The people miss that Melo. If there's one thing we learned from watching this season is that we miss the days of Carmelo fighting and competing for a championship. We as fans need to see it before his time is done, the NBA needs it, and most importantly Carmelo needs it.