‘He’d probably love a Banana Boat reunion, but a Melo trade would seriously derail the title hopes of the Clippers or Cavaliers.’

I don’t get this. If the Knicks really wanted to get rid of Melo and hand the team over to the Lativian Gangbanger, then there are deals that both the Cavs and Clippers could put together than wouldn’t hurt either’s title chances.

JR Smith and Channing Frye matches for Melo. That would be a huge upgrade for the Cavs, especially given that they’ve already added Korver to slide into JR’s position in the rotation. Obviously four years of JR Smith might not be the most attractive proposal for the Knicks, but that’s not an immovable contract, while it’s a deal that could see them fall into a good lottery slot in this deep draft and a lottery slot over the next couple of years while Porzingis develops. Add a couple of far-into-the-future picks from Cleveland and I think, altogether, that’s a far more attractive prospect than plodding into a middling Melo MSG future.

The Clippers can put together a more attractive package. Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers for Melo. Aging Melo would more than make up for the loss of old Jamal Crawford, while the Clippers already have a serviceable back-up PG in Felton. The Knicks would get a very competent place-holder PG while the Porzingis-era takes off, and a player-coach dude in Crawford to mentor the stud-draftees that’d come as a result of this trade. Again, a couple of far-future Clippers picks would sweeten the deal, and the Knicks’d fall into a good draft pick this year while sinking to the natural level that they should be at to build around ‘Zinger through the draft over the coming years, surely a better road for them to take than the awkward MOR compromise they’re currently on.