NBA Roundtable: Is Bubble Melo the best Melo?

BetAmerica has teamed up with Covers and Oddschecker to break down the latest news and trends from around the Association. This week NBA columnists Jason Logan, Sam Farley and Ryan Murphy discuss Carmelo Anthony’s many incarnations, Golden State’s draft dilemma, and the 76ers’ murky future.

We’ve seen Olympic Melo, Hoodie Melo, and now Bubble Melo. Which version of Carmelo Anthony is the best?

Jason: As a Lakers fan, “Bubble Melo” is killing me. But as an aging baller who loves his inefficient mid-range jumpers, “Bubble Melo” is an inspiration to my aching knees, back, hips, ankles and whatever else feels broken after 40 minutes of rec league hoops. Once the Lakers are done with the Blazers, I’ll have to see if I can get a Portland double-zero jersey on discount.

Sam: It’s great to see Melo still able to make a contribution, and facing off against his old buddy LeBron James has been a real treat. Olympic Melo may be the best Melo, but Hoodie Melo and the never-ending memes that accompanied him, will always be my favorite.

Ryan: I’ll always have a soft spot for Olympic Melo. The Baltimore native is the only basketball player to represent the U.S. in four different Olympic games, and is the program’s all-time leader in eight different statistical categories including games played, points, and rebounds. What impressed me most about Olympic Melo was his ability to change the narrative that had been dogging him his entire career. Within a period of three summers Anthony went from being perceived as a selfish chucker who was unable to win it all to a world-class teammate and dead-eye shooter with three gold medals. That’s the Melo I want on my team.

The Golden State Warriors have an amazing opportunity after landing the second pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. What do you expect them to do with it?

Jason: Trade it. This year’s draft class isn’t that deep and even the guys rumored to go No. 1 overall don’t get me all that excited. The Warriors’ core is still intact and has plenty of punch left, so deal the pick and whatever else you need to package to get Joel Embiid while the iron is hot. Golden State can get right back in the title hunt with a big-name acquisition but time is ticking on Steph, Klay and Draymond – so hurry up!

Sam: It’s really hard to know exactly what the Warriors are going to do, which I think is why it’s so fun. With the weapons at their disposal already, their choice with this pick could have huge implications on the destiny of the championship next year. If they keep the pick then I’d hope to be in the position to take James Wiseman. His 7'1" frame, with that 7'6" wingspan could cause such huge headaches for opponents. He has the tools to be a real problem with the right coaching, which I believe the Warriors have. That said, the real fun starts when you think what else could be done with the pick, can they engineer the much-debated trade for Giannis? It’s certainly worth a go and if they managed it then the league would need to get ready for even more GSW dominance.

Ryan: I expect them to hold onto it. The only way the Warriors can land an established talent is if they package the pick with Andrew Wiggins and his gargantuan salary, and I’m not convinced they’re ready to do that. “Maple Jordan” averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists after coming over from Minnesota and should fit in beautifully in three-guard sets with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Golden State’s major vulnerability is still at center, so my gut tells me they’ll nab Memphis pivot James Wiseman, if he’s still on the board. The 7'1" big man possesses the speed and athleticism to flourish in Steve Kerr’s hyper kinetic offense and would give the Warriors a foundational piece for years to come.

The Philadelphia 76ers were sent packing after being swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round. What would you do first if you were Philly GM Elton Brand?

Jason: Given my above statement on Golden State, Brand should try to cool the trade rumor flames around Embiid. He still has another three years on his deal in Philly, so keep him happy. Philly already fired Brett Brown on Monday afternoon (because Sixers fans demand blood), and now it’s time for them to cut their losses on Ben Simmons (furthering your commitment to Embiid). Maybe you kill two birds with one stone: deal Simmons to the Spurs for Greg Popovich’s contract and then San Antonio can rehire the newly-unemployed Brown, this time as head coach. BONUS: it’s also a middle finger to the Nets. 

Sam: The first thing that needed to be done has been completed with Brett Brown's firing, but at this point you need to blow it up entirely. It’s clear that Simmons and Embiid don’t work together, so one of them must go. I’d previously thought that should be Simmons, but at this stage, and after that series I’d trade Embiid. When he wants it, he’s unstoppable, but I’m just not convinced he does, or ever will for an extended period of time. Why stop there? Why not deal Simmons too, have a full clean-out from top to bottom and start again. This team isn’t winning anytime soon, so restart the process and try something new.

Ryan: If I were Brand I'd update my resume on LinkedIn. Brand joined the Sixers amid much fanfare in 2018, but Philly has failed to progress beyond the Eastern Conference semifinals during his tenure. He’s also responsible for trading Jimmy Butler, Markelle Fultz, and Landry Shamet, all of whom have flourished with their new teams. If Brand is serious about keeping his job, his first order of business should be unloading Ben Simmons. The two-time All-Star has proven to be a horrible stylistic fit in Philadelphia and needs to be dealt tout suite for a floor-spacing point guard whose range extends beyond six feet. The future can still be bright in Philly, but not with this mess of a roster.