Actually, I think in the NBA, you try to get two or three top players and then add the players around them as best you can. Without star players...you just don't move the dial in the NBA.
The thing is, the pieces were there. Gallinari, Chandler and Felton were all decent players for the Knicks. And Mozgov a good project.
So... Billups (who'll walk post this season), Fields, Melo, Amare and... Shelden Williams? G'luck with that team.
The difference between Melo/Amare & James/Wade and (to a lesser degree) Bosh is that they can create others shots, and move well without the ball. Oh yeah: and James/Wade are pretty nifty defensively.
I think the problem with this situation is that both Amare and Melo have been too greedy. Both want to talk about building a contender and all of that but they're both after money more than anything and going after max contracts.
You either do what the guys in Miami do and take a small paycut to leave the team room to add extra talent or you go after max money and admit it's all about "me".
NYK have just made themselves an Atlanta caliber team for the next few seasons, that's about it.
Difference is that the Miami guys were FAs, and could do that. Denver were always going to take max value for this, and Dolan stupidly pushed to do it.
Yes, they're better. Marginally. But at best they're a EC Semi-final exit.
http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan