>in leading their team to at least the NBA Finals or a chip?
>Plus, all of these guys are better individual and team players
>than Melo.

So? This isn't a lifetime achievement list, is it? Kobe, Wade, and Dirk were all better than Melo before. I'm not sure they are now. It's arguable.

So it really isn't arguable at all. And even with
>Deron Williams, I'd find it hard to believe that in this day
>and age, any sane person would take Melo over him. Melo has
>already reached his peak. He's not going to get any better.

You can argue that Williams has already peaked too. We'll see. They are the same age. What has Williams done that Melo hasn't though? I'd argue that Melo has had a better career to this point.

>He's not going to lead a team anywhere. He needs to be the #2
>guy on a team with a real star. He's in the same league as Joe
>Johnson and Rudy Gay. Guys that are good, but not THAT GUY

The problem with that "he'll never lead a team to a title" shit is that's been said about A LOT of players.....who went on to lead their teams to titles. It takes the right situation, which for a lot of great players doesn't happen.

The Joe Johnson/Rudy Gay thing is just laughable. Not even close.