Whoa, Jatman20...you're pretty much holding a conversation with yourself. I'm fine with not "playing GM" with you. Whatever world you live in seems like a nice place, but I live in a different world. Further, it seems you aren't really understanding what I'm saying or much of anything I am thinking--so that isn't helping.
Just to clarify a few things...in no particular order...
You can still keep Antic and his 31% lifetime achievement award in 3pt shooting (which is but one season). We can do numbers all day long. Go check out Antic's playoff series last season. I guess we should throw him out with the trash like Terrence Jones.
D-Mo didn't play in last year's play-offs except for 5 minutes in 1 game...he was 2-2 in that 5 minutes with an and-1. It has never been revealed (as far as I know) why he didn't play, but as badly as we needed a big body, I think he must have been injured in some capacity.
Using the 2 games LMA went off in the playoffs as any sort of indictment of any player is moot in my book. In-his-prime Hakeem Olajuwon wasn't going to stop Aldridge in those 2 games. Not Mutumbo. Not anyone. He had a moment that will most likely be one of the best, if not THE best, of his career. Let's not crucify Jones for all of that.
You do recall we only lost that first game when Portland got a last second desperation tip-in, don't you?
What has become obvious in reading your posts is that you value veterans over youth--which is fine. I think you over-estimate a team's willingness to play a part in your trade fantasies. Asik for Melo? (unless you are throwing Harden in that trade it is not happening--ever...and as a rental!!! Like I said, your world seems nice).
You say this team needs veteran leadership. I say, this team already has excellent leadership.
You're concerned about minutes? Seriously? You think Nick Johnson (2nd round pick who needs to learn he can't dunk over everyone by jumping from 10-8 feet from the rim and tomahawking the ball in plus he can't shoot yet), Tarik Black (who is just happy to be on an NBA roster and receiving world class coaching and training), Joey Dorsey (same as Tarik), or Canaan (another second rounder who is getting minutes, but still needs to work on finishing at the rim and some passing skills) are going to pout about not getting the minutes they want? Okie-dokie. This sounds eerily familiar...do we also think McHale is holding them back and that they would all be better if we let them run the offense instead of James? Is this going to affect their confidence negatively because McHale is yo-yo-ing their minutes? 
As far as "playing schoolhouse" goes....I guess this goes back to your preference for veterans. Last I checked, the only teams that ever succeed in "buying" their roster and stacking them with complimentary veterans are the ones with LeBron James on them (and usually involves some other team being held hostage by a disgruntled star). Not with Melo. Not with Kobe. Not even our own Harden/Howard duo. No, only LeBron seems to have that kind of clout to make it work as easily as you make it seem.
What does work? Exactly what we are doing. Building a pipeline of talent that compliments our two stars. They are not all going to pan out, but the ones that do we can keep (i.e. Jones, D-MO....and mark it down--Nick Johnson will be the second coming of Kevin Johnson. I am already 100% sold on that guy). Meanwhile, Morey is tap-dancing all over the salary cap by keeping those mid-level veteran contracts (read: anvils) off our books.
I think the win now before the window closes panic is involved here. This roster. This path. This can work. Think about it. Put D-Mo on a bad team (say the Wolves or Sixers) and they start feeding him in the post and letting him corral all those bricked shots their guards are chucking up. He's going to look like DeMarcus Cousins (at least in the stat sheet) with 20+ ppg and 14-15 rpg with a few assists, a steal and a block or two.
If that were the case, we would be talking about trading Beverley, Jones, and Papa for D-Mo (You know, that super efficient post player who is a legit 7' tall, can shoot from deep, dribble-drive from the perimeter, is a great passer, can finish from both sides with either hand, can create his own offense, plays solid defense and by all accounts is a great teammate? You mean that guy? Yes, yes I do.)....which is why we're not trading him.
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