The one thing I disagree with you on is I think you have to get rid of Melo(as long as he's willing) at any cost even if it means getting pennies on the dollar
KP needs to be handed the reigns and see if he can take that Giannis Towns level step.
Giannis has made a leap. But that leap has been helped by having: Players around him. Middleton, Parker, Brogdon, Greg Monroe had a really useful season, even Tony Snell turned himself into a guy who you can play 25+ minutes a game.
You can't just say "pennies on the dollar" - most trade have relatively salary neutral, especially if Melo is going to any kind of upper-tier team. You're unlikely to find an expiring/expirings of equal value (as I demonstrated) - which means you're then taking on LONGER expensive deals, because after all - Melo's only has 2 years left. By midseason next year, HE'LL be considered an expiring deal.
It's one thing to take on pennies for the dollar in the short term, quite another to do it for the long term. You'll end up hurting KP's growth, not helping it.
I would happily trade him for a bushel of picks, but it is almost impossible. That's not how the salary cap works.
*chews nails while I watch ping pong balls on an internet feed*