There are a few reports that Gasol really likes the Spurs because of Gregg Popovich's ability to manage minutes. Gasol is known to have a high basketball IQ and has also made comments about other players lack of basketball IQ. The Spurs being a team that plays team basketball and has high basketball IQ has to be really appealing to Gasol. OKC Thunder, also with their recent level of play has to be appealing to Gasol. Right now, the Thunder and Spurs are the frontrunners for Gasol. Both either team would just be ridiculously sick in terms of performance. They would have to be the leading contender for the championship going into the season and I don't see any team in the east being able to beat the Spurs or the Thunder if Gasol is on the team. I don't even see the Heat being able to beat the Thunder or Spurs even if they acquire Kyle Lowry.
I think Gasol would make Thunders pretty damn scary (they already are a top 3 team). He would be an ideal 3rd or 4rth option, give them a real low post threat, is highly skilled, really long and is a great fit with Ibaka. Of course I also think he would be great in San Antonio, Chicago and Miami for much the same reasons. I'd rather he go improve Chicago or Miami, the West is stacked as it is.
Your statement is true to a certain degree. Gasol on just about any team that was a top 5 team in the west would have to be considered a leading contender for the Championship. Gasol on the Spurs, Thunder or Bulls would make them the favorite to win the Championship. I think it would be safe to say that Gasol realizes this. When you are considered a favorite to win the Championship, you may tend to overlook other factors that you are looking for. Based on current reports, Basketball IQ is not the only thing Gasol is looking for. Supposedly, the Spurs are the leading candidate because Popovich is good at managing player minutes. While Gasol has a few years left, he is getting up there in age. Relatively speaking /comparatively speaking, ...Oklahoma with Scott Brooks as their head coach has allot more Basketball IQ than the Lakers do at the present moment.
That, and if there's 1 player in the league right now that could replace Duncan... it's Gasol. Gasol brings a lot of the same things.
But not more than the Spurs or Bulls Westbrook is one of the most baffling players in the league, and Durant makes some bonehead decisions especially on defense. And Brooks can't design a proper offense. Gasol could easily get frustrated playing with that team even though on paper its an amazing fit.
If the potential is to get on the Spurs - I'd be doing it 10 minutes ago. Gasol would be straight up deadly in that system.
They had $12 million in cap room prior to the Mills signing. Mills is getting like $4m/year If I'm the Spurs, tell Gasol your plan is to bring him in one year for lower contract but next season you'll sign him for a 3-4 year deal worth a lot more when Duncan's contract comes off the books. Gasol has already made $156 million in his career, so sacrificing a full year of salary to play a dream role for the next 5 would probably be more appealing. I can't imagine Duncan returning at age 40 either, really this ought to be his last year.
I'm sorry but Give the Spurs the title now (again) if they Get Gasol. Nobody is stopping that front court.
I believe Pau deserves more (repect) than what he has got in the last years. If he lands on OKC or Spurs, he will smile when meeting the Lakers. I mean Lakers today is Kobe, Nash and Sacre. I believe Kobe thinks that is enough to get him to rings more.
While I don't think he signs in okc, that is a lot of text about speaking Spanish on the spurs without mentioning a member of his Spanish national team...
Not as high on Gasol as you guys. Skilled big man yes, but soft as wet wipes. I'm sure Dwight prefers Gasol over Perkins anway. Perkins gave Dwight fits last year. OKC will get better offensively but will lose alot defensively
They have the MLE and even offloading Perkins wouldn't be enough unless the Lakers wanted to do OKC/Gasol a solid and agree to a S&T.
