From the Lakers perspective though, they can choose this moment to get younger and deeper and more athletic by moving one of their stars or they can hold onto to their stars and try to add another role player or two to see if they can extend this current group of stars another year or two. The problem with the second option is that by the time you know whether or not it was worth it to extend the useful life it'll be too late to command real star power and some added depth in exchange for one of you stars. And in the case of the Lakers, their biggest star is their oldest star who they will never trade and who will retire a Laker most likely so they run the risk of having two of their three stars age too fast and then they look like the Boston Celtics do right now. That is the reason why the Chris Paul deal was undertaken. Even if the subsequent team without Gasol and Odom wasn't going to win a title, at least the franchise was headed down the path of establishing the next generation of star power players and the team would still be quite entertaining and if not championship caliber, only a couple of players away from it. Also they were positioning for Howard which is still a possibility.
ONE THIRD! Do you wanna spend one third of your total capspace on a 31, 32 and then 33 year old Pau Gasol? That's before you even get into who you have to give up to get him...
This is in large part overblown though. Put this all in perspective. Remember Kevin Garnett was 31 when the Celtics traded for him and his extensive salary requirements. The guy is 36 now and still going and nobody could argue that the Celtics have gotten every bit of value out of him during that period that they could've ever hoped for and more. Pau is a complete player. He can flow naturally between either of the 4 or 5 spots. Can score, can pass, can rebound, plays solidly on defense though not an excellent shot block type. The guy plays 35 - 38 minutes a night. Always healthy. Totally unselfish player. The guy is a 4 time All-Star, 2 time NBA champion and an international champion from Spain to boot. Not too many guys walking around with his resume in the league. You talk about a guy who could be a game changer and an influencer of other guys wanting to come to Houston? Seriously, Pau Gasol is the rare type of a player ambassador for the game (like Yao probably was) that he could transform the way other international stars and prospects think about playing in the city of Houston.
I don't know if I can watch ostrich face for more than 11 games a season. Even if he's in a Rockets uniform. I'd probably take a break from watching the Rockets until he's off the team.
I beg to differ. The "upgrades" he's supposedly made have only been lateral moves that have kept us afloat. He's missed out on every superstar available since becoming GM. Given his track record & reputation for uneccessarily shuffling the team up, no superstar will want to play in Houston aslong as Morey's running the show.
I don't think LA would swap Gasol for Lowry straight-up. At least, they would hesitate to do it, which might be what is going on. I think DM is trying to figure out another angle, possibly including getting Llull set to come over, or maybe trading Lowry and Scola for Gasol and some other asset, maybe from a 3rd team. The big reason we want Gasol is to attract players of his level or higher. This is an absolutely necessary part of getting higher-value players.
I don't doubt that he can come in and put up 20 and 10. And even though, we'd be getting the size, I have problems with this. If Kyle goes out, we sure as heck better be getting more than just Pau. But it's the direction that bothers me the most. I know we can't see the whole picture yet, but there's no need to be hasty, cranking out the win now philosophy. In a compressed timeframe, there's more pressure/greater margin of error of putting the pieces together, staying healthy, and BEING ENOUGH TO WIN IT ALL. Upside of anything less is unacceptable as time is on our side and we have one of the best organizations in the business. Les needs to not force this play.
I agree. We all know the Rockets with a lineup of Hayes, Mutumbo, Battier, Luther Head, and Rafer Alston was a perennial .500 ballclub. Just because Morey brought in the likes of Lowry or Scola or KMart doesn't make us more talented. Not at all.
Then they most likely can forget about having Lowry as their point guard. Kyle.... much younger has upside as he hasn't been able to play off another star great contract is doing this at PG, a position that is tough to develop FILLS A NEED POSITION FOR THEM and is at least as good a player as Pau at this point in their careers. Plus, the Lakers are playing for a title NOW. WE should have the leverage ........ OMT...Kyle is a leader.
