[WEEI] Report: Lakers are committed to trading Pau Gasol

Dalembert+Scola+Budinger+we return the Jordan Hill first rounder.

 

Neither team can take on any salary. It would have to be a Howard - Gasol trade almost completely straight up.

Also Orlando does not have a GM. Probably no chance they will get their act together for the next month.

 

They're getting their act together right now. They will probably announce their GM this week, maybe as soon as tomorrow. And don't be surprised if they already know which direction they're going with Dwight. Have you noticed the last couple weeks there has been no news from Dwight, no TMZ videos on the sidewalk, nothing? It's like he's went into hiding.

I suspect Devos and Martens has been in discussions with Dwight and his team and Orlando has probably asked them to stay underground and talk to them while they go through this GM hiring process.

When they get the GM in place, they're already going to know which direction they are going to go with Dwight, how they are going to appeal to him, the whole process, and they're already going to know if they trade him what they are looking for, vets to make a playoff run and stay competitive or a rebuild.

And the guy they are going to hire already has a handle on the players in the draft through his active experience in other NBA front offices. So, they are going to be ready for all eventualities. And the GM is going to have several days to evaluate the scouting department, look at data, and add to his already existing knowledgebase.

I will be surprised if the GM hire for Orlando is not announced by Friday and as soon as tomorrow and if not until Friday it will likely be leaked well before then.

There's a reason the Lakers are leaking they are moving Gasol. It's to get the phones ringing fast and furious. Everybody knows once July 1 hits and Deron decides for himself where he's going to go that their chances of signing Dwight long-term go down drastically. Orlando knows that too. I still say Dwight will either sign an extension or be traded before July 1.

 

I still doubt they would take on that salary.If they trade Howard they most likely would be looking to rebuild. You are correct in the sense that Pau is a good player, but definitely not the kind of player that you can build around. Look at his prime days in Memphis, he repeatedly choked when he was the main guy. At this point in his career he is a second option at best. As far as Orlando goes Lowry is a much better fit for them ( younger and a much better contract) to put young people around and stay competitive if they chose to do so. I seriously hope the Rockets dont trade for him just for the sake of getting a "superstar".

 

Thank you Jopat for the detailed thoughts.

 

Anybody here that wouldn't do Scola/Dalembert/16 pick for Gasol is really smoking something.

 

I could see that ditching salary and getting young talent/picks is probably at the top of the list of both the Lakers and Magic.

 

Yeah, I doubt it too. It makes the most sense to me that if they have to move Howard, they need to go into rebuild mode. Dump as much salary as they can, be horrible next season, trade DHo and those expiring contracts for as many youngsters with talent and draft picks as possible, go to the lottery, then come back in 2013-14 with cap space, a lottery pick, and several young developing players (like PPat and Morris and whoever else).

However, the previous cycle focused on getting a team like the Lakers to cough up both Bynum and Gasol for Dwight and Hedo. If Orlando can get a team to cough up 2 premier players, then they could just continue on and stay competitive. So, the decision is up to them. Ultimately, if they have to trade Dwight, they are going to pick a course and get the maximum value they can for him. But only after exhausting all avenues of getting Dwight to agree to sign the extension before July 1.

 

The rumors have been that DeVos, the 85 year old wheelchair-bound owner of the Magic, wants to win now, and not tear the team down Charlotte-style. As such, the preferred trade package would include veterans.

 

And my point has been that we can give them both......but we should not help another team, ESPECIALLY A TEAM IN THE WEST, to acquire Dwight. They can take our vets and turn them into a guy like Pau Gasol and have a mix if vets and young talent. For example, if we can get Gasol for Lowry and Scola, we can them ship Gasol along with Martin, PPat, Morris, and 14 and 16. So, potentially Orlando could run out next season with

Kendall Marshall
Kevin Martin
Marcus Morris
Pau Gasol
Patrick Patterson

with another first rounder coming off the bench. Perhaps they draft Jeff Taylor and plug him in at 3, then move Kevin Martin to Minny for Derrick Williams and Morris on somewhere else.

The point is they have a lot of rebuilding options with our package.

 

First time poster here, I have visited your forum from time to time as I think you guys are one of the better NBA fan forums on the web.

Would you Rocket fans consider something like this?

I posted this on LG http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?t=147287

Anyways, here's the idea I presented


Rockets - Pau Gasol and Amare Stoudemire. It took Morey a year but he got his 1-2 punch up front. Throw in the emergence of Dragic and you could have a scary good team - think Nash with a productive 4 & 5 playing pick & roll/pop.

Knicks - Kevin Martin and Luis Scola. The Knicks want to let Melo operate down low and be the true #1 option. Now they have it, he'll have his sniper in Martin and his dirty blue collar PF in Scola. Knicks bring back Lin and they have a vastly improved and more balanced squad with Chandler playing Center. Plus, they just got out of Amare's contract in exchange for Scola's who is at half the cost.

Lakers - Kyle Lowry, Sam Dalembert, Patrick Patterson, and #14 (or #16 pick). Lakers get a PG they have been wanting and one that is under a reasonable deal (2 more years $6M avg). In addition they get a potential backup center in Dalembert (team option for 12/13) or they can cut him to save $6.7M. Young PF in Patrick Patterson who performed well when given the opportunity (great manageable contract under the new CBA) - I thought of Chandler Parsons but I think Morey won't let him go especially now that they have Amare and Pau who both will play 35 minutes per at the 4 & 5. Parsons played well at the SF when given minutes. Finally the #14 pick (or #16) will be a great way for the Lakers to set themselves up for the future and I could see some prospects available at the slot like: Dion Waiters, Austin Rivers, Kendall Marshall, Perry Jones, Jared Sullinger, Marquis Teague, Moe Harkless, Arnett Moultrie.

 

OK, whatever. Gasol means the Rockets still hopelessly believe they can win a championship without rebuilding. It means another wasted year. Another draft where the best players are long gone before the Rockets pick at 14th. Another year hearing someone in the media tweet that Morey is the most active GM only to see nothing come of it. Another year of NBA Ready. Another year of purgatory.

 

Ugh with the recurring Dwight Howard thing.

I'm afraid that we actually have a shot at him, and we'll wind up with him, returning from injury and playing half a season, halfheartedly, and we'll have to trade him to get BACK some of what we'll throw away to get him. And still be stuck with another year of ****ing Hedo Turkoglu.

We'd be on national TV a lot. Dwight, Dragic, Courtney, D-Mo, and a whole bunch of nothin.

 

Accepting Howard and Turk could be the most poisonous package ever in the history of sports. Howard walks and you still have Turk's salary. I do not believe that any GM or team would take the risk.

 

I'd like to see Morey to make trade to bring in Gasol this time with anything.

Not because I believe Gasol is the right piece, rather, I want to see how good Morey acts as a GM with this trade for one more last chance. People blame David Stern who blocked the trade last year, I feel we were very fortunate that trade did not go through.

 

trade for him n then get dwight. lol ill be aite with dragic over dwill.

 

The only way I want Gasol is if we can acquire someone else that can be the number 1 option. Gasol as our main weapon is depressing.

 

If Dwight walks, we're tanking the next year anyways, and Turkoglu would just be a huge expiring contract during the tanking. It wouldn't be so bad.

 

If Morey goes after Gasol, and can't get Howard, then look for him to create a more balanced cast. It would probably look something like Gasol, KG(FA signing), Gerald Wallace or Iggy type of player through trade, Parsons, and Dragic. Probably not what you want, but it would be what you can reasonably expect.

 

Thanks for posting. Does this trade work under the cap? It doesn't seem like it would. The rockets pick up two huge contracts. They wouldn't do this even if it did. Amare might have the worst contract to value in the league. It's a non-starter.