http://espn.go.com/espnradio/grantland/player?id=8628941 Bill Simmons talking with Steve Kerr. At around the 35:40 mark, they began talking about a hypothetical Pau Gasol for Josh Smith trade, both think it would make some sense, but Kerr said the Hawks might have doubts about how much Gasol has left in the tank. Simmons replied "You know Daryl Morey would trade for him!" Not sure if he meant Gasol or Smith. I think it's Gasol.
Simmons meant Pau Gasol, and that trade is (thankfully) dead. Josh Smith is a more intriguing prospect, though. He's younger, way better defensively, and (to put it scientifically) less crappy at basketball than Pau Gasol.
Some people don't understand the concept of having CAP ROOM. (That said, an in-season trade for a player making as much as Gasol would be pretty difficult. Still, it's conceivably workable.)
Josh Smith is a terrible shooter and is certainly not a threat in the post. How does this fix our front court offense?
I don't see the problem. There's not any max targets we can land in this FA class and Pau's contract expires next year which would give us cap space to go after a max guy in 2014. Better than going after overrated Josh Smith and signing him long-term.
Pau Gasol would be a win-now trade, which would not make sense for where the Rockets currently are. His salary, his age, and his productivity are all going to be moving in the wrong direction over the next season or two, and the Rockets are not going to be true contenders until then. A young, dynamic star like Harden was the perfect move for where this team currently sits, so a second star fitting that ilk would be the only complimentary move that would make any sense.
pau trade makes sense in every aspect and it's definitely something morey would like to do. but i think lakers can get a better deal from other team than what rox can offer.
Gasol, even at 32 is still better than Josh Smith. I think Josh Smith makes more sense for the Lakers than Pau, but not as much as a real stretch-4 (i.e. Ryan Anderson or Ilyasova) would. I was very much opposed to Pau just a year ago (not to the first trade - all the Lowry for Pau nonsense), but I'd be more than fine with trading for Pau now. He's a good fit, undervalued and probably the most attainable difference maker that there is out there. Working out a trade might be a challenge, but you could always trade Lin. Just saying. Spoiler Do it Les!
Any Gasol trade made by the Lakers must involve contract(s) that will end by 2014. I'm sure they will try to make a play for LeBron/Wade/Melo/etc.
Just as a heads up, I was talking about how the Lakers would want to flip Gasol for Smith if at all possible. The Rockets have no part in this other than as a one-time destination a long time ago when the pieces still existed on all teams to make it work. Scola's contract, Martin's contract, the Lakers TPE...none of these elements exist any longer. And good thing, too. Basketball Reasons was the best thing to ever happen to the Rockets, and it amazes me how Rockets fans nevertheless will stop at nothing to resurrect a terrible deal. 19 million a year, the highest-paid theoretical Rocket by far, for 12 / 10 playoff production? I mean what are we even talking about here.
Lin can bring the money for his contract and pay all Lakers luxury taxes. On a big franchise and into a big asian market. Like he did last season .
This overvaluing of Gasol has got to stop, though. I don't know where it comes from. Inflated NBA 2K video game ratings? Lakers fans trying to talk up his value as an entree to a trade? It is telling, though, that all Lakers fans talk about in cloistered circles and hushed whispers is how bad Gasol is, how utterly replaceable a big who will passively shoot contested 15 foot jumpers truly is in this day and age, and how hopeful they are they'll be able to sucker a team into taking him. We can speak intelligently about how Gasol is an ancient shell of himself in any way you'd please. Eye test? (He hasn't been able to get back in transition in 5 years). In terms of statistics and economics? (His $19 million annually for just 12/10 playoff production make his one of the most bloated contracts currently held in the league among playoff contenders.) But one thing is certain: If you hear rumors that a Lakers player is on the trading blocks, and also glowing praise about how awesome he supposedly is as a player, look out. It means another team is about to be Bynum'ed. Let's just hope it's not the Rockets.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Why did D'Antoni sit Pau down the stretch? "I was thinking I'd like to win this game, that's what I was thinking."</p>— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinDing/status/272183604988243968" data-datetime="2012-11-24T03:43:23+00:00">November 24, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Welcome to Houston, Pau Gasol. WARMLY WELCOME!
I don't think there's any feasible permutation of bringing him here with his 20 mil salary and our cap situation. so lock this baby up.
