Lakers have begun discussing trades for Gasol. They don't want any long-term big contracts. Concerned about salary tax and likely want to clear their books by 2014 for a run at another FA. https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA
Well it's by Woj so you know there is a lot of truth to it. Will be interesting. D'Antoni is a fail by the way. If any thing will run Dwight away it'll be him.
I'd like Morey to make a tender on Gasol, but I bet he's licking his chops at the possibility of Dwight opting to walk because there's no place more desirable than Houston. I was high on Dwight, and I think once he gets back to 100% and has more complementary pieces he'll be great again. But what this season has shown me is that he isn't a championship player. If he could be content with having much less touches in the post per game and get the rest of his points off of rolls to the basket, put-backs and dump-offs he'd be perfect as a 2ND OPTION. The problem is he doesn't realise he's just a rich man's Mutombo/ Wallace and instead wants to be THE man and he wants his touches on the block.
He's coming off injury. The guy did lead a team to the NBA Finals without much help. I don't care that he did it in the East, it's still an accomplishment.
The Rockets have no chance at Dwight or CP3. Unless they deal Harden first. These guys aren't taking anything less than the max, ie 5 year contract. Teams are only allowed a single 5 year signing. A S&T isn't allowed. What the Rockets can afford do with Gasol's contract, that the Lakers cannot, is to wait on Love. Love is pretty much done for the season. All eyes on the Timberwolves with Pekovic heading into free agency. Do they keep him or make a move/s to maintain their cap space for another max level player?
He's a superstar talent no doubt, and isn't 100% this year while being in a squad that clearly has poor chemistry. But in Orlando he played under SVG in a system that was built specifically for him. That meant positions 1-4 were great shooters, and while they weren't elite defenders they had a great defensive system in place. His low-post game isn't elite and he's a liability in close games down the stretch because of the hack-a-dwight. Shaq had Kobe, Phil Jackson, great pieces and was also one of the most dominant offensive forces of all-time. Dwight isn't Shaq, so he needs to be able to accept a reduced offensive role, and he's never indicated he would be willing to do that.
If there was absolutely no possibility of signing Dwight this offseason, then I would be all for Morey trading for Pau.
It's weird how the Lakers didn't trade Gasol in the offseason after they acquired Dwight. You could've seen the spacing issues from a mile away. Gasol is at his best as a low post player. And Bynum last year showed just how much worse Gasol is as a perimeter guy. It was clear from the beginning that it couldn't have fully worked out.
He led a **** team into final when the East was a pale of goat ****. He won't be able to do that in the West.
Deal for the Lakers? You mean another team voluntarily gets hosed? I have no doubt, if Morey ever tries to trade for Gasol, that they'd want either Asik or Motiejunas.
Knowin da Lakers and other team dumass gm's, somethin like Pau Gasol for Kevin Love, Lamarcus Aldridge and Josh Smith will happen.
It would work fine if they replaced Kobe & Artest with shooters and let Nash dominate the offense. Actually they wouldn't even need to replace Kobe if he would be happy with half the shots-- he's a good enough shooter as is.
Begun discussing....*shaking my head* A couple months too late to the party.... I pity the team that trades for him.