Makes sense. Kobe, Nash and Howard can easily fit in and win in this system. Metta World Peace can fit in by playing both Forward positions - he plays the PF position well with this team. Jordan Hill when healthy can fit in. What's missing here IMO is a SF who doesn't take many shots, can run like a gazelle, and guard the opponents' best swingman consistently. I think this would help Kobe and Howard, and this type of player tends to overachieve offensively in D'Antoni's system. Gasol is useless past this season, they may as well use him to get someone who compliments Howard more.
How would it help the Lakers' cap situation with the 2014 free agency class, considering Gasol is expiring then?
First off, what Cat said. Trading for Pau in no way hinders the Lakers' (currently AMAZING) cap situation in 2014. If the Lakers did nothing but re-sign Dwight this summer, they could have a cap situation in which the ONLY player on their cap was Dwight (together with another ~$3 million from waiving Nash using the Stretch provision), meaning the Lakers could add Lebron AND another high-dollar free agent in 2014. I think the Lakers could do just fine, cap-wise, in 2014 with or without "help" from the Rockets. Second, I don't think Les Alexander or Daryl Morey particularly care about the few millions of dollars they could conceivably get after the 2013-14 season from the Lakers' luxury tax payments. All non-taxpaying teams get to split 1/2 of the luxury tax revenues, with the other 1/2 going to the revenue-sharing plan (from which the Rockets, I believe, will NOT be getting any assistance). The Rockets would much rather get an All-Star caliber player at $0.50 on the dollar over getting that marginally increased luxury tax payment. I'm not saying that the Rockets WILL trade for Pau. I'm just saying that the Lakers' salary cap and luxury tax situations (post-Pau) will likely not be a factor in the equation for them.
I was totally against Gasol at the beginning of the season, but considering this team looks pretty good when it's getting production from the PF he may be good in our current system. Especially if we can get him in a salary dump where it may just cost us Patterson or Morris and a pick. Considering we're in a position to obsorb salary Morey may have to seriously look at this. Gasol is also a better rebounder than anyone on our current roster not named Asik.
just put down the pipe, son.... I wouldn't want Pau's poison contract for FREE! With the upcoming luxury tax hit, that capspace is GOLD! Why would we give up ASSETS like Parsons' cheap contract for an overpaid and aging Gasol.... smh
LA Rocket fan here. I watch every Lakers game, so I have a pretty educated opinion on Pau. Pau is still a top 10 PF-C in this league. He's Tim Duncan 2.0. Yes he's got the tendinitis, but Pau's game is built on skill, not athleticism. He has the best skill post up game in the league -- bar none. He's an AMAZING passer out of the high and low post. Bball IQ off the charts. D12's selfishness and delusions that he has a post up game is what's killing Pau's numbers. My point is Pau's playing in the wrong system. Other night off the bench he had 15-12 without D12 screwing his game up thinking he's Shaq. I think he fits our roster perfectly as either a center or even at power forward next to Asik. We are not going to be a legit contender playing the uptempo stretch-4 game. Too many teams in this league do that with better scorers and athleticism. A "twin towers" approach gives us an advantage. Let's not forget Pau was giving it to the US in the gold medal game this summer. Put him in our lineup and he averages an efficient 17 and 10. Book it. He's better than Milsap, Aldridge, Smith or any other PF you guys have suggested. Yeah Pau's 32, but like Duncan, Pau can play into his mid-late 30's. He's a good number 2, and a great number 3 option. He will stabilize our team. He is a consummate pro and can mentor Asik. I'm not a capologist like Bima, but we only would only be on the hook for Pau's contract til 2014, which is supposed to be the next big FA class I think. Just my two pennies.
Pau's contract is only for 1 and a half seasons. He'll remain a valuable trade chip this free agency and next season. The Lakers can't afford to hold onto him as a trade chip only because they need to win now to keep their impending free agent Dwight happy.
QFT. I think the Rockets would greatly prefer to make a run at Dwight and/or Chris Paul this summer, but I think Pau is the next best AVAILABLE player and would be a great fit on this team. Unless trading for Pau literally COSTS the Rockets Dwight or CP3 (I doubt it, but you never know), I would have zero problem with adding Gasol. All this "Pau sucks" talk is ludicrous. He's still one of the most skilled big men in the world and should continue to be so for the next few years.
Excellent take, and exactly why I wouldn't mind at all if Pau came over to Houston. He would instantly bring some production and stability to our PF position, and serve as a good veteran leader on the youngest team in the NBA. I think playing with Harden, Parsons, Lin, and Asik might even re-energize him a bit after playing with Kobe for so long. It's a deal that, for the right price, I think the Rockets should actively pursue. If it involves any of our young pieces earmarked for the future, then I balk.....but if they are willing to take either PPat or Morris, D-Mo, and a first rounder, I pull the trigger.
I get what you're sayin... but would you rather get a JSmith or a Milsap this offseason for FREE and pay 13M and retain a starter at peanuts (Parsons) - or pay Pau 19M and fill another hole created by losing Parsons.... and as far as Pau as a 'trade chip' next season - who is a team gonna give up for an expiring contract? Boozer and some assets? It'd be nice to turn an expiring Gasol into Bosh as Miami tries to shed some payroll... but that's maybe's and gonna be's.... let's get a player we want - rather than one we can deal later.... plus keepin the Lakers in luxury tax hell has its upside too...
The plot thickens... Ramona Shelburne -- Laker ESPN columnist -- says there's rumblings that D12 won't resign in LA if D'Antoni is here next year. Which means LA would have to trade him (no way they pick D'Antoni over D12) or trade Pau, who doesn't fit D'Antoni's system.
