Agree Gasol is slow and plodding and this offense is not even what he can begin to play in. He is not a complement to the team or the players. There are so many others that are cheaper and way more effective we can grab. Sounds like many are going by his former glory. He is also injury prone.
IF Pau is amnestied and IF we got him for $10 million per year or less, that would be amazing. Having him and Asik at center would be the best center combo in the league easily. I would start Asik and have Pau play minutes at C and PF depending on matchups. Depending on the severity of Dwight's injuries I'd rather go this route than get him.
Finally someone who understands Pau's game! Pau at PF is wasting a top 5 center in the NBA. Yes he has been terribly misused by the Lakers. If Morey chooses not to use the max cap this summer Pau would be a reasonable use of the cap space next season.
And still yet some don't understand he reason Pau is even discussed is because half his value to the team would be his contract. What other player could you sign for 1 year that would clear max money for cap space in 2014 or be a max contract you could use to trade for a max player? What other option do you see that would better utilize cap space without handcuffing the organization in 2014 or 2015?
Now that the Rockets have started this rebuilding process, I don't believe the Rockets should go after DH or Gasol. DH will be signed to LA and Gasol will cry and end up with a team he wants to go to in end. The Rockets should sign a FA but it will more than likely be JSmith.
This is so true, but for some reason folks on here just can't understand this deal. Not sure why, but Im assuming its the financial side that they just dont understand. Its like they think that fans on here just "talking about the possibility" somehow means that he's going to be a long term contract that the Rockets are stuck with for 10 years. For the Rockets, its a perfect one year superstar rental that can also be used in a mega deal trade at the deadline. Its basically like the Camby trade on steroids. If I was Morey I would make 3 calls first before I call the Lakers about Gasol. Kahn about Love, and Portland about LMA. Let them know that its a take it or leave it package right now, and if not they are most likely going to make the trade on draft night. The Rockets are probably the only team that can offer the Lakers a chance to go from 8 mil over the lux tax to potentially 2 or 3 mil UNDER THE CAP in one fail swoop. They also have the ability to give them a couple young prospects in the deal that aren't being utilized by Houston (possibly Jones/White), and Garcia/Delfino with their team options(utitilized as cap savers if declined) could be picked if they wanted to pay for their services. Alot of people(and the Lakers will say)that the Lakers are swimming in money and dont care.... please. Anyone running a business will care about that much money going to waste. Is Pau Gasol really worth 35 million dollars to them next year? Especially since the organization is committed to Dwight Howard who is a big that really should be in a system built around floor spacing? I just dont see how that organization will choose NOT to dump him to the Rockets for expirings and a couple cheap players if the option is there on the table. Again, I see this deal as the Camby deal on steroids... with very little risk... IF nobody else outbids the Rockets.... which few teams can do with utilizing the cap space the Rockets have.
Well, there is the Rockets angle. They are getting something out of this hypothetical trade. They use their chunk of the salary cap(assuming wouldn't be used anyway if they strike out on the #2 star) on a all-star calliber player. Also one of the most unique post players to ever play the game, 2 time champ, great teamate, and one of the best passing big men ever. Oh, and in a low risk role. Its not like this would all the sudden become Pau's team or anything and would make James Harden irrelevant. If you would rather just let Les save that money for next year thats fine. Also, I dont think its helps out the Lakers much more than just financially. If its a Camby type of trade then I see no harm no foul, unless you are just very concerned for Les' pocketbook.
We bail them out of cap problems...we bail them out of a big contract with a player who isn't helping them right now. To a team that's 3 games behind us right now in the race for a playoff spot. Yeah, not interested.
Exactly. It would not hurt the Lakers to get rid of the dollar for dollar penalty Pau represents, but if Morey does not sign a significant player this summer, Gasol could make the difference between a number 5 seed next season and a two or three seed. Easily. But of course that is plan B.
I can not imagine how you guys can think that the addition of Pau Gasol to this team makes us a 2-3 seed. Seriously. There was a time I would have absolutely said that about Pau...but no longer.
I'm less concerned about trying to screw the Lakers by keeping this in tax hell than I am about improving the Roxs situation. But hey if you can do both, I'm all for sticking it to the Lakers. But priority one is making the Rox better on the court and financially for the future. I'm not one to let my hate for the Lakers (which I have) blind my love for the Rockets.
Sure we could help out the Lakers. That is what we are here for. To be honest though Gasol is not a complementary piece even at a one year rental. The way the team is structured now he would be a huge liability. There are way better options than bringing in a declining all star for the sake of doing so.
Agreed, I think the financial component has been explained repeatedly and exhausted in this thread, but it doesn't seem to resonate which makes me think some people just don't understand how the contracts and CBA works. Tmac's corpse of a body yielded us so much value from the Knicks, not so much because of him as a player, but because of his contract. I wouldn't propose to give the Lakers what the Knicks gave to us. Not even close. But you take that principle of the max expiring, the options it comes with, PLUS the unique financially situation the Lakers are in the take advantage of and you have an opportunity to get really good value.
