Like I said, I think Gasol can be really something, but I'm just incredibly high on Kirilenko. He's a top 3 perimeter defender, as well as being top 5 in steals and blocks. He has a good jumpshot, not great but good, and has a knack for getting putbacks. If you already had a very good scoring option, then I think this decision would be a slam dunk. And it just seems like there are way more scorers in this league than incredibly well-rounded players. Even when we're talking about lowpost scorers: Shaq Yao Duncan KG Oneal Dirk (not really a lowpost scorer, but he's too good a scorer to leave off a list like this) Randolph Amare Brand Gasol Big Z Abdur Rahim K-Mart (Maybe. Well see what he can do without Kidd) Webber (if he's healthy) That's almost half the league with big men that can score. But how many guys in the NBA have a top flight all-around game: Duncan KG Kobe AK-47 Artest T-Mac (hopefully, since he won't have to expend all that energy on offense) Kidd's defense used to elevate him up here, but I'm not so sure anymore. That's not a whole lot. And KG and Kirilenko are the only ones on that list that can really guard guys on the perimeter and guys in the lowpost. Like I said, I'm really high on AK-47. He's a rare breed. BTW. The more I think about it, the more I feel that T-Mac can be almost as good as Kirilenko. Except T-Mac is a better shooter, while Kirilenko is a better lowpost defender, and slightly better shot-blocker and stealer.
If there's anyone who still thought that Yao might not deserve a max extension, this deal should settle it. If Gasol can get a max deal after his play last seaon, Yao is assured of getting max money even if he never improves for the rest of his career. Obviously, the Grizzlies have to pony up the money, whether or not Gasol's worth it. It's not like they're ever going to have cap space anyway for the near future, and Gasol's the best player on the team. Now if only they can somehow trade some of their ridiculous depth for a legitemate star, this can be a dangerous team.
I think he would knock out these players from your list (as in I would think Kiri would be more valuable to have on your team): Peja Vince Carter Baron Davis Jermaine O'Neal Artest Zach Randolph Shawn Marion Marbury Carmelo Anthony Cassell (due to his age)
For OUR team I'd take kirilenko. He'd be a great support figure for yao and t-mac. Gasol though would just whine about touches and possibly mess up chemistry. But not like we can get either so forget about it
In defense of Gasol (something I never thought I'd do), I'm pretty sure he can be a legitimate 20/10/2 blocks guy if he played more minutes. But since Hubie like to run a 8-9 man roster every game, that limits Gasol's minutes and production..in theory. BUT you can't really teach what Kirilenko does and that is defending. You can help a guy on his jumper/shooting and his offensive fundamentals but you can't help a guy on how to defend. That's just hustle/hard work/talent.
I'm not completely sold on the virtues of having Pau Gasol as one of your team's two max players (assuming you are going to be limited to two). However, I'd rather have him signed as a max player than all of the following: Ron Artest (not, but thinks he should be a max player) Chris Webber Kenyon Martin Wally Szczerbiak Antawn Jamison Vince Carter Grant Hill Keith Van Horn Zydrunas Ilgauskas Steve Francis Baron Davis Shawn Marion Jason Kidd Allen Iverson Antoine Walker Michael Finley Jalen Rose So, from that perspective it doesn't look that bad. But the obvious question is: Is he going to be good enough to bring you a championship with the right teammates?
He's much more athletic, too. People don't realize it beause he's a sicky-looking white guy, but he's only a step or two below KG in the athleticism department.
A critical turning point to Grizzlies was that they succeed landing West & Brown into their management. This imminent multiyear deal simply proved it. sheesh, just put Gasol in Yao's situations in Olympics, he'd take his team no more than Yao did for CNT.
Gasol is mini type of franchise player. I can only name at least five pf's better than him right now. TD, KG, Dirk, JO and Rasheed. Brand is a good player but i firmly beliv that Pau is a much better foundation to build upon. U dont build ur team around an undersized pf except maybe if ur charles barkley. And obviously, hes not. Webber is done. Hes injury prone and age is fast catching up on him. Another injury or two and hes gone forever. Zach is 20-10 player but thats it. Fundamentally, the basics, pau is way better than him. Amare, hes all hops and dunks. Boozer, just a good complimentary player. His perfomance in the olympics was awesome. There are times that hes the best player in the court including against the us team. NObody could guard him except tim duncan. He was head and shoulders above lamar, amare, and everyone that larry brown put against him. He was a monster except when he met duncan. Thats why duncan is the best player in the world. He deserved the contract and now its up to him to elevate his game to another level. He has west and hubie to guide him and teach him to be the MAN and he knows that he has the tools to become a top three pf in the game.
HAHA can som1 please post that pic of Gasol in his super man uniform? That was funnney, hahaha, good stuff.
