Right now the priority of contengencies are most likely this - A. CP3 as a UFA signing (pipe dream) B. Dwight Howard as a UFA signing, w/ possible S&T for salary cap flexibilty(somewhat realistic) C. Summer trades for all star #2. possibly trying for LaMarcus Aldridge D. Unknown free agent signing of choice(could be Josh Smith or someone else they value more than I do) E. Gasol VIA amnesty wire F. Gasol VIA trade(giving up next to nothing but possibly T. Robinson, & Brooks if they are interested) G. Keep status quo and hope one or more of their young bigs have a GREAT Summer -Of these 7 contengencies almost all of them are highly desirable except for possibly the risk of D.(signing a free agent to a large contract). However, if there is someone they are going after whether it be Josh Smith, Al Jefferson, Millsap, or whoever, they are probably doing it for a very good reason.... or we should hope they see something I dont. I personally think the Rockets are better off with Gasol on a one year deal than any of these guys, but from what Morey says in interviews makes you believe there is someone out there they think very highly of....
I personally don't care for pau and think he's the weaker link of the two gasols, but his box scores prove that he can play. He would be a pretty good fit at the 4 and it would help us tremendously. Dwight is a puss.
We can probably get Gasol without losing too much flexibility. With this in mind, I'd love to have him. My guess is we go for him (or another skilled PF we can get that won't tie us up). We probably offer him a two year near max. Sacrificing the immeadiate payout for insured flexibility.
Only if we strike out completely in the off season and we have cap room to trade a junk pick for him. He's got 1 season remaining and can back up Asik as well as play the PF spot. I don't think I can watch a whole season of small ball or the DMo/GSmith/TRob project so I hope something happens in the PF area.
I wouldn't mind Pau, but damn he would have been perfect for Adelman's system in the high post. People call him soft, but how can you be soft when your specialty is banging down low in the post? He is up there in age now, but he doesn't rely on athleticism, so he should have another 3 or 4 good years left in him, plus he's a nice expiring contract (trade bait). I love his game and you can't teach size. I originally was bummed out about the rejected trade because I think D-Mo's ceiling is Pau Gasol, so who better to learn from than Gasol himself?
I hope not. I didn't want him last year, and I sure as hell don't want him now that he's 2 years older and a confirmed loser in the playoffs when Kobe isn't there to draw all the defense's attention.
I absolutely want Pau...as an expiring contract and the one year filler for a potential LaMarcus Aldridge signing next summer. Pau can be a post presence (finally), an additional rebounder to help Asik, and a 4 or 5 depending on the situation. Pau is perfect...for one year.
Did you see how well he played with Howard? You think he would do better with Asik? This would be Morey's dumbest move.
Do you guys really want to use our remaining cap room on players like Josh Smith or Al Jefferson and give away our ability to become a major bidder in the summer of 2014? Notable 2014 free agents: LeBron James Carmelo Anthony Chris Bosh Dwyane Wade Kobe Bryant Dirk Nowitzki Zach Randolph Pau Gasol Tim Duncan Amare Stoudemire Marcin Gortat Rudy Gay Danny Granger Paul Pierce Luol Deng Andrea Bargnani Andrew Bogut and.. Kyle Lowry
Considering how many of those players I don't want to sign to a long contract and/or are auto-locked to re-sign at home. 2014 doesn't look promising.
There are only 4 players that will be worth pursuing on that list and those players will probably stay in their respective teams exempt for Bosh who will be 31: Lebron Bosh Wade Melo everyone else will be past thier prime, injury rattled or just not Superstars at all. Gortat? Really? I'll take my chances with Dwight and CP3
I've long been a proponent of developing the young bigs we have, but given we are likely to get stuck with McHale another year and based on what happened to Patterson, they are likely to be ruined forever at that point, I'd rather us go after Al Jefferson. He should be cheaper then trying to take on Gasol's contract or sign Howard or Smith and is one of the better post playing big men in the NBA today and has a mid range jumper. He's had injury problems in the past but over the last few years he seems to be pretty stable and hasn't missed too many games.
Pau's expiring contract would be a good chip to have with Love's future in Minny up in the air. Kahn might be gone now but the Wolves owner also had interesting words for Love during that contract negotiation debacle.
