I think that West would do it if he could get a star in return. More than anything, West wants people to WANT to come to the Grizzlies. He could probably land Rasheed Wallace for Gasol and Brevin Knight. I think he'd definitely do it, rather than wait anymore on Gasol. However, I do think Gasol can be a career 20/10/2.5 guy, which is amazing, considering what J-Will and Mike Miller can bring. However, none of those guys can truly take over a game like Rasheed.
The only thing West wants is cap sapce for 04 to make a run at Kobe. If he can't get that, then he'll stand pat and build the team with what he has. Sane- I don't remeber Wallace taking over anything especially in the elimination games they have faced. It seems like when put in those situations, he folds up. Against Dallas after having a poor 1st half, he came out and did nothing in the 2nd half. Against La in 2000 after having that big lead and losing it, he did nothing to stop the bleeding. He's a good player and probably better suited to play the 3, but he's nothing special.
If there is a way to get Gasol here without giving up Francis or Ming I would jump all over it. They would be one of the youngest and most talented/skilled fontcourts in the leauge. How about this? Houston trades: PF Eddie Griffin (8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.5 minutes) SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 41.7 minutes) PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 20.6 minutes) Houston receives: PF Pau Gasol (19.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.8 apg in 82 games) PG Brevin Knight (3.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.2 apg in 55 games) SG Wesley Person (11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.7 apg in 66 games) Change in team outlook: -0.6 ppg, -0.5 rpg, and +3.7 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED!!! Ming Cato Gasol Rice Tmo T Mo Boki Posey Person Francis Knight
ACCEPT!!! This would be perfect... Yao/Cato Gasol/Free Agent signing like Carlos Boozer OR KENDRICK PERKINS DRAFT PICK/Terence Morris/Glen Rice James Posey/Bostjan Nachbar/Terence Morris Wesley Person/James Posey Steve Francis/Brevin Knight Pretty fair trade as well!
Depending on their cap situation after next season, they may want Rice instead of Taylor, and they probably wouldn't want to get rid of Wesley Person since his contract comes off the books next year as well. Rice Griffin Mobley for Gasol Wright Knight This will give them two big expiring contracts for next offseason. Of course, if they want to go after Kobe, they have no use for Cuttino.
That would work. Then we could trade Cato and Taylor to the Bucs in a sign and trade for Payton! Payton Knight Francis Posey Posey T Mo Boki Gasol TMo Pick up veteran frontcourt player that can play C or PF Ming Wright
