think lakers having sessions changes things now. especially how much he is stinking it up, it means they get to keep him on the cheap. think they let go of barnes considering he is giving them nothing. lakers will likely want scola, buddinger(they'll ask for parsons and morey should say 'how about no') and then add lowry. considering certain positions are filled like pg maybe a third team gets involved but thats a fair deal. they can substitue buddinger for the knicks first rounder if needed.
1. Sessions is (most likely) going to decline his player option to become an unrestricted free agent. There is a good chance that he signs elsewhere given that the Lakers are in tax territory and the tax consequences of signing Sessions to a decent long-term contract is going to mean that the Lakers would be less willing to offer Sessions such a deal compared to a non-tax team. 2. Sessions actually hasn't been that good for them, particularly in the playoffs. As such, I am not sure the Lakers consider the PG situation "solved." 3. For the Lakers, what the Rockets are able to offer is actually exactly what they lack. This is a team with 3 elite level players (regardless of what you think of these players' flaws, they are really good), but no consistent producers out of their other positions and no decent draft picks or cap exceptions (due to tax paying status) to add the supporting pieces. Draft picks, cap relief, and decent and cheap supporting pieces are things that the Rockets happen to have in abundance. This coupled with the fact that Bynum and Gasol often don't seem to fit with each other all that well (each of them seemed to have worked better with Odom when he was decent) makes some sort of trade between the Lakers and Houston make sense for both teams.
Thanks for dropping that knowledge on me CH. I guess I misunderstood Session's salary situation. So what does your gut tell you about a ROX/Lakers trade this offseason?
No worries man. I get your points and there definitely is some validity to them. Water under the bridge.
Perhaps Orlando would rather have Gasol, plus Martin's expiring, plus the picks (Sullinger and possibly Marshall or Lillard) as a base to build from????
Why do you think he's opting out? The way I see it, he's staring down a paycut if he doesn't take the $4.5M for next year. I'm not sure who would give him most of their MLE when he's very clearly proven himself to be a 11-5 fringe starter. Even if he did think he was in line for someone's full MLE, why would he be in a hurry to leave a glamour franchise like the Lakers? He's got a starting job virtually solidified (barring any new additions) on one of the best teams in the league. This is a guy that's bounced around Mil, Min, and Cle - I don't think he's in a hurry to find a 4th basement dweller small market to languish in. If I were to guess, his ideal situation is to opt in and have a strong contract year lobbing alley oops to Bynum and hitting wide open kickouts from Gasol. Small sample size, but his 3-point shooting has soared since he's been enjoying wide open looks off double teams. Your assist numbers tend to float up when you've got 3 All Stars (and a former one) to dish to. If I were him, I wouldn't think about opting out unless my agent (illegally) got word that there was another playoff suitor out there ready to offer me a starting role and 3+ years at the MLE.
Because he said he was opting out and wants a multi-year contract: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/sto...decline-player-option-unrestricted-free-agent Of course this was back in April and his bad playoff performance could have changed his calculations. However, if he remains so bad that he has to be concerned about choosing to take the 1 year, $4.5 million option instead of becoming a FA (in a year in which there are multiple teams with cap space), I am guessing the Lakers will have to think twice about wanting to rely on him at PG. In the regular season, Sessions was good offensively while bad defensively. He's been bad on both ends in the playoffs so far.
Sometimes guys struggle in their first meaningful playoff appearance, look on our own team at Lowry's playoff numbers....yuck.....but we all know he can play. Same with Sessions. DD
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/221082/Batum_Will_Sign_First_Good_Offer forget gasol , trade martin and add this guy as starting SG
The Rockets have every reason to at least drive the offer up on Batum. The more they can force the Blazers to spend on Batum, the less they will want to commit to an offer to Goran. Worse comes to worst, and maybe Portland decides to use all their assets in free agency on Dragic and they actually let the Rockets land Batum to a reasonable offer, and try to move Parsons to the SG spot next season.
There's nothing worse than an unmotivated and disinterested Pau Gasol. Just go and watch some of the games he played towards the end of his tenure in Memphis before he was traded. This is exactly what he will be if he comes to Houston, where he doesn't want to be . Not to mention he's much older and he's going to be declining soon and he's owed big money.
Good for them. They are a smart organization, but let's not forget these guys also paid Richard Jefferson.
If the Rockets spend all their capspace on one player, the last person I'd want them to give to would be Batum. I'd prefer we splurge on Javale McGee before Batum.
who was the last "defensive stopper" the Spurs pouched off the Blazers? his name escapes me. was right around the time Bowen's career was winding down...
