I see several problems with your logic. First, you can't take finanaces out of the equation just because it's convenient. If nothing else, finances play a big part in CBA salary matching. And Scola for Gasol is about $7M short of a legal deal. The finances then come down to...would the Lakers take Dalembert (doubtful) or the Rockets part with Lowry (hopefully more doubtful). Secondly IMO, the Lakers have no use for Martin. Financially, he's a potential amnesty for the Rockets. Again...you can't ignore finances because it's convenient. Further, does McHale run Adelman's offense. Is so, how often and how well? I just don't see Gasol making players around him better just because he's moved up a few feet from where he's most comfortable...mid-box. The high-post worked for Adelman because he had cutters...especially Martin. If you think Pau in the high-post turns Budinger, Lee, Parsons, and some "may be back PG's" into a WC Top 4 team...we can agree to disagree. You can easily find the stats on the internet if you search. But for all practical puposes...Pau is invisble in the final 5 minutes of Q4.
Let's be realistic, if Gasol played like an all-star, the Lakers would have this thing nodded up or even at 3-1. Bynum's production and intensity hasn't been the best in the world, but still he's doing far more right now than Gasol. Bynum, at least gets to the boards and is still viable scoring opton Lowry and Scola is good an ok package for the Heat, but that's not going to make them better, necessarily. Bosh actually brings alot to the table, and Scola/Lowry do not make up for it. Considering Scola is somewhat in decline, Miami is going to have to look for another power forward. His post game is the only real advantage he has over Bosh, he is substandard in almost every other category and he's older. Moreover with Bosh on the table, they can find a better package than Lowry and Scola. Even with Lowry, he needs the ball in his hands to be successful. The Heat need a jump-shooting point guard with a nice mid-range who does not necessarily need his hands on the ball to succeed. Lowry can hit the three, but he's a mediocre mid-range shooter. Dwight for Martin's expiring, Patterson, Morris, Smith, and Budinger with #3 pick is intriguing, if Orlando thinks they can get the player they want from the draft, but those Houston pieces are most uninspiring. None of those players are bonafide starters, except Martin (and the Magic already have Richardson). Most of all, don't you think Orlando is going to want to dump their bad salaries, such Turkoglu. Next, they might want Lowry in the deal, since they may not resign Jameer Nelson. This isn't Candyland, these teams are trying to compete for titles or are trying to get quality players back.
Playing fair - since we're significantly under the cap, I believe we could do exactly that as a legal deal (Lakers receiving a TE). But I want nothing to do with this guy, who can't even get up and play hard for the Lakers' postseason lives at home. 17-10 reg season becomes 13-9 vs Nuggets becomes 11.5-8.5 against OKC. It's more than stats - he's a giant ball of minimal effort out there. He couldn't take Memphis anywhere as the main guy, and you should worry when a "star" is this happy to take a backseat and be a role player. No way do I want to see him sulk and mail it in next year as the Rocket's "best player"
Maybe you should take one more read through what I was saying, or let me expand upon what I was getting at before you jump all over me. Anyone who follows my posts knows that I sincerely understand the importance of making sound financial moves to play the CBA game with the rest of the NBA. Its extremely important to making future moves most importantly. Maybe you misunderstood what I was getting at with the finances. Let me repeat what I said in the above post. IF, and against thats a big IF the Rockets want to aquire Gasol again, and in theory they are moving Scola and Martin as the major pieces, its NOT for help financially. Which is what an earlier poster was insinuating when discussing the contracts of Scola and Martin. IMO, Scola's contract isn't that bad to keep on the books because of the amnesty clause that the Rockets have in their back pocket. Scola is really the last contract you have on your books that could potentially need to be moved in order to make room on their books. Martins' contract, while sizeable this year, is in the last year and should be fairly easy to move to a team thats frankly just needs wing scoring. Thats something alot of teams need, and with the low risk involved in taking KMart, its a no-brainer move for both parties. I assume Minnesota will heavily pursue Martin this Summer if he's shown to be healthy. I DO NOT think that the Lakers would want anything to do with Martin in a trade. I could be wrong, maybe Mitch Kupcakes thinks he could play Martin and Kobe on the floor together at times. Who knows. He should would help out their perimeter shooting. However, my guess is no. -Back to Gasol. Yes, in a perfect theoretical world, if you could just swap Scola for Gasol IMO YES it would upgrade the Rockets on the basketball court. I still believe they could run some high post sets even with McHale at the helm. While I dont think its a style of basketball he's wanting to play 24/7, I think there are some plays here and there that you could run through Gasol to really help get wing alot of the Rockets wing scorers get more movement in the offense. Adelman isn't the only coach in the world that knows how to run sets at the high post. Not to mention the upgrade on the defensive end if your playing him next to another bruiser big man. That being said, as Ive noted on here time and time again, I do not think the Rockets will try to aquire him again without alternate moves following that deal. I would assume they have bigger fish to fry at this point. Hope that helps clarify my Gasol position again.
Well, now he's being blamed for losses by Kobe. hmmm... not so sure I want him now with his inconsistent year... and he is only getting older. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--kobe-bryant-blames-pau-gasol-for-lakers--game-4-collapse.html "Bryant has periodically targeted Gasol with his public criticism, hoping to motivate him to lift his performance. But with the Lakers now down 3-1 in the series and facing Game 5 on Monday in Oklahoma City, Bryant's patience has been exhausted. Gasol's inconsistency has been a problem for the Lakers throughout the season, and he never seemed to recover after the team tried to trade him in December to the Houston Rockets in a deal with the New Orleans Hornets for Chris Paul. NBA commissioner David Stern blocked the trade, and Gasol has admitted his tenuous status with the franchise has bothered him."
Gasol has been extremely disappointing but he is still much better than scola even if you have to add 7 million. If we can somehow get Gasol without giving up any true assets you do this trade. Gasol would be a huge upgrade regardless of his poor playoff performance.
Bynum isn't overrated. Granted, he may have his personality problems here and there, but his skill on the offensive side of the ball is evident. If Kobe and the players on the perimeter kept feeding Bynum, OKC would have more than likely lost last night.
I cannot believe it!! The guys own team mate has had to call him out. Periodically!!! You mean to tell me that there are still people here who want to trade valuable assets to get him???!!!! I..........just.....man!!
Gasol isn't woirth the $19M a season or whatever we would have to pay him. I don't see how anyone who has watched the last 2 postseasons would disagree with that. Yes, he beasted in 09 and 10 but that was 2 years ago and he is aging. This thread needs to die. Watch the playoffs.
<div><iframe frameborder="0" width="576" height="324" src="http://d.yimg.com/nl/yahoo sports/site/player.html#vid=29352490"></iframe></div> Bryant missed eight of his 10 shots in the final quarter, but shrugged off his struggles by saying his teammates' lack of aggressiveness "forced" him to take tough shots. He also left no question which teammate deserved the most blame for the 103-100 loss in Game 4. Pau Gasol. Bryant faulted Gasol for not playing aggressive enough. It was also Gasol's turnover that led to Kevin Durant making the winning 3-pointer with 13.7 seconds left. "Pau's got to be more assertive," Bryant said. "He's the guy they're leaving [open]. When he's catching the ball, he's looking to pass. He's got to be aggressive. He's got to shoot the ball or drive the ball to the basket. He will be next game." --------------------------------------------------------------------- This guy is already playing with one of the best basketball players in history and is playing next to monster at center. This is all he can muster up in the playoffs. Some clutch fans still think this guy will help the Rockets substantially. We do not have anything that comes close to Kobe or Bynum. How is Gasol going to keep up his production and intensity on an even worse team than Lakers? There's no point in getting him, if he is not difference in making the the team a contender or at least a playoff powerhouse. It's funny certain people's logic work, they actually think adding Gasol to this team is going to get us to 2nd Round, when we are in all likelihood will have to play a San Antonio, a Los Angeles, or OKC team in the 1st Round. It's apparent that Gasol will have to another team that already has pieces in place to win.
Kobe is in decline and that is never a good thing when superstars fail to adjust their game as they go down....we are seeing the Allen Iverson effect with Kobe. Amnestying him and building around Bynum would be a good move on their part. DD
I do, and neither one has anything to do with 2012 going forward. Gasol's current level of play is not worth $19M or whatever he makes. You don't make a guy who has turned puss 2 postseasons in a row into your franchise/top-paid player. What sense does that make?
getting gasol doesnt change anything. we need to get a real star to do anything, otherwise we're just getting our hopes up and all the rockets organization is doing is putting people in the seats. kyrie irving, blake griffin, lebron in cleveland for 7 years, derrick rose, kevin durant, dirk .... all drafted by their teams (essentially) people who put the game on their backs and do multiple things to win. we cant do anything until we draft a GREAT player. we sucked until we drafted yao and was able to trade for tmac. before that, hakeem got us clyde. this treadmill crap hasnt worked and wont work. our assets are crap and we wont be doing anything for a long time if this continues.
Did you just suggest amnestying Kobe? You realize he averaged 28 PPG and based upon marketability alone could easily be traded.
I disagree with you. Getting Gasol can potentially change a lot of things for the Rockets. First, mark that Gasol is a center currently, not a PF anymore, that's been one of the problems for the Lakers this playoffs and a key for Gasol's bad performance. Starting with Bynum+Pau they are lacking defensive mobility and they are not exploiting their offensive potential (sapcing, roles). In this playoffs Gasol is shooting the same as Artest or Sesions, around 11 attempts per game. He looks not too confortable, he also knows Lakers wanted and want to get rid of him, he's playing out of role -and also position in my opinion-, for me he looks mentally tired of the situation. Does not mean he's done. You get Pau and put him play center. Signing Pau you're increasing your chances of attracting another star. Media and fans can say whatever but NBA players know perfectly how much he helps you win. After all, look at this season Gasol stats and tell me how many NBA centers can fill a boxscore like him. Gasol improves tremendously your offensive game, Gasol has good rebounding numbers, the experience and the size to defend down low ... as a center he would probably become the most versatile and complete player at the position. Plus, how many years can he keep playing giving a good level as center? Gasol needs a big change despite he maybe is not aware of it. To renew hopes, turn the page and start a new project. Sometimes people are afraid of changes even if are good for them. But he needs to leave LA. And he's still a unique player at 31-32 years old, not 37. Also, he has only 2 years remaining of the current contract, then you can re-sign him at an appropiated price and keep building your championship roster. I absolutely still want the Rockets to keep trying with him.
