Maybe, maybe not can can be said about a lot of other things. Luxury tax isn't an issue for the Lakers at this point. They wouldn't have brought on Dwight, Nash, and signed Meeks if they were concerned about the tax. Nor would they trade Pau just to free up cap space now. Amnesty Artest? and then see their defense plummet even further. Even if it does happen, it probably won't happen until the summer and that will give the Lakers plenty of time to seek other options, where as we all know Lakers don't get rid of their core pieces just to clear cap space. .
None of us (hopefully) is claiming to know these things for sure. So of course we are talking in terms of "maybe, maybe not". There's nothing wrong with that. We aren't GMs or have insider sources. However, Pau will cost ~$90 mil for the Lakers next year. That's a legit reason for people to suggest that Pau will "maybe" be available. Now on the other hand, Hornets not being very good doesn't seem like a legit reason for them to give away a 24 year old Ryan Anderson, it just doesn't make sense.
Yes, I get it and you've said it several times that you don't think Ryan doesn't make sense . That still doesn't make that Rockets offer any better or make sense for them either, especially since they still have 15 on their roster. How does trading Pau for bench players and then amnesty MWP solve anything and help them achieve their goals of actually winning a championship? Actually it makes them worst and teams like the Thunder and Heat would rejoice since it would make it that much easier to beat the Lakers. The "legit" reason is more of a pipe-dream from a Rockets fan perspective because 28 other teams could find packages to get them cap space too. The Lakers aren't a small-market team without a huge TV deal or not much else to make up for it.
It's not like there haven't been examples of big market teams being cost aware. $90 mil is a decent chunk of money. So it kind of does make some sense. I'm not sure why you are completely dismissing it.
How many of those big market teams have been actual contenders and shown a history of winning championships like the Lakers have? Kinda makes sense to who? Rockets fans who are trying to get Pau Gasol for cheap. Not to the Lakers who have shown that they've been willing to spend money and still have other avenues of revenue. If they were so afraid of the luxury tax, they wouldn't have an already $100 million payroll. And you really think no other NBA team besides the Rockets would step up to get them that cap space, if that's all they wanted? The part I'm really dismissing is that package that is suggested that the Lakers would take.
I dont understand the love for a rapidly declining Euro-former star that doesnt want to be here. He is not a post force, his rebounds are ONLY a product of his height, because he shows near no effort or power in the block. He is a 7footer with an at best 18-foot set shot. He will lead this team nowhere. He doesnt draw a double team, he is not a factor on the offensive boards. He can play the pick and pop, but little else. To expend all our cap space, remove ourselves the opp. to sign big time free agents next summer and hitch our near future on the slowing, decaying and uninspired legs of Pau is a mistake of Sam Bowie proportions. I hope I never hear another Pau Gasol trade suggestion. He will NEVER take the Rockets where we all want them to return to. He is not capable of leading us to the promised land. He is on the downslope of his euro-shooter career. He is not a leader. He is a soft 7-footer with no power, and less heart.
i'm not a Rockets fan so I don't care if it's good for them. I just think the Lakers will have reasons to try to trade him to cut costs. Asik was let go to save what, 30 mil in tax? Lin, Odom. And once they do try to trade him, I don't think they'll get full value. You keep talking about their current payroll. Not sure you got the argument there. The new luxury tax system isn't in place yet. It will be next year. Right now, Gasol costs 38 mil for the Lakers. Next year, it could be ~ 90 mil. This year they'll spend ~131 mil, next year it could be north of 200 mil. It's a ton. Now I don't know if other teams would offer more. Maybe. If they do, the Lakers will take those deals. I just don't think they'll get equal value, like you suggested. Most teams that would want Pau don't have a ton of expirings / cap space / cheap replacements.
Asik was coming off the bench with Boozer/Noah/Gibson already getting minutes. Not to mention their franchise player wasn't going to be ready for the season. Lin wasn't just about the luxury tax, he hadn't even played a full season nor would bringing him back guarantee them a championship. Odom was traded for a TRADE exception, and guess who they got with that exception? Steve Nash. They also traded him because he wasn't happy with the fact that they just previously tried to trade him and Pau in a package deal for Chris Paul. Have you followed the NBA outside of DMO? The examples you mentioned makes me think you don't consider other factors. The trade deadline hasn't even passed yet nor is the season over. The new luxury taxes not starting until next season is exactly why they wouldn't be in a rush nor would they feel the need to trade Pau for that Rockets package. Again, the Lakers are trying to win a championship, there's nothing wrong to think that they would probably want to look at other options.
You are getting quite derisive, so I think this is as good a place to finish as any, i'll keep it short. i don't disagree that they may wait for the offseason. However, looking at these deals this year would give them more options. It's easier to find a deal that includes expirings. In July, they'd have to find trade partners with a ton of actual cap space. Re those other remarks... Lakers: The Lakers didn't know they'd get Nash. That's hindsight. And if you think it's not.. maybe they should trade Pau for that Rockets package in the offseason after all? Morris, Patterson, cap space. Knicks: Lin > no Lin. Bulls: they let him go because his tax hit would've been over 30 mil in 2015. There's a reason why the Magic matched Gortat and the Bulls passed on Asik. "Poison clause". Anyway, good luck.
I haven't seen many posters who are self-proclaimed DMO fanboys or has a username based on that. Just curious. In July, they only have to find teams with tons of cap space if that's all they want in return for Gasol. They can look at other options, which includes actual players that they see would be immediate impacts to their ultimate goal. Lakers got a Trade Exception and a 1st round pick, which are both useful assets in a possible future trade, that's not hindsight. And when they got Nash, they were still willing to take in player salary. Knicks: They thought so highly of Lin and were afraid of the luxury tax that the went after Steve Nash first. Then comments were made that the Knicks were going to match before the final offer was going to be matched with Lin regardless. Very interesting, even more that Tyson Chandler stated that Lin needed more experience and then they replace Lin with veteran guards. Lin > No Lin, which is just your opinion, and so far the Knicks aren't looking bad without him. They also no longer had Mike D'Antoni, who was the one that to Lin play to his strengths and create "Linsanity". While the Lin now leaves Rockets fans divided and arguing with LOFs about how Dragic/Lowry are better. Both Asik and Gortat were coming off the bench. There's a reason why you wouldn't want to pay the "poison" pill contracts to begin with for players that aren't going to get major minutes. They also got different roles since both Asik and Gortat were expected to be starters on the teams that gave them the new contracts. That's what I mean by other factors in general. Good luck to you too.
sure. Well then, you shouldn't be so dismissive of those "assets+cap space for Pau Gasol" ideas, right?... (trading a player for cap space creates trade exception, in case there's any confusion about that) By the way, Nash and Lin signings didn't prevent each other. Nor Lin/Kidd, nor Lin/Felton. They could've had all three of them, if they wanted to. In the end, all those teams passed on all those players because they didn't think those players were worth so much $, not because they thought those players sucked at the time. And while none of them are as good as Gasol, none of them were close to the Gasol's ~$90 mil price tag either. You seem to agree that money matter. You seem to agree that good teams are willing to reduce their talent level to save $. But in your view, there's no chance that it could apply to the Lakers, because... just because. Heck, you are even dismissing the possibility of Artest amnesty.
Still different situations. Season was already over with Odom, who was already on his way out. Again, Rockets wouldn't be the only team that could make offers for Gasol, right? Actually the fact that they went after Nash does mean the luxury tax wasn't the sole issue issue, since he's obviously a better player. There was already rumblings that Melo didn't like the offense focused on Lin, which eventually led to Mike D'Antoni leaving. Having Lin on the team doesn't guarantee they get passed Miami and with JR Smith/Melo calling out his contract, that wouldn't have been a fun locker room. So again, your assumption that Lin on the Knicks is better is not a fact. I also seem to mention there's more factors than what you're assuming the Lakers would trade one of their key players for. Also, Artest isn't the only player they could amnesty. They could actually amnesty Steve Blake. But I thought you were going to keep this short and quit responding? Guess not.
Well, you started the previous post with an "oops i didn't mean that, just curious", so I posted again... Look, I don't mind a disagreement, I can discuss whatever with whomever. I'm just not fond of people with sticks up their butts who aren't able to build an argument without making it personal. (no offense, but i'll just ignore you from now on, it's getting too weird for a message board)
You're the one whose taking this personal. Kinda funny you mention people with sticks up their butts, but gets offended by someone who simply asks a question regarding your username. Also consider the fact that you're on a forum where people already are calling out fanboys, you think you'd be any different? But then again, since you're not a Rockets fan you probably don't care anyways about the team so it shouldn't matter to you. Hopefully this time you can stand by what you say.
Some posters here are overvaluing Gasol. He is definitely on the decline and D'Antoni is already cutting down on his pt and not playing him in crunch time. Morey should wait this out because once you enter D'Antoni's doghouse, you may not get out for a month or longer, if ever. Morris, Patterson, and savings of over $50 million is a decent offer and the Rockets could always sweeten it with picks if Morey wants. Lakers need to get younger and need shooters and the Rox can help with that. Forget Lin and Parsons in any deal- there is not way Les and Morey trade those guys now and take that pr hit and open up a hole at a different spot.
a big NO!!!:grin:... Morris and Patterson will be better than gasol in a years time....and they took no cap space
Poor Jordan Hill. Just as he's finally gotten solid minutes ... back comes Mike D'Antoni. Gasol is a center, not PF. He needs to play closer to the rim, not spot for 18ft jump shots. He's been wrongly used the last couple of years, but you can't blame the Lakers. He would look better on a team playing him closer to the rim. Having said that ... the Gasol to Rockets ship has sailed. I hope DM doesn't try for him. If he was 3 years younger, he would be a great fit. But he's not going to grow with this team. And won't get the Rockets closer to a championship while here. What the Rockets need? PF with good weakside shot-blocking (but doesn't have to be great defender), a decent low post option that can hit the corner 3, a good passer, an average to above average defender (8-9 rebounds per 36min), and with some experience under his belt (big man take longer to develop, so ideally not a rookie or 2nd year player right now), and able to play PnR. Kind of like what the Rockets envisioned for Eddie Griffin (sigh, I know).
