Having been unable to land the elder Gasol brother, the Rockets have begun a pursuit of the other Gasol. Unlike their trade for the Lakers' Pau Gasol, which came to a shocking and in some ways debilitating end when first vetoed then foiled by the NBA, they don't expect to land the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol. The Rockets on Sunday prepared an offer for Marc Gasol, a person with knowledge of the offer said, hoping to engage the Grizzlies in talks for a sign-and-trade agreement. The Rockets will offer the maximum contract they can to Gasol, worth $55 million over four years, but the pursuit of Gasol is a longshot because he is a restricted free agent. If he signs a Rockets offer sheet, the Grizzlies would have three days to match the offer to keep him and Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley told NBA.com on Sunday that his team would match the offer. "I don't know what the offer is, but you got to try," said Rockets guard Kyle Lowry, who was in Memphis in Marc Gasol's rookie season. "We need a center. I love Marc. He's my guy." Until then, the Rockets were in "the preliminary stages" of talks with the Grizzlies with little hope that they would fill their center position with Memphis' Gasol. Hopes for Pau Gasol ended Saturday night when the Lakers pulled out of the deal, instead sending Lamar Odom to Dallas three days after the NBA nixed the trade though the Lakers, Rockets and Hornets had reached an agreement. By the time the Lakers had ended their pursuit of Chris Paul, or at least put it on hold, it was likely not going anywhere for the Rockets, anyway. Late Saturday night the Rockets received the counter offer they had sought through the day, with the Hornets (as guided by NBA officials) greatly increasing their demands. In addition to Rockets' top scorers Kevin Martin and Luis Scola, the Hornets wanted the Rockets to replace Goran Dragic in the deal with starting point guard Kyle Lowry, to add one of the team's top young prospects and to add a pick to the Knicks' first-round pick they had already offered, according to a person familiar with the talks. That was a non-starter for the Rockets, but the deal died soon after, anyway. The time lost, however, also cost the Rockets several moves planned based on either landing Pau Gasol or knowing they could not. Most obvious was the hope to sign Nene using the added cap space from the deal and the promise to play with the seven-foot center. With the deal off, Martin, Scola and Dragic returned to Rockets practice on Sunday, with Scola and Martin insisting they were happy to be back. Both said they sought and received no assurances that they would not be dealt, but still prefer to remain in Houston. "I've heard people say I was unhappy here, but I'm fine," Martin said. "Once you get on the basketball court, things are easy. You get out there as a team and get better as a player. It was fun being able to practice again. My main goal is just to keep ... developing into one of the top players at my position and help this team not only get to the playoffs and get far. "Today was back to business to me. We're just happy to be back out there playing basketball." For Scola, getting back to basketball was a relief after so many months locked out and an unwanted day off while the Rockets worked to revive the trade. "I feel good," he said. "I get to practice. Yesterday, not being able to practice affected me. I did nothing wrong and I'm not able to do my job. I had a little frustration. Now, I get to practice. Maybe there will be some other deals, but I cannot think about that anymore. "I know these are the rules here in the NBA. That's been the same since Day One. Every year there is a lot of talking. The only difference is this year it actually happened, then it didn't happen, then it did happen, then it didn't happen. "I just want to play. I have no idea what's going to happen." At this point, few have any idea what will come next with the Rockets rapidly running out of options.
WOW. Martin, Scola, Lowry, TWO first-rounders AND another young guy? Screw that, I'd take my chances with what we had.
Scola and Martin are just professionals. Both very likeable. Still think we need to move Scola. Martin, not so much.
Its funny that NO wanted us to add all of this when we were not the ones getting CP3. Even for CP3 that would've been a looot to give up.
3 starters and NY first round pick!!!! That was a BS trade and glad it was shot down. Lakers gave up nothing but gasol and odom and its them who wanted paul so bad.
If we are getting Paul AND Pau, then I'm ok with that deal...but seriously? All of that just for Pau? They must be crazy!
Did you not read the article? Morey said he would not do the second deal suggested by the Hornets. Morey really wants to combine two big, skilled, long post players... my guess is that he believes he has found a way to win more than we think with that combination.
Lol Yeah, let's completely destroy the team that's not even getting Chris Paul. That makes total freaking sense. Stern can go to hell.
I am out of words when I saw what NewOrleans wanted for Paul Gasol. Fu**ing Ridiculous... Every team know that Rockets are desperate, so they are milking the situation in my opinion. Don't give in Morey...Atleast we have a team that competes and play hard every night. We need a replacement for Chuck, maybe Dalembert to play Center
I'm pretty sure this was David Stern telling the Rockets and the Lakers to f*** off. As a way to justify his "basketball reasons" for denying the first deal. It was never meant to be serious. Stern was not about to let the trade go through no matter what it seems.
The first deal was fair. Paul will walk and Hornets will get nothing. Stern can suck a mountain goat.
If that were truly the case then Morey is out of his mind, was Pau going to play by himself? I was happy the trade was rejected the first time and even happier the second time around. I know people here talk of mediocrity but I personally think this team could shock some people with a decent center. Reminds me a bit of the 44 win team with Mobley and Francis way back that missed the playoffs but was exciting to watch and competed hard.
