Lance Stephenson vs. Eric Bledsoe

[tviper]

If LAL can send S&T Gasol plus 1st round pick to MIN for Love, then IMO move is to sign Stephenson for 12M and have 2 years of Kobe with Love/Stephenson to take a shot. Both guys are young enough that you can add another big FA in 2016 when KB comes off the books to start another multi-year championship run.

[HoopsterJones]

Two things about Lance Stephenson

1. The Pacers are probably looking into their books and trying to figure out how they can keep Lance Stephenson and not go into the Luxury tax. Larry Bird has consistently stated that they will not for whatever reason tread into the luxury tax. I'm not sure if the same holds true if they get past Miami and make the NBA Finals this year. Or even more so if they win it all this year. Would they break up a young core of Paul George, Hibbert, Stephenson, and the veteran West if they are still contenders?

2. The Pacers could let Evan Turner walk this offseason and keep Lance Stephenson by signing him to a qualifying offer or matching a Restricted Free agent offer sheet. The Pacers may also have to get rid of a few more players for minimal offers (2nd round picks) for Mahinmi, Scola, or Copeland. And they can stay under the luxury tax.

Lance is not restricted, he was a 2nd rd pick

I stand corrected he is not a restricted FA. ESPN had him listed as Restricted in one of their posting. My bad.

[HoopsterJones]

If LAL can send S&T Gasol plus 1st round pick to MIN for Love, then IMO move is to sign Stephenson for 12M and have 2 years of Kobe with Love/Stephenson to take a shot. Both guys are young enough that you can add another big FA in 2016 when KB comes off the books to start another multi-year championship run.

I cannot fathom the Timberwolves would even want a soon to be 34 year old Pau Gasol in a sign and trade for Love. Depending on the rookie scale, they would mean Pau Gasol would be getting a salary of $12-13 million. Honestly the Wolves could get a better deal than that for Kevin Love, if in fact they have to trade him because he is not willing to re-sign with them.

Lakers should keep the pick and hope that Love opts out after 2014-2015 and sign him out right without sacrificing assets. Pau Gasol has no value, hence why he was failed to be traded 3 years in a row.

[dockingsched]

If anything the lakers would renounce pau and trade just the draft rights to the pick for love, simply using cap space to get love. Don't think the wolves would want to pay pau anything

[TylersLakers]

Neither one. But if I had one choice it would be Stephenson.

Experience tells me nothing good comes out of Phoenix ex point guards with injuries.

Tony! What's up bud.

But I agree with Tony. Neither. If I had to pick, it would be Stephenson. He would be cheaper (those extra couple millions will matter cap wise), and knee injuries scare me, especially at his age.

Kyle Lowry would be my choice.

[TonyMontana]

Tony! What's up bud.

What up Ty?? Been a while mang!! Hope all is well.

[tviper]

If LAL can send S&T Gasol plus 1st round pick to MIN for Love, then IMO move is to sign Stephenson for 12M and have 2 years of Kobe with Love/Stephenson to take a shot. Both guys are young enough that you can add another big FA in 2016 when KB comes off the books to start another multi-year championship run.

I cannot fathom the Timberwolves would even want a soon to be 34 year old Pau Gasol in a sign and trade for Love. Depending on the rookie scale, they would mean Pau Gasol would be getting a salary of $12-13 million. Honestly the Wolves could get a better deal than that for Kevin Love, if in fact they have to trade him because he is not willing to re-sign with them.

Lakers should keep the pick and hope that Love opts out after 2014-2015 and sign him out right without sacrificing assets. Pau Gasol has no value, hence why he was failed to be traded 3 years in a row.

That may very well be true. Given the lack of interest in Pau at the deadline, probably so. Given the current CBA rules, I agree that it is better to keep the pick and lock up a potential star at a low salary. But if Love says he wants out and you have a chance to get him...tough call, because a lot can happen in a year and he might resign or get traded to a better situation. Personally, I would rather go with the known over the unknown, but only if it is outside the top 3 picks. Either way, I would seriously explore signing Stephenson if I could get him for 10M or so.