RealGM

Dwight
Clark Jamison

seem to be getting the job done as of late. 3-0 since the all star break without Gasol. Could we land a top 10 pick without Gasol

I still believe we can get deep in the playoffs

land a top 10 pick? by trading Gasol? Nope unless there's a team with a bad contract that they want to get rid of for an expiring gasol then maybe.

When Gasol is healthy and engaged, he's the best back-to-the-basket PF/C in the league.

Gasol was the deciding force between playoff mediocity and championships. The man deserves a lot more respect than he receives and if he does get traded.. I really hope he **** on all of us, posting monster numbers.

Every time the Lakers change an aspect of their offense, Gasol is the one expected to change the most.. and he does so in stride and grace. Sure, he's been pretty weak the past few seasons.. but he's not only playing out of position.. he's playing out of his range. The majority of his shots have been high post.. Sure, he can make that shot, but rewatch his Grizzlies days and the championship years.. He was the best at the low-post. With his ability to score and pass the ball, he's going to be a great pick up for any team that would give him a chance, even at his age.

I would really like to see Gasol winning with the Lakers.. He's earned the right to do so.

We have to keep working this high energy group of Dwight Clark et al. When pau comes back I have to repeat that he needs to come off bench as a center.

One, it will mess w chemistry at this point having him in starting lineup too close to playoffs.
Two, it is ADDED advantage to have a hall of famer coming off bench and working w Dwight not at same time but to relieve each other.
Don't have too many cooks in the kitchen at once. Get Bobby flay to make the appetizer. Let Gordon ramsay to come in later to do the entree.

Soul Chef Fresh wrote:When Gasol is healthy and engaged, he's the best back-to-the-basket PF/C in the league.

Gasol was the deciding force between playoff mediocity and championships. The man deserves a lot more respect than he receives and if he does get traded.. I really hope he **** on all of us, posting monster numbers.

Every time the Lakers change an aspect of their offense, Gasol is the one expected to change the most.. and he does so in stride and grace. Sure, he's been pretty weak the past few seasons.. but he's not only playing out of position.. he's playing out of his range. The majority of his shots have been high post.. Sure, he can make that shot, but rewatch his Grizzlies days and the championship years.. He was the best at the low-post. With his ability to score and pass the ball, he's going to be a great pick up for any team that would give him a chance, even at his age.

I would really like to see Gasol winning with the Lakers.. He's earned the right to do so.

You make some good points in your post (especially about the playoff mediocrity to championships), but he's been taking his new roll in stride and with grace? Really? What do you think is likely causing his disengagement? Also, the reason he's expected to change the most is he's the most capable of changing the most, in my opinion after Kobe (who has embraced doing what the team needs this season, especially as of late). Also, it's time to acknowledge that Pau has actually declined... he can't low-post bang like he used to (and he wasn't ever much of a banger anyways).

I love Pau but the it is clear if Dwight signs with us in the offseason Pau is gone by the NBA draft or during the draft. If Dantoni is still with us the D12-Pau experiment will be over. If Dantoni is fired then Pau may be kept and will certainly be kept if Phil Jackson comes back. But if the most likely scenario plays out with Dwight resigning and Dantoni staying and promising Dwight a larger role on O, Pau will be gone for sure.

MWP has to be the first to go, just to re-sign Clark. Then we'll see what we do with Pau. I still have hope for these two to work. If you look at other FCs around the league including the Grizzlies, they don't have anymore foot speed than L.A. does.

Gasol-Randolph is not quicker than what L.A. has.

I feel like L.A.'s perimeter defenders have left these two out to dry and made them look worse than they really are. Not only that, but D'Antoni's game plan was ridiculous. You have to play post up ball with three guys moving around the paint to win with this group, not sit there and run high pick and pop.

With a solid big like Hill, we can. But just Dwight/Clark/Jamison...there's no way

Pau would be sick as there will be two bigs in the post. It's just D'antoni system can't fuction well with two bigs as they are required to shoot quick. Both pau and dwight need time to dribble in the post. Ifthey could slow there system, like there going it would be good.

D'Antoni is running a completely different system now.
No, we have no chance in the post season without Pau.
And we have no chance with Pau unless we can figure out how to use him more effectively.

There's every chance right now, that when Pau comes back, it completely kills our momentum and our flow. Our coaches need to be prepping for his return now.

But if Pau comes back, we can integrate him more effectively, and he's as motivated as he was when he went down, we'll be some bad mofo's...

In the long term Gasol is too skilled and good of a player to not have and hope to beat the top level teams. When he is healthy this team can be deadly.

Vlade12 wrote:Dwight
Clark Jamison

seem to be getting the job done as of late. 3-0 since the all star break without Gasol. Could we land a top 10 pick without Gasol

What on earth are you asking here.

Anyhow yes, the Lakers can win the draft lottery while winning a three game sample. That should about cover all the bases.

The real answer is also yes, but big deal, they're better if he's playing, healthy, and part of the team.

Yes, the Lakers can win without Gasol but if he learns how to play with Dwight effectively then he should stay, Pau is one of the top big men in the league when he's healthy and putting in the effort, I would like him to have all of the backup 5 minutes though because he does struggle to defend young athletic 4s.

We need Gasol of the bench.

He was playing really well of the bench and we can get him touches when he's not playing with Dwight/Kobe/Nash as much.

Gasol is our second best rim protector too since has been out. He challenges shots (more so then Jamison/Clark and is a good rebounder).

If we are winning, I expect the whining of the bench to come down.

We need Gasol to beat OKC. He showed why last time we beat them.

we already won 2 with him. so . . .

Gasol hopes to play in playoffs: Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (foot) is apparently "close" to getting off his crutches and is hoping to return to action if the Lakers make it into the playoffs, reports the Los Angeles Times Sunday. This news comes according to coach Mike D'Antoni. Gasol will not require surgery on the torn plantar fascia in his right foot.
(Updated 2/24/13)

cbs sports

Being back only if lakers make the playoffs suggests he would return Apr 20 at the earliest when the playoffs start. That's more than the 6-8 weeks estimate =/ sounds like a major setback to me or poorly phrased report. His Injury was Feb 6th, playoffs start Apr 20th. That would put him out 10 weeks. =/

I can understand not bringing him back if lakers are eliminated from playoffs. but if lakers are in playoff hunt he should be playing if cleared by doctors for the last few games of the regular season. Again, poorly phrased report.

We should go after
Gasol for Brandon Jennings in the off season. Looks like the Bucks might go forward with
Add in another big in Hensen or Udoh and a 2013 or 14 first

Bucks seem to like this 5
Ellis Redick-Moute-Ersan-Sanders

if they nab Gasol a vet who wont complain about being a Buck

Ellis Reddick Moute Sanders Gasol
Bench
Hensen, Ersan, Mike D bench guard add a free agent
doesn't look bad at all

Lakers dont add a star but shed Gasols salary with a raw player in Jennings. Jennings might not be a 5 star prospect but he has potential probably the best we can get for Gasol at this point. Jennings is only 22 and would be the successsor to Nash. He can shoot, and would bring quickness to our team, something we have lacked.
We would then have
Front court youth
Dwight Sacre/Udoh
Clark Hill

Guards
Meeks
Jennings

we could look to add a wingman with that first round pick