RUMOR: Lakers only team made aware of Gasol's availability

[WCDYNASTY]

Lakers were the only team made aware of Gasol's availability
Sunday, Feb 10, 2008 7:32 am EST



New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey called the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers "the Memphis Grizzlies' tax-deductible donation to the Lakers.''

Vecsey reported that other than the Lakers not a single team was approached regarding Gasol's manifest availability. Had they been, there's every reason to believe the Grizzlies could've gleaned more. At the very least, there's no way Gasol should've been traded for next to nothing except promises of something to come unless Brian Cardinal's contract ($6.3M/$6.7M after this year) was part of the outgoing package.

Guaranteed, Pat Riley would've said "yes" to that in a heartbeat, as evidenced by the Shaq deal. Phoenix insisted Miami assume Marcus Banks' remaining three ($4.2M/$4.55M/$4.847M) years after this one. I assure you, that would've been a Steve Kerr stipulation no matter where Shawn Marion wound up.

Source: New York Post

[Sofa King]

To Peter-I-write-a-lot-of-BS-to-sell-the-NY-Post-Vecsey

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

When will everyone stop crying about this??

[blix]

I stopped about right here...

"New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey....."

[Minhee]

I thought Peter Vesey was an idiot who writes BS rumors up all the time.

Is that why realgm headline read Bulls were also trying to acquire Gasol, somebody find that article because I am too lazy. I am POSITIVE I read somwhere that at least 3 other teams came close to acquiring Gasol but it came down to LA having Kwame's expiring contract and an interesting prospect in Javaris Crittenton.

[Danny Darko]

Horse Crap, becuase when Wallace spoke about why our deal made the most sense he talked about what other teams were willing to give up and comparing the expirings & young talent comparisons.

Peter needs to keep chanting Fire Isaiah and keep the Lakers out of his yellow journalism.

[EHL]

If Vescey writes it you can take it to the bank that it's false.

[-G-]

If Vescey writes it you can take it to the bank that it's false.

He's less credible than Bucher. Ya, I said it.

[Tommy Trojan]

The mafia was behind this, I can easily see it now.

[Kirk Moon]

when a trade is that lopsided, its easy to think that something is not kosher.
honestly, if i wasnt a Laker fan, i would be pretty angry too.

[donte124]

[RJM]

There should be a rule automatically erasing any Peter Vescey article from being posted.

[hermes]

so memphis likes us best

[DEEP3CL]

Now the media wants to make it seem like no other teams knew about Gasol ?....................................PLEASE miss me with that Bull.

The whole league knew about him for the longest. This is starting to get pathetic.

[MAMBAEMD]

I stopped about right here...

"New York COMPost columnist Peter Vecsey....."

[tayzer]

I think this trade came down to the money and draft picks. Sure other deal would of been better like the Bulls, but we all know Ben Gorden and Deng wanted to opt out and get the big bucks, so it came down to money and the Laks had the best offer for financial freedom.

[Tesla]

I call pure BS.

I don't think other teams were aware that Lakers were a player for Gasol, which is IMO the biggest reason we landed Gasol, but its BS that the Grizz didn't look at other offers. They wanted cap space, and got two young players (Critt, Marc Gasol), and two 1sts in return, really its not as bad as people are making it out to be, considering the what the Girzzles wanted.

[Jordan-esque]

Peter "I hate the Lakers and Kobe" Vescey?

Typical. I guess Gasol to CHI for Nocioni was just a dream I read about in ESPN. This is the same dude saying Kobe intentionally injured Carmelo, and now he writes this crap? Whatev.

[dleeaudiox]

I think this trade came down to the money and draft picks. Sure other deal would of been better like the Bulls, but we all know Ben Gorden and Deng wanted to opt out and get the big bucks, so it came down to money and the Laks had the best offer for financial freedom.

makes perfect sense

[PhD Griz]

what?

for 2 years people like Smith and Verscey wrote constantly about Gasol being available......then after he is traded, the tone is now nobody else knew he was on the block....

sheesh....