Pau Gasol

[southern wolf]

Yeah, looks like he might be out past the deadline and then some.

KAHNRAGE!

[Devilzsidewalk]

Sounds like it might actually be a tear.

that kind of tear?

[Jukeness]

Lol

[shrink]

If the Wolves trade for Pau and have to spend $20 mil on him next year, how many of these things would Glen Taylor eliminate to not go far far over the lux?

Does Taylor let Pekovic walk? Tough to pay $20 for Gasol, then limit his productivity by bringing him off the bench.

Does Taylor decide not to use the MLE? That might mean no Gelabale, Chris Johnson, or Bjelica.

Does Taylor not re-sign Buddinger?

Does Taylor sell our pick, determining addition youth at triple the cost doesn't help our win-now direction?

Does Taylor decide to not cut an injured/unproductive player, because he still would need to add more salary for the replacement?

Does Taylor decide not to do a trade for a more talented player, simply because he doesn't want to add even more salary to Pau?

This is why we can't pretend money doesn't matter. If they decide to take on the over-priced Pau, it will be at the expense of other things later - probably many other things, with a $20 mil salary weighing down the payroll. You don't just lose what you give up in trade this year -- you pay Gasol two years and lose opportunities for next year too.

I think you're putting too much emphasis on the one year of Pau's deal and not enough on the four years of what a Pek extension would mean. Pau's one year will be up when we have to extend Rubio and Cunningham and AK, Pek's won't be. Can we afford $12M-$13M of Pek in 2014-2015? Or would we be better off with Pau for $8M?

Moreover, If Pek + Williams + Luke go out in a Pau deal then in offseason trade would be more or less salary neutral for 2013-2014. I'm happily putting Williams in there, because i expect by the end of the year he will no longer have positive trade value (see Flynn, Johnson) for how much he'll make.

This is ridiculous. Now you're putting Pek in a Pau deal with Williams and Luke, and taking out Roy?!?

First, the trade doesn't even work financially - with Pau's trade kicker, it's not within $5 mil. Second, Pek alone is worth more than Pau! This year at $4.8 he's clearly worth more than Pau at $19.65 (after tk). In the future, Pek will be paid market value -- do you think that anyone would slap a Pau $20 mil? And even if you say Pek will cost $1-2 mil more than he's worth each year, that's 4 years of production like that. Finally, your assumption that Pau will be a worthwhile player in 2014-15 (and starting a deal for $8 mil, no less!), is not a legitimate assessment of Pau's current health.

I think maybe you have a soft spot in your heart for Pau that is clouding your thinking on this one, K.

[Krapinsky]

If the Wolves trade for Pau and have to spend $20 mil on him next year, how many of these things would Glen Taylor eliminate to not go far far over the lux?

Does Taylor let Pekovic walk? Tough to pay $20 for Gasol, then limit his productivity by bringing him off the bench.

Does Taylor decide not to use the MLE? That might mean no Gelabale, Chris Johnson, or Bjelica.

Does Taylor not re-sign Buddinger?

Does Taylor sell our pick, determining addition youth at triple the cost doesn't help our win-now direction?

Does Taylor decide to not cut an injured/unproductive player, because he still would need to add more salary for the replacement?

Does Taylor decide not to do a trade for a more talented player, simply because he doesn't want to add even more salary to Pau?

This is why we can't pretend money doesn't matter. If they decide to take on the over-priced Pau, it will be at the expense of other things later - probably many other things, with a $20 mil salary weighing down the payroll. You don't just lose what you give up in trade this year -- you pay Gasol two years and lose opportunities for next year too.

I think you're putting too much emphasis on the one year of Pau's deal and not enough on the four years of what a Pek extension would mean. Pau's one year will be up when we have to extend Rubio and Cunningham and AK, Pek's won't be. Can we afford $12M-$13M of Pek in 2014-2015? Or would we be better off with Pau for $8M?

Moreover, If Pek + Williams + Luke go out in a Pau deal then in [sic] offseason trade would be more or less salary neutral for 2013-2014. I'm happily putting Williams in there, because i expect by the end of the year he will no longer have positive trade value (see Flynn, Johnson) for how much he'll make.

This is ridiculous. Now you're putting Pek in a Pau deal with Williams and Luke, and taking out Roy?!?

First, the trade doesn't even work financially - with Pau's trade kicker, it's not within $5 mil. Second, Pek alone is worth more than Pau! This year at $4.8 he's clearly worth more than Pau at $19.65 (after tk). In the future, Pek will be paid market value -- do you think that anyone would slap a Pau $20 mil? And even if you say Pek will cost $1-2 mil more than he's worth each year, that's 4 years of production like that. Finally, your assumption that Pau will be a worthwhile player in 2014-15 (and starting a deal for $8 mil, no less!), is not a legitimate assessment of Pau's current health.

I think maybe you have a soft spot in your heart for Pau that is clouding your thinking on this one, K.

[Krapinsky]

I think maybe you have a soft spot in your heart for Pau that is clouding your thinking on this one, K.

You're right, my appreciation for Pau is well documented (as with Derozan -- long time fan), but one might suggest the same to you with certain Wolves players. A more interesting debate, however, IMO is how you think Derozan at four years and 9.5M is toxic, but you'll seem to happily throw four years and $12-$13M at Pekovic. I don't think Derozan-Rubio is any worse of a combination than Love-Pekovic is.

Any maybe Pau's isn't the answer if we're going to deal Pek -- but I do like the flexibility the one year left on his deal provides. I also like the fact that it would make Rubio happy (very important to keep him here long term) and would be a good fit in Adelman's offense. If it doesn't work out -- if Pau isn't healthy or whatever -- then worst case scenario we have a $20M expiring contract to use either in a trade or to get us below the cap.

This is a Pau thread, so I'm making the argument for Pau, but if there are other options out there -- I dunno, Larry Sanders? -- that are better fits with Love AND help our cap situation, then i think we should strongly consider trading big Pek.