Pau Gasol

[FinnTheHuman]

I'm not sure. It's like I have a dual personality when it comes to wanting or not wanting Pau here, it's such a risk.

[Krapinsky]

I'm curious what happened between now and six weeks ago, when the few Pau Gasol hold outs (Krapinsky and Klomp) admitted he was too expensive?

We still know he's horribly over-priced for his production.

We still don't know if his decline is just because he's being misused, or because of the eventual decline all players face.

Honestly, I'm just fed up with the current roster and want us to do something drastic. Love-Rubio-Pek is not a core that I am excited about these days and $30M (half the cap) for a Love-Pek front court isn't a smart way to build a contender.

Also, when i jumped ship before Pau was looking bad while he was battling tendinitis, but he looks like he's got his legs back and is looking pretty good right now.

[Calinks]

I don't mind making a big splash for a major player if he's young. Gasol is getting up there in age and I don't like Shipping off good young pieces for him unless with have other pieces coming in to drastically improve the team. It can be great to add a new player like a Rudy Gay when he is young and has a long future. IF Gasol doesn't drastically make us better then in two seasons you could be back to square one with an even less desirable contract because of age.

[shrink]

I'm curious what happened between now and six weeks ago, when the few Pau Gasol hold outs (Krapinsky and Klomp) admitted he was too expensive?

We still know he's horribly over-priced for his production.

We still don't know if his decline is just because he's being misused, or because of the eventual decline all players face.

Honestly, I'm just fed up with the current roster and want us to do something drastic. Love-Rubio-Pek is not a core that I am excited about these days and $30M (half the cap) for a Love-Pek front court isn't a smart way to build a contender.

Also, when i jumped ship before Pau was looking bad while he was battling tendinitis, but he looks like he's got his legs back and is looking pretty good right now.

I think that's honest, and I can certainly understand that feeling. We are desperate now that the team does "something," .. but I think we need to fight this urge if it only leads us to do the wrong thing.

I don't disagree that Pau's game fits with Adelman, and that while he's a valuable NBA-center, Pek isn't the best fit with Love. However, there is nothing but downside surrounding Gasol.

We know his contract is a killer.
His tendinitis and plantar fascitis and other injuries bring major risks of downside.
His age brings major risk of downside.

I agree with people that we should do "something," but we should do "something" that's smart.

[One Love]

I am one of the few Laker fans that would prefer to have Pau with his skills and tem first attitude over Dwightmare Part II... Pau is a solid player with a high basketball IQ... In my opinion, Love has a reasonable ontract and more value but dont under estimate Pau... The Lakers WILL NOT take Williams, Roy, Barea or a package of that sort... Pay will be on our roster until the summer... Rubio has regressed & Love is selfish... Good luck this year...

[C.lupus]

I am one of the few Laker fans that would prefer to have Pau with his skills and tem first attitude over Dwightmare Part II... Pau is a solid player with a high basketball IQ... In my opinion, Love has a reasonable ontract and more value but dont under estimate Pau... The Lakers WILL NOT take Williams, Roy, Barea or a package of that sort... Pay will be on our roster until the summer... Rubio has regressed & Love is selfish... Good luck this year...

You should have left off the "Rubio has regressed" part. You lost your credibility with that.

[Mattya]

I was thinking he was going to say Pau was better then Love.

Just a whole lot of class in his post.....

[[RCG]]

I am one of the few Laker fans that would prefer to have Pau with his skills and tem first attitude over Dwightmare Part II... Pau is a solid player with a high basketball IQ... In my opinion, Love has a reasonable ontract and more value but dont under estimate Pau... The Lakers WILL NOT take Williams, Roy, Barea or a package of that sort... Pay will be on our roster until the summer... Rubio has regressed & Love is selfish... Good luck this year...

Coherent thoughts come hard... Must focus... basketball... Lakers best... team ever... will win championship... this year... get out... of my head!

[sisibilio]

Bingo. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Gasol < Pekovic FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.

And I'm not sure he was even worth more tonight! Since you always ignore the money, let me pass on another fact I expect you to ignore.

Do you think that MIN got it's $4.8 mil out of Pekovic with his off game of 14 PTS and 9 RBS? Do you think Gasol's extra 8 PTS and 3 RBS was worth an extra $14.2 million dollars?

Gasol isn't just paid like a good player in the league. He's not even just paid like a random All Star. He's paid like he's one of the five best players in the league and guess what? He isn't close to that.

He's got only 1 year left so unless acquiring him pushed you into the lux or jeopardized any future move (re-signing Pek if the FO were willing to give him the max) it's not that relevant.

[[RCG]]

Bingo. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Gasol < Pekovic FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.

And I'm not sure he was even worth more tonight! Since you always ignore the money, let me pass on another fact I expect you to ignore.

Do you think that MIN got it's $4.8 mil out of Pekovic with his off game of 14 PTS and 9 RBS? Do you think Gasol's extra 8 PTS and 3 RBS was worth an extra $14.2 million dollars?

Gasol isn't just paid like a good player in the league. He's not even just paid like a random All Star. He's paid like he's one of the five best players in the league and guess what? He isn't close to that.

He's got only 1 year left so unless acquiring him pushed you into the lux or jeopardized any future move (re-signing Pek if the FO were willing to give him the max) it's not that relevant.

And it does both of those things.

[shrink]

Bingo. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Gasol < Pekovic FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.

And I'm not sure he was even worth more tonight! Since you always ignore the money, let me pass on another fact I expect you to ignore.

Do you think that MIN got it's $4.8 mil out of Pekovic with his off game of 14 PTS and 9 RBS? Do you think Gasol's extra 8 PTS and 3 RBS was worth an extra $14.2 million dollars?

Gasol isn't just paid like a good player in the league. He's not even just paid like a random All Star. He's paid like he's one of the five best players in the league and guess what? He isn't close to that.

He's got only 1 year left so unless acquiring him pushed you into the lux or jeopardized any future move (re-signing Pek if the FO were willing to give him the max) it's not that relevant.

It always amazes me to see posts like this on "Real"gm. My only explanation is that some Laker fans are so spoiled with their $100 mil payrolls, that they don't think money affects other NBA teams either.

$20 mil for a $10 mil player? .. "irrelevant."

[The J Rocka]

So is the overall consensus that Gasol isn't the answer and we should give Pek max/near max money?

[Jajwanda]

My guess is that during the 2013 draft, the Timberwolves and Lakers will exchange even money.

- Roy, Ridnour, Williams, and perhaps Stiesma (filler) plus your lottery pick will go to L.A.

for

- Gasol

With the finances almost even, your lottery pick plus Williams would be a fair deal for a 20/10 C.

[Calinks]

I'm not sold on maxing Pek either. I guess if the question was which player between the two would I feel more comfortable committing a large long term contract to, it would be Pek but Pek has his issues too, mainly durability that I question going forward.

[Jajwanda]

My question to you guys is if the money were even and Pekovic signed in Charlotte:

Would Pau Gasol at 20/10 a night be worth a mediocre lottery pick and Derrick Williams? Remember this is what L.A. was looking for this off-season for Pau Gasol.

[[RCG]]

My question to you guys is if the money were even and Pekovic signed in Charlotte:

Would Pau Gasol at 20/10 a night be worth a mediocre lottery pick and Derrick Williams? Remember this is what L.A. was looking for this off-season for Pau Gasol.

You guys are sure eager to move him aren't you?

[[RCG]]

My question to you guys is if the money were even and Pekovic signed in Charlotte:

Would Pau Gasol at 20/10 a night be worth a mediocre lottery pick and Derrick Williams? Remember this is what L.A. was looking for this off-season for Pau Gasol.

What leverage do the Lakers have? I'd rather sit back and watch Buss pay a heavy tax while the Lakers miss the playoffs two years in a row. No need to help them in any way.

[Jajwanda]

Amazing. Minnesota has a huge hole at C when they decide not to extend Pekovic and they'd rather rant about leverage then getting the right piece.

Buss will pay a heavy tax no matter what because the money is even.

[Mattya]

Well since Pau is the only person we could possibly trade for.....

[[RCG]]

Wait. We're not going to match an offer for Pekovic in the offseason? I didn't know that had already been decided. And please lets go after a ridiculously overpaid center the Lakers are actively shopping yet is worth so so much at the same time.

The only trade I can see the Wolves making is: Williams+Roy+Stiemsma+Ridnour for Gasol+Ebanks+Sacre.