RealGM

Minnesota Out: Derrick Williams, Michael Beasley, Wes Johnson, Darko Milicic, Luke Ridnour, Utah Pick
Minnesota In:Eric Gordon, Pau Gasol

LA Out:Pau Gasol
LA In: Emeka Okafor, Luke RIdnour, Wes Johnson

NO Out:Eric Gordon, Emeka Okafor
NO In:Derrick Williams, Michael Beasley, Darko Milicic, Utah Pick

MN Reason: Win now mode. Ridnour has probably increased his value some around the league, and while he has played good the past few games, i believe most people would still rather have JJ coming off the bench behind Rubio. A starting Lineup of Rubio, Gordon, Webster, Love, Gasol with JJ, Ellington, Tolly, Miller, Randolph and Pek off the bench could be really good. I'm not a numbers so im not sure if we could afford to extend Gordon and Love with Gasol on the team, but I would hope we could. Maybe add Radolph to the deal going to one of the other teams so we don't have to extend him.

LA: With Bynum's emergence this season and Mcroberts giving good minutes Gasol may be available. Mike Brown is a defensive coach so Okafor seems like a good win now fit in LA. Luke is a great point gaurd fit next to Kobe, and Wes gives them a new small forward with athleticism and size. Their small forwards haven't been great this year and Kobe works out with Wes.

NO: May already be shopping Gordon according to rumors, now he has been out most of the season so while his value isn't low I would guess that the injuries are not looking good to other teams.. They are also a team that is probably looking to cut salary, making Okafor a possible trade piece. They get one of the best young assets in DWill since he was the number 2 pick and is on his rookie contract. They would build around him and their picks for the future. They could also take a gamble on Mike Beasley, if they don't like what they see he is a expiring contract as well. He likely won't get paid big money just yet either. Darko I put in this trade as a contract that expires a year earlier than Okafor. I thought about Miller or Webster as well as salary relief contracts, but this trade would leave the Wolves thin a SF and I think Miller would be hard to trade since he is one of Adelman's guys.

I know a lot of people will hate the Gasol contract.

Mattya wrote:LA: With Bynum's emergence this season and Mcroberts giving good minutes Gasol may be available.

So they're paying Okafor $10m to be a backup?

Klomp wrote:

Mattya wrote:LA: With Bynum's emergence this season and Mcroberts giving good minutes Gasol may be available.

So they're paying Okafor $10m to be a backup?

Never said he would be a back up but McRoberts has been earning minutes, and Okafor would start at PF, while also being able to play center. He is also a lot better on D than Gasol.

Cut the Lakers out, swap MN and Utah, or Memphis picks?

Mattya wrote:Never said he would be a back up but McRoberts has been earning minutes, and Okafor would start at PF, while also being able to play center. He is also a lot better on D than Gasol.

IMO Okafor and Bynum not a good offensive fit. Neither can stretch the defense at all.

Klomp wrote:

Mattya wrote:LA: With Bynum's emergence this season and Mcroberts giving good minutes Gasol may be available.

So they're paying Okafor $10m to be a backup?

Okafor has played PF before so he could start alongside Bynum.

Klomp wrote:

Mattya wrote:Never said he would be a back up but McRoberts has been earning minutes, and Okafor would start at PF, while also being able to play center. He is also a lot better on D than Gasol.

IMO Okafor and Bynum not a good offensive fit. Neither can stretch the defense at all.

Doesn't Okafor have a decent mid range jumper?

While they aren't perfect on Offense, they would be very very good defensively in the paint.

That makes for a really unbalanced Wolves team. Talented but unbalanced.

Rubio/Barea
Gordon/Lee/Ellington
Webster/?
Love/Gasol/Tolliver/Randolph
Pekovic/Miller

I'm guessing the roster would end up looking like:

Rubio/Barea
Gordon/Lee
Webster/Ellington
Love/Tolliver/Randolph
Gasol/Pekovic/Miller

Not bad. But we're definitely stuck with Gordon/Love/Gasol making about $50 mil at least for the next couple years.

Edit: removed Ridnour

That roster is a serious contender though, even with SF as the weak link.

^ Ridnour is being traded

Anyway, I'd do it talent-wise. That's for sure but financially speaking this is really tough to swallow. If this deal was offered during next offseason I might reconsider it, though.

I can't possibly imagine LA doing this.

funkatron101 wrote:Cut the Lakers out, swap MN and Utah, or Memphis picks?

I'd be in favor of this.

As much as i would hate adding Gasol's salary...putting a winning team like this would be worth it.

[RCG] wrote:

funkatron101 wrote:Cut the Lakers out, swap MN and Utah, or Memphis picks?

I'd be in favor of this.

I third it.

[RCG] wrote:

funkatron101 wrote:Cut the Lakers out, swap MN and Utah, or Memphis picks?

I'd be in favor of this.

I third it.

[RCG] wrote:

funkatron101 wrote:Cut the Lakers out, swap MN and Utah, or Memphis picks?

I'd be in favor of this.

I third it.

shrink wrote:

[RCG] wrote:

funkatron101 wrote:Cut the Lakers out, swap MN and Utah, or Memphis picks?

I'd be in favor of this.

I third it.

I'll quad it (without posting this four times) and add an Irish jig (though I'm not Irish)

Both LAL and NO say no. But if we could pull it off we'd be a dynasty.
D-will just doesn't have that kind of trade value and Okafor is a poor fit both salary and talent-wise on the Lakers. Pau is perfect playing the high post in Browns new offense.

I'd rather have Okafor then Gasol, his contract won't kill us, he's younger, and he is a center. The last thing we need is a sixth power forward. Especially an old, fading one.