Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XLIV Off-Season Edition)

[MagicFan41]

If the lakers are only getting Harrington, why don't we just take pau and Bynum and send out D12/BBD/JRich?

Cuz Harrington is a good stretch-4 to open paint up for Dwight+Nash. BBD isn't. Plus JRich would have another baby with whoever Nash was dating/married to

[OrlChamps2030]

Tony Mejia ‏@TonyMejiaNBA
Source: Exploratory. Option of moving Pau has always been there, but nothing Lakers are serious about, especially with Nash on board. FWIW

Sadly (for us)....a Nash + Dwight combo is way more lethal than a Nash + Bynum/Pau combo. The spots that Nash would get Dwight the ball at in the pick-n-roll would make him extremely effective offensively I think. Bynum is more of a post player that doesn't fit the pick-n-roll as well, which was lucky for the Lakers because they've never really had a legit PG until now.

Let's get serious too. If you are the Lakers do you REALLY give up the chance to team Nash, Kobe and Dwight up?? Stop...

I agree that Nash + Dwight P&R > Nash + Bynum P&R

but Nash + Gasol P&R is dynamic as well..most skilled point guard + most skilled big man on the p&r

in fact nash even said Gasol was the reason he came to the lakers.. I'm a bit surprised to see them give him up for essentially Al harrington

[arsenal6106]

Coach Vaughn is about to be on 740 the Game after this commercial break.

http://www.iheart.com/live/601/?autoplay=true

he's talking right now

[arsenal6106]

Anybody else lose the interview stream?

Edit: Nevermind, it's back.

[Mule Tears]

Lol Pau is the main piece in a Dwight Howard trade....sorry but I just don't believe it. If this deal does go through, I'm done with this franchise and the NBA for a long time.

[MagicFan41]

Lol Pau is the main piece in a Dwight Howard trade....sorry but I just don't believe it. If this deal does go through, I'm done with this franchise and the NBA for a long time.

I think the Pau hate is a BIT too large here. Is he a superstar, of course not....but he is prob a top 5-8 C in the league (Dwight, Bynum, Marc Gasol, Horford, Hibbert, Cousins, Jefferson, Pau)? Throw in some cap relief, maybe some draft picks, another young potential almost 20ppg guy in Afflalo and it's not AWFUL. It's certainly better than Brooklyn's offer.

[ChildishGambino]

i want no part of Gasol....he's declining....the idea that we would want him is mind boggling to me.....haven't the lake show been trying to move him quietly for a while now and has gotten no bites?

[Def Swami]

What purpose does Pau serve on our team? He has no place being on a rebuild team trying to tank. And no one is giving up lottery picks for him.

[MagicFan41]

i want no part of Gasol....he's declining....the idea that we would want him is mind boggling to me.....haven't the lake show been trying to move him quietly for a while now and has gotten no bites?

Everybody acts like he had some ENORMOUS drop-off in statistics. Has anybody actually looked them up? Did he show up in the playoffs, no, not last year...but nor did any of the Lakers really.

Remember, almost EVERYBODY (Dwight, Kobe, Nash all did) had somewhat of a small drop-off last year (fatigue due to compressed season, lack of training camp, etc etc).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... lpa01.html

I just don't see the factual evidence for this "decline" everybody keeps talking about.

The guy is 32, not 38. Still basically a 20-10 type player that relies on finesse and not physicality (so his game doesn't drop off as much as other physical big men do in their later years). He hasn't had any real injury concerns either.

[MagicFan41]

What purpose does Pau serve on our team? He has no place being on a rebuild team trying to tank. And no one is giving up lottery picks for him.

I really don't think management is sitting there going "hey guys, how can we lose as MANY games as possible???". It's not easy to sell "tanking" to a 90-yr old owner who wants to win now. Otherwise we would just start Duhon and play him 48 min. I mean, cmon. You do still have to remain SOMEWHAT competitive to put asses in seats. If anything, he would be a strong team guy who could mentor the younger guys, and put up good stats, and possibly be used as a trade chip next summer as a huge expiring.

[OrlandoMajinBuu]

1. Lillard, Aldridge > Gasol, Afflalo
2. DM'o, Lamb > Gasol, Afflalo
3. Cousins, Evans > Gasol, Afflalo
4. Bynum, Iggy > Gasol, Afflalo
5. Ibaka, Harden > Gasol, Afflalo

What make you think Gasol is any better? He's getting old. My personal favorite would it be the #1 but that's impossible and never will happen.

If we are into this trade talk with LA, 76ers, Nugg we better get: Bynum, Iggy, and 2 drafts.

[MagicFan41]

1. Lillard, Aldridge > Gasol, Afflalo
2. DM'o, Lamb > Gasol, Afflalo
3. Cousins, Evans > Gasol, Afflalo
4. Bynum, Iggy > Gasol, Afflalo
5. Ibaka, Harden > Gasol, Afflalo

What make you think Gasol is any better? He's getting old. My personal favorite would it be the #1 but that's impossible and never will happen.

If we are into this trade talk with LA, 76ers, Nugg we better get: Bynum, Iggy, and 2 drafts.

1) He won't re-sign with Portland.....so they would be idiots to do that, and they won't
2) Neither has played a min in the NBA....stop it
3) See #1, even more laughable actually
4) Yes but we might not have the pieces to get both of those ... LAL would be getting back a good stretch-4 in Harrington to fit well in that system, and Philly would be getting a legit 20-10 big man which they've wanted. What do we offer that's better for Philly or LA?
5) OKC isn't breaking up that crew I don't think.

[Ahmadab]

1. Lillard, Aldridge > Gasol, Afflalo Won't happen
2. DM'o, Lamb > Gasol, Afflalo Probably
3. Cousins, Evans > Gasol, Afflalo Won't happen
4. Bynum, Iggy > Gasol, Afflalo Won't happen
5. Ibaka, Harden > Gasol, Afflalo Really unlikely but yeah

What make you think Gasol is any better? He's getting old. My personal favorite would it be the #1 but that's impossible and never will happen.

If we are into this trade talk with LA, 76ers, Nugg we better get: Bynum, Iggy, and 2 drafts.

[ChildishGambino]

i want no part of Gasol....he's declining....the idea that we would want him is mind boggling to me.....haven't the lake show been trying to move him quietly for a while now and has gotten no bites?

Everybody acts like he had some ENORMOUS drop-off in statistics. Has anybody actually looked them up? Did he show up in the playoffs, no, not last year...but nor did any of the Lakers really.

Remember, almost EVERYBODY (Dwight, Kobe, Nash all did) had somewhat of a small drop-off last year (fatigue due to compressed season, lack of training camp, etc etc).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... lpa01.html

I just don't see the factual evidence for this "decline" everybody keeps talking about.

The guy is 32, not 38. Still basically a 20-10 type player that relies on finesse and not physicality (so his game doesn't drop off as much as other physical big men do in their later years). He hasn't had any real injury concerns either.

sorry man just not getting it.....why would we want Gasol over Bynum? makes no sense to me....he's on the wrong side of 30 and from what i've watched(eye test not just looking at stats on a piece of paper) he's declining.....he's lost a step or two in my eyes.....If this deal has any legs to it we better get Bynum and it should be a no-brainer......

[chrpri84]

Plz IGGY and PAU or BYNUM!!

[MagicFan41]

i want no part of Gasol....he's declining....the idea that we would want him is mind boggling to me.....haven't the lake show been trying to move him quietly for a while now and has gotten no bites?

Everybody acts like he had some ENORMOUS drop-off in statistics. Has anybody actually looked them up? Did he show up in the playoffs, no, not last year...but nor did any of the Lakers really.

Remember, almost EVERYBODY (Dwight, Kobe, Nash all did) had somewhat of a small drop-off last year (fatigue due to compressed season, lack of training camp, etc etc).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... lpa01.html

I just don't see the factual evidence for this "decline" everybody keeps talking about.

The guy is 32, not 38. Still basically a 20-10 type player that relies on finesse and not physicality (so his game doesn't drop off as much as other physical big men do in their later years). He hasn't had any real injury concerns either.

sorry man just not getting it.....why would we want Gasol over Bynum? makes no sense to me....he's on the wrong side of 30 and from what i've watched(eye test not just looking at stats on a piece of paper) he's declining.....he's lost a step or two in my eyes.....If this deal has any legs to it we better get Bynum and it should be a no-brainer......

I would prefer Bynum as well....but let's not act like Bynum is some zero-risk scenario. Not even close.

1) Obvious injury history
2) Risk of having him walk away for nothing in summer (seems like he wants the 5-yr deal and not willing to "extend")
3) HORRIBLE character guy. Prob a me-first guy. None of which fits the Henny/JV team-first motto that they're trying to build around.

[cvMagic]

If end of this Dwightmare has Magic netting Bynum and Affalo, it's a happy ending.
You throw in Ebanks w/ picks and cap relief, I then propose to Henny.

This right here.. You can tell Affalo is a guy Henny is big on

Would love that outcome.

[thelead]

Gasol and Jameer aren't winning a damn thing. There is no building around that old core either. This is a stupid rumor.

[SOUL]

Any trade we do will not help us win now. Rockets, Nets, Lakers, etc.

It's certainly possible it will happen, since DeVos apparently thinks we should still compete at a "high level".

[BelgianMagic]

Vincent Goodwill ‏@vgoodwill
Sources: #Pistons director of pro personnel Harold Ellis takes similar position with Orlando Magic