Breaking News: Gasol Traded To Lakers

[JoshB914]

What's lost in this is Memphis are really building something. They have promising youngsters now in MCJ, Critt, Gay and Navarro. If they can get a big man to replace Gasol I think they could be really good in a couple of years.

[HoopsGuru25]

Well Memphis may be building something if they get some more defenders and use the cap space...but getting rid of Gasol for late round picks and cap space is a pretty awful deal. Crittenton is a nice prospect(he's no where near ready)but he's not a great prospect or proven player. He could be a stud or he could be Jerryld Sasser. He's also redundant because they have already have two young points guards around the same age. Keeping all 3 of them is going to ruin one's trade value(like Horford ruined Zaza's and Shelden's value). Memphis should have demanded Farmar(a proven young player)at the very least. Turiaf,Ariza,Sasha...he couldn't get any of them? Memphis needed a defensive big man(Deandre Jordan)and now they need two. No matter how soft,slow,and bad defensively Gasol is...he can draw double teams in the low post. I see no big men in free agency or the draft that is going to provide that for them. If the Hawks were to trade Joe for that package Hawks fans would be pissed...hell Memphis fans didn't even want to trade Gasol to Atlanta for the 3rd pick in the draft in June.

[JoshB914]

I think they might try to use Critt at the 2. But one of those PG's is going to get dealt. Probably for more picks.

[killbuckner]

The real question is what the Grizzlies can get with that caproom this offseason. I think it was a lousy trade for them because I don't think they will be able to get anyone nearly as good as Gasol.

Honestly the only thing that makes any sense is if the ownership told the GM to reduce payroll at all costs since the team wasn't doing well even with Gasol. But even that wouldn't explain the rumored swift for Collins trade

[evildallas]

The rumor was that Swift was unhappy and disruptive. They could have played chicken with him in hopes that he didn't pick up his player's option or that they could have waited until later to try to get expirings. Instead they chose to trade him out for the exact salary owed. The contracts are identical for next year, just that Collins is routinely near the bottom of the entire league in any measurement. Swift was #98 in PER among qualifying players, Collins was #300 in PER (dead last).

They were obviously concerned about him in the locker room, but the other reason I think they didn't wait for expiring deals or at least reducing payroll is that they don't plan of using the cap room in the off season. I believe they have no problem sucking again next year and returning to the lottery to get another key piece. It would be a good time to make an offer for Miller, but don't be surprised if they turn it done because they will already be under $50M in salary next year and it doesn't look like than plan to be free agent buyers again under this ownership.

[evildallas]

Michael Heisley the Memphis owner is projecting a 20 million dollar loss this year. Basically he's looking to sale the team as fast as possible. I'm assuming he's the youth of the team is suppose to make it more appealing, but we could still come away with some needed players, and I hope Billy's not sitting on his hands.

And what does it say of the Grizzlies? Well, it says that they

[evildallas]

Great to hear they are shopping him. We've got expiring contracts to offer.

Ty Lue
Lo Wright
2009 2nd rounder
for
Mike Miller

Works in trade checker and saves them 9.1M in cap room next year and about 1.5M this year. That savings goes straight to Heisley's bottom line.

If they want a young player, then take out Lo Wright and use Shelden Williams.

If they don't want Lue because they have so many PG, then we could offer then Lo Wright, Shelden Williams, and Salim Stoudamire.

I'm just hope BK doesn't have blinders on with respect to how to improve the team. Players like Mike Miller or Ron Artest can change our team by providing skills we are missing. Just look what adding Kyle Korver has done for Utah. It also doesn't have to be our only trade.

Think about it Billy, wouldn't it be good to have more than one shooting option at the end of games?

[conleyorbust]

I think they might try to use Critt at the 2. But one of those PG's is going to get dealt. Probably for more picks.

Yeah, I can see him playing at the 2 in the end. He definitely over-dribbled at Tech and it seemed to kill the momentum quite a bit. He certainly doesn't have the point guard feel the Conley does. On the other hand, he is a decent shooter and has 2 guard size and athleticism, he could be a great combo guard to put next to Conley when they run the break.

[BMF Jet Jaguar]

navarros 27