Griz Beat Writer: Trade Talks Involving Gasol on back burner

[PhD Griz]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... ck-burner/

Trade talks involving Gasol on back burner

Bulls remain top suitor, but there's no sense of urgency
By Ronald Tillery
Monday, January 21, 2008

Analysis

It has almost developed into a separate season.

Fall.

Winter.

Spring.

Summer.

Gasol to the Chicago Bulls?

"I live in Chicago, and all they talk about up there is getting Pau," Griz owner Michael Heisley told The Commercial Appeal earlier this month. "So he must be pretty valuable."

Actually, nothing has precipitated Gasol trade talk as the Grizzlies prepare to host the Bulls this afternoon for a game that culminates the NBA's Martin Luther King Jr. Day festivities.

It's a rare, clear day given the climate that developed just about a year ago when Gasol quietly requested a trade. Since then, the Bulls have been the most ardent suitor. They've put together proposal after proposal, all of which have produced nothing but continued speculation about Gasol's future and Chicago general manager John Paxson's sense of urgency with regard to acquiring the talented 7-footer.

Through it all, Gasol remains indifferent.

"I thought about it a lot last year," Gasol said of his chances of wearing a Bulls uniform. "I don't think about it anymore because I know where it got me, which was nowhere. I want to focus on my game and help my team win. If something else happens, then it happens. But until something happens there's nothing going on."

Nothing is right.

The teams haven't had meaningful trade conversations in some time, despite the Chicago media's infatuation with Gasol. One Griz insider said the clubs "danced around" potential deals a month into the season.

Another predicted that Chicago would likely revisit a Gasol deal near the Feb. 21 trade deadline.

Either way, the climate has changed.

Whereas Chicago held up any potential Gasol deal with their refusal to give up Luol Deng last season, it's Memphis that's reluctant this time due to wanting more than is being offered.

"He's a great post guy. But by discussing him, I don't mean we're out there shopping them," Heisley said. "If we trade one of our guys, we've got to get a lot back that's good."

Atlanta, because general manager Billy Knight drafted Gasol in Memphis, has a standing offer on the table for the Spaniard.

But because the Griz aren't dealing from a point of desperation, they are asking potential suitors to take Brian Cardinal and the remaining two years (totaling $13 million) on his contract off their hands.

For Chicago, it may take a combination of Andres Nocioni (an offseason Griz target), Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah and a skilled player such as Thabo Sefolosha.

The Bulls, who asked for Hakim Warrick to be included at some point, reportedly have removed Nocioni from their equations. Short of acquiring players that head coach Marc Iavaroni could build around in his up-tempo system, the Griz may require Gasol suitors to offer cap relief. In short: Send expiring contracts.

However, the Griz have put the word out that they will not do a deal just to deal. Gasol, for that matter, doesn't seem convinced he's going anywhere.

"I think Marc and (general manager Chris Wallace) believe in me," Gasol said. "I think they both want me here. But this is a business. There's a cold side of it, and it's nothing personal. If they feel like they can get a good deal, then they'll do it.

"I let it affect me too much last year. It was stressful. Right now, it's nothing for me to worry about because it's something that's out of my hands."

And seemingly off the radar -- for now.

[PhD Griz]

so according to this....

paxson talked to wallace at the start of the season, but not recently....though talks are expecting to heat up....

the bulls asked for Hak also.....I am assuming this is b/c more than one big was coming back to memphis....

and now Noc is off the table (jesus, what is left to offer, joe smith and adrian griffin...shesh)

the griz would like Cardinal to go with Gasol where ever he is traded...

[PhD Griz]

oh ya, one other thing....

this article mentions getting expiring contracts back for gasol....

which is odd....because Chris Wallace has done numerous radio interviews here in memphis where he has explicitly stated that only expiring contracts back for Pau is unacceptable b/c he doesn't think free agency will be a good way for the Grizzlies to add a player as good as Pau....Wallace said he prefers trade or draft to get quality players.....

[BrooklynBulls]

oh ya, one other thing....

this article mentions getting expiring contracts back for gasol....

which is odd....because Chris Wallace has done numerous radio interviews here in memphis where he has explicitly stated that only expiring contracts back for Pau is unacceptable b/c he doesn't think free agency will be a good way for the Grizzlies to add a player as good as Pau....Wallace said he prefers trade or draft to get quality players.....

I'm pretty sure he means he doesn't want expensive veterans. There's no way we put Noc off limits. He's BYC, and therefore difficult to trade, and has a hefty if not fair contract. I'm guess he wants expirings, young, good prospects, and future considerations.

[The Big Dog]

This article doesn't make it seem like a trade is on the back burner at all.

This article is full of code quotes that are made by GMs/owners when they are looking to trade a player. Example: "He's a great post guy. But by discussing him, I don't mean we're out there shopping them," Heisley said. "If we trade one of our guys, we've got to get a lot back that's good." So, you're discussing trading him, but you don't want to make a bad trade, thanks.

Even Gasol's comments make it sound like he's disappointed in not getting traded.

"I thought about it a lot last year," Gasol said of his chances of wearing a Bulls uniform. "I don't think about it anymore because I know where it got me, which was nowhere." Nowhere being Memphis.

Then he goes on to talk about how stressful last season was because of the trade talks. However, he had the most individually successful season of his career.

He wants out, the Griz have been talking about trading him, Paxson obviously wants him to some extent. That's what I got out of this article.

The Griz still stink and are going in a different direction than Pau is. The Bulls clearly need to consolidate their forwards. I don't think there was much convincing substance to this article.

[The ROY]

If Pax is looking to include Warrick in the deal then TT's definintely part of Bulls offering package.

[PhD Griz]

so the delusional sam smith has another pau-love article today, i guess....that guy needs to find someone else to love on, b/c pau gasol is not as good as he makes him out to be by his obsession with him...

Memphis blues

The Bulls are in Memphis on Monday for the big Martin Luther King Jr. Day game. I have been there on that holiday and it's one of the best days in the NBA after a trip through the National Civil Rights Museum.

But will Pau Gasol see another?

The Grizzlies are now telling teams they are reassessing whether to deal Gasol. The Bulls were in preliminary talks a few weeks ago involving players like Andres Nocioni, Noah, Sefolosha and Chris Duhon, but the Grizzlies have backed off.

The feeling is maybe Gasol isn't the problem. He is slightly above his career averages at 19.3 points and 8.8 rebounds. But Gasol remains unpopular locally after his frequent questions about staying in Memphis over the years.

A colleague reminded me the other day of the famous story of Ralph Kiner with the Pittsburgh Pirates being traded to the Cubs after being a home run leader. Pirate general manager Branch Rickey reportedly told Kiner, "We finished [last] with you, we can finish [last] without you." And so it could be with the Grizzlies, 11-29 and in the West ahead of only Minnesota and Seattle, whose managements are trying to lose. The Grizzlies are losing millions annually and have been up for sale for two years. Gasol could net some young (also cheap) talent and save the club a fortune. It still seems he'll be traded eventually.

[PJ Brown]

If Pax is looking to include Warrick in the deal then TT's definintely part of Bulls offering package.

Pretty much. I can't see any other explanation.

[Chi town]

IMO Noc/Noah or T2/Thabo may be overpaying for Gasol.

However, it is really stupid to take Noc off the table.

I wonder if Pax has reconsidered Deng and will throw him in the deal.

I don't see the Grizz doing any better than one of those two deals.

If however, the Grizz want expirings. Maybe they could do that Wallace trade for Kwame and Vlad and then trade Brown and some pieces to MEM for Gasol.

I also don't see Paxson taking Cardinal's contract.

[Red Larrivee]

So if they really removed Nocioni from trade talks, does that mean Pax is going to trade Deng? I can't think of any even chance of a trade if you just remove Nocioni period, unless you include Deng.

[Chi town]

The only other scenario IMO would be

Noah+T2+Thabo and then expiring filler in Duhon and VK to make it work.


That's a ton of young talent.


The real question is value.

Is Deng>Noc/Noah or T2/Thabo.

Deng will get a deal done.

[Tommy Udo 6]

I really doubt that the Grizz are discussing the deals with their Beat Writer

it's all speculation on the writers part.

It will have to be either Nocioni or Deng

it will probably be Tyrus or Noah (not both)

Bulls will refuse to take cardinal. If they insist, the deal will die unless they take wallace

[Red Larrivee]

Looking at trade machine, it looks pretty hard to trade Deng for any huge salary, unless you include Wallace. They don't want Wallace, so that rules that out. So we'd basically be offering around 3 or 4 players for Gasol. Deng's only making 3.3 mil, while Gasol is at 13 mil.

It'd have to be Nocioni if we want Gasol.

[DuckIII]

For Chicago, it may take a combination of Andres Nocioni (an offseason Griz target), Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah and a skilled player such as Thabo Sefolosha.

"Or" being the key word. Done deal.

The Bulls, who asked for Hakim Warrick to be included at some point, reportedly have removed Nocioni from their equations.

For the love of God why????? The illogical nature of that report strains credibility.

[Jordan45822]

It is looking like Paxson is beginning to back off from Gasol altogether. I still don't believe Paxson wants to trade Deng for Gasol. Unless he wants to lose even more prospects which I doubt he wants to do. He wants Nocioni/Thomas package or nothing I am convinced of that.

[The ROY]

I'm thinking something like :

TT + Nocioni & the 1st rounder (top 3 protected)

or

TT + Deng & the 1st rounder (top 10 protected)

[nerfinator39]

i think one of noc/deng has to go if we get a big man.

[Cliff Levingston]

So if they really removed Nocioni from trade talks, does that mean Pax is going to trade Deng? I can't think of any even chance of a trade if you just remove Nocioni period, unless you include Deng.

Can't see that happening. It's hard to believe that Pax would've changed positions from "Deng is untouchable (pretty much)" to "you can have Deng but Nocioni is untouchable (pretty much)" in one season.

If Paxson refuses to include Nocioni just because he likes Nocioni that much, then Cliff Levingston has lost a little more faith in Paxson. If you can get a deal done for Pau using Nocioni + Thomas + something else (Duhon, Sefolosha, Khryapa, 1sts, Joe Smith) then it's pretty much a no-brainer.

This works in the checker (Trade ID #4426424)

Bulls trade:
- Andres Nocioni
- Tyrus Thomas
- Joe Smith
- Chris Duhon
- 2008 1st round pick (top 5 protected).
Grizzlies trade:
- Pau Gasol
- Juan Carlos Navarro
- Brian Cardinal

Since we're taking Cardinal back and including what looks to be a pretty good draft pick, ICLO, we're in position to keep Sefolosha. Duhon provides them with an expiring contract and Smith provides them with a good player on a deal that expires next season. They get Nocioni (whom they seem to like a lot) and Tyrus (who could really flourish in their system with Gay and Conley).

If a deal along these lines becomes available then ICLO it shouldn't be passed up because Nocioni is included. The big problem would be keeping the team's salary under the tax, but Cardinal and Wallace's big deals come off the books when LeBron, Bosh and Wade will be available in free agency (possibly). Either we look to clear salary beforehand and make a run at them, or we find a valuable asset via trading Wallace and/or Cardinal's deal(s).

1. Hinrich, Gordon, Curry
2. Sefolosha, Gordon, Griffin
3. Deng, Sefolosha, Griffin
4. Gasol, Noah, Cardinal
5. Wallace, Noah, Gray

That's nice and consolidated with a lot of talent.

[Jordan45822]

The problem is with Deng is more people need to be involved since his salary is low right now. Thats something I don't see Paxson wants to do.

[The ROY]

I'd send Deng if it were up to me.

Nocioni spreads the floor much better and slashes just as much as Deng. If I got Gasol in the middle, I want guys like Gordon or Nocioni on the perimeter waiting to shoot an open 20-25 footer. I'm not even a Kirk fan but I'm sure even his shooting would improve with Gasol in the post.

G Hinrich
G Sefolosha
F Nocioni
F Gasol
C Wallace