Gasol to the Lakers...A New PG Trade Option?

[Yadadimean]

Breaking News: Gasol Traded To Lakers
February 1, 2008 - 2:41 pm
Memphis Commerical Appeal -
The Commercial Appeal has learned that the Grizzlies have traded Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Kwame Brown, rookie guard Javaris Crittenton and first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2010.

The decision was made that the Grizzlies could no longer move forward with Gasol on and off the basketball court.

The deal allows the Grizzlies to gain salary cap relief, as Brown is in the final year of a deal that pays $9,075,000.

Looks like the Grizzlies have too many point guards again. Crittenton might be available and could be had a lot cheaper than Harris. Hell, not to get anyone's hopes up, but Conley could possibly be available too.

[Papercut]

The Lakers suddenly got scary. Huge upgrade for them, I wouldn't be surprised if they come out of the West.

[Ripcity4life]

I know Jerry West left but i am not so sure that is a Dang STEAL for the Lakers. Giving up K.Brown and JC and a couple Low Round 1sts (20+). I usually hesitate to get on anothers team GM and such but i think the Memphis GM is about as DUMB as it gets.

[Yadadimean]

^^^Kwame has a 10 million dollar expiring. Its not all that bad of a deal

[jbl75]

^^^Kwame has a 10 million dollar expiring. Its not all that bad of a deal

i would bet the bulls were offering a lot more last year at this time though

[Charlie78]

Ive never been a fan of gasol and find him incredibly soft. I will have to see them play before im ready to hand them the WCF.

[Yadadimean]

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i would bet the bulls were offering a lot more last year at this time though

They did, but Memphis doesnt want a bunch of guys they have to pay. They are pinching pennies right now and got out of Gasol's contract in exchange for what amounts to 3 rookie scale contracts that they may or may not even use (save Crittenton). Plus, they will now be players in the free agent market this offseason (or so I hear)

[listerine]

Absolute steal for the Lakers. Even if Kwame's deal is expiring, the Lakers wouldn't have been able to use that cap space.

They just traded a worthless center, a third string point guard, and some draft picks (that will be in the mid 20s anyway) for another scoring option.

We'll see how it all meshes, but this might move the Lakers to the top of the west.

[Yadadimean]

^^^I just heard Bynum could be out for the rest of the year, so chances are, they wont be contending for much of anything this year.

[mojomarc]

^^^I just heard Bynum could be out for the rest of the year, so chances are, they wont be contending for much of anything this year.

Without Bynum, they might not even stay in the playoff hunt. Bynum, Gasol and Kobe, though.... Yikes! That would definitely be a big enough threat that you'd not only see Dallas put more into the pot for Kidd but I think you'd also see San Antonio looking to add some additional bench scoring.

[magee]

Javaris Crittenton will play next to Conley once they trade Mike Miller to the Magic for even more expiring contracts.

[Butter]

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Without Bynum, they might not even stay in the playoff hunt. Bynum, Gasol and Kobe, though.... Yikes! That would definitely be a big enough threat that you'd not only see Dallas put more into the pot for Kidd but I think you'd also see San Antonio looking to add some additional bench scoring.

Don't forget Odom. Wow, thats the most one sided traded I've seen in awhile. I wonder if this will start the momentum for additional trades when other teams try to adjust to this deal?

Also, how do you guys think LMA matches up against Pau?

[mighty_duck]

It is also great chance to unite the biggest draft busts of recent years - Kwame and Darko.

[Wizenheimer]

I'm not sure about all the reasoning behind this trade on the Laker's end.

I suppose if Bynum is truly ot for the year it makes good sense.

But...and I may be wrong about this...I don't see Gasol as being that effective a PF. Maybe, but he won't be as mobile as a lot of the PF's he'll be guarding. I imagine the trade has Phil Jackson's blessing so maybe he's got a lot better idea on how to utilize Gasol. The Lakers didn't give up much from their current roster though, that's for sure.

I wonder...you don't suppose LA put together their own version of the twin towers in part to counter the impending debut of portland's version?

[Mr Odd]

I'm not sure about all the reasoning behind this trade on the Laker's end.

I suppose if Bynum is truly ot for the year it makes good sense.

But...and I may be wrong about this...I don't see Gasol as being that effective a PF. Maybe, but he won't be as mobile as a lot of the PF's he'll be guarding. I imagine the trade has Phil Jackson's blessing so maybe he's got a lot better idea on how to utilize Gasol. The Lakers didn't give up much from their current roster though, that's for sure.

I wonder...you don't suppose LA put together their own version of the twin towers in part to counter the impending debut of portland's version?

Good point about Gasol playing the PF.

However, it makes the Lakers even better
and the Blazers still need to do something
about the lack of a real scorer. Teams that
are around the Blazers seem to be getting
better. I hope Pritchard fixing that problem
soon. Maybe Rudy is the fix but im not sure
its smart to put all the chips on a guy from
overseas to fill in the need as a scorer.. .

Harris sure is looking nice right about now.
(As long as Outlaw stays a Blazer!!)

[SoHo]

I think the reasoning for LA was, we have a big expiring contract, and a young prospect we don't use/need so what can we get for them?

They probably shopped this package a couple places and Gasol was the best thing offered.

Kwame's contract expiring meant nothing to the Lakers and Crittenton wasn't helping make a push this season. Kobe wanted them to go all out, and so they traded the pieces they didn't need right now for one that can help them make a run. I haven't heard this Bynum is out for the year stuff, but either way this is good move for them getting something that can contribute now for pieces that don't matter to them at all.

As for the Grizzlies. I don't really understand the point of getting Crittenton, perhaps he'll play SG alongside Conley, I don't know how he projects at the 2. But getting Kwame and buying out Damon apparently makes them players this summer in FA...Someone should really check whether that is actually possible, but if it is this is a darn good summer to have cap space. Many players didn't take extensions and a couple teams like Golden State and Chicago have multiple players that are going to want contracts for big money that might not be available with their current team. It's a risky move, but it does move towards completing the obvious retooling the Grizz we're moving to anyway.

[Yangsing]

Players for this summer? Who would want to play in Memphis?

[valleyman33]

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Don't forget Odom. Wow, thats the most one sided traded I've seen in awhile. I wonder if this will start the momentum for additional trades when other teams try to adjust to this deal?

Also, how do you guys think LMA matches up against Pau?

Last year Pau was offerred to Portland for a pkg with LMA as the centerpiece. Obviously Portland declined.

[Effigy]

Gasol isn't the player he was before his injury, I don't think he's going to be that effective next to Bynum. It will ammount to another huge salary the Lakers have to pay for the next 3 years. Meanwhile I bet the Lakers unload Odom and don't get equal return, just for some cap and position flexability. I mean he's really redundant now, they would love to deal him for a real small forward and preferably one who can shoot.

[PDXKnight]

I love this deal from LA's standpoint but It sucks to see LA become a contender again. Granted, Paul Gasol alone won't win them a title but I can't help but be afraid of the Lakers since they have Kobe, Bynum, Most importantly, Phil Jackson, and now Pau Gasol. I know why the Blazers didn't try to get into the Gasol sweepstakes but it makes me wonder what LaFrentz can yield next season.