Laker/Grizzlie trade just got a little more fair...

[kdot99]

Lakers/Grizzlies trade just got a little, teeny weeny, less lopsided

fixed.

[jman3134]

Emphasis on teeny weeny.......

[LakerFanMan]

I would take Aruajo over Gasol.

but would you take Aruajo over Iguodala?

I dont care if he signed the deal or not, Javaris Crittenton can turn out to be a stud at PG and they would would have gotten ripped off. The trade was so one-side.

If the Lakers so how have the worst record next year maybe I would change my mind.

I've seen stuff like this said a bunch of times and I don't get the logic. If Gasol and/or Critt turn out to be really good players then the trade would still be lopsided? Im not saying they will, and I think the Grizz got ripped off too. However, saying stuff like that sounds more like Laker hate then anything.

[shawngoat23]

I've seen stuff like this said a bunch of times and I don't get the logic. If Gasol and/or Critt turn out to be really good players then the trade would still be lopsided? Im not saying they will, and I think the Grizz got ripped off too. However, saying stuff like that sounds more like Laker hate then anything.

That reasoning comes from the idea that Gasol/Critt didn't have much value at the time of the trade. If team A traded the #1 pick for the #10 pick of the same draft to team B, but the player drafted at #10 turned out to be better, it was still a bad trade for A. Similarly, if you pay $2 for a $1 lottery ticket which happens to win, you've still overpaid.

The trade is done though, and the only thing left for the Grizzlies is to learn from those mistakes and to maximize the potential of their young players. I'm sure they also wanted to drop Gasol to try to get a higher lottery pick, but even that didn't work out well for them.

[dflash3]

Why do Laker fans care about convincing people that the trade wasn't lopsided? If anything its something to be appreciative and happy about, since the team improved immensely with little assets being given which is the goal of any team involved in a trade. And if people are jealous about the Lakers getting such a steal who cares. As much as they moan and complain the Lakers will still be a great team and nothing will change that as long as they continue to win games. They just wish their GM had been able to get a deal like that.

[andyhop]

Except Ratliff's contract was already used for the KG trade. I believe the post meant ones that were available before the deadline.

When do you think the KG trade happened?

Ratliff was available to be traded at the time of the Gasol deal and whilst the Wolves wouldn't have wanted him they could easily have been involved as a 3rd party providing the big expiring if Memphis had advertised their intentions.

With that said the trade could easily turn out to be a win-win deal for both teams.

The Lakers get Pau to win now for nothing that would help short term and in a couple of years Marc could easily be as good as his brother whilst the Grizz have raked in all the other assets and salary savings on top of basically ending up with an equal player

[knicksNOTslick]

You seriously think Miami would have given up what they thought at the time would end up being Michael Beasley at #1 overall? No way. Also, lots of teams have expirings yes, when you add up multiple small expiring contracts together. Kwame had the largest expiring contract for a single player this past season: fact.

Also, NO TEAMS WERE WILLING TO ABSORB ALL THE SALARY WITHOUT SENDING CONTRACTS BACK. Not only did the Lakers have the largest sole expiring contract, but they were willing to to keep big contracts like Odom without demanding that Memphis take some of the hit.

Pau has been on the block for a long time now. Memphis was actively calling GM's all around the league and also receiving calls. You don't think that if Memphis could have gotten what they wanted from someone else, then they wouldn't have?

Of course AFTER the fact, other GMs come out and say, well crap, I guess I could've and should've matched that, but I'm an idiot.

The Heat could've given up a first round pick and made it lottery protected. That way, they won't have to give up their pick this year. Not all GMs are Isiah Thomas.

Miami could've given up a better deal. End of story.

Props to LA though for pulling it off.