Gasol anyone?

[HolyToledo12]

Gasol is supposedly on the trade block so that the Lakers can save money as well as get a stretch PF for D-Antoni's system. Lakers want Josh Smith/Korver but Atlanta doesnt want Gasol's contract. Here is a 3 way trade involving the Jazz that works for all 3 teams but Jazz are giving up a lot to get Gasol.

Gasol to Utah
Josh Smith/Korver/Bell to Lakers
Jefferson/Burks to Atlanta

Jazz would be trading Bell, Jefferson, Burks for Gasol. Jazz get a Gasol/Favors front line for years to come with Milsap and Kanter being their back up bigs while not having to pay the rest of Bell's contract this season. Lakers get the stretch 4 they want plus save a lot of luxury tax next year. Atlanta gets expiring contract but also get Burks who is the key to their side of the deal.

PG Williams Tinsely Watson
SG Hayward Foye Murphy
C Gasol Kanter
PF Favors Millsap Evans
SF Williams Carroll

Link to Gasol on the block to Atlanta.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-o ... er-forward

[blackham9258]

I think Millsap/Marvin/Raja gets it done with a protected Jazz pick. Or Jefferson/Raja protected Jazz pick.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

I'd be all over that. Gasol + Favors makes us a legit team.

[reapaman]

You guys have no idea what your asking for as usual and it will not be what you expect just like the additions we made in the off-season. Gasol is a huge downgrade from Jefferson at this point in their careers and he is nothing like the gasol from the 2010 playoffs. He's has been way too passive, soft and collaspes under pressure for the last two seasons, so whats gonna change now. Plus we seen him as the #1 guy, not pretty.

And if you think Millsap will be ok being a backup or that we should even re-sign him for the amount of money he will command to be a backup, you are insane. Btw Josh smith has never been and is still not a stretch 4.

[QuantumMacgyver]

Gasol is supposedly on the trade block so that the Lakers can save money as well as get a stretch PF for D-Antoni's system. Lakers want Josh Smith/Korver but Atlanta doesnt want Gasol's contract. Here is a 3 way trade involving the Jazz that works for all 3 teams but Jazz are giving up a lot to get Gasol.

Gasol to Utah
Josh Smith/Korver/Bell to Lakers
Jefferson/Burks to Atlanta

Jazz would be trading Bell, Jefferson, Burks for Gasol. Jazz get a Gasol/Favors front line for years to come with Milsap and Kanter being their back up bigs while not having to pay the rest of Bell's contract this season. Lakers get the stretch 4 they want plus save a lot of luxury tax next year. Atlanta gets expiring contract but also get Burks who is the key to their side of the deal.

PG Williams Tinsely Watson
SG Hayward Foye Murphy
C Gasol Kanter
PF Favors Millsap Evans
SF Williams Carroll

Link to Gasol on the block to Atlanta.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-o ... er-forward

I don't see Atlanta doing this. Remember, the expiring contract means nothing because Josh Smith himself is an expiring contract. They are essentially trading Josh Smith for Alec Burks. No way. I would probably trade for Gasol, but if so then the Lakers would need to sweeten the pot. The Lakers are the ones who NEED to get rid of Gasol. It isn't like they are testing the waters, they HAVE to get rid of his contract. If the Jazz are going to take on the burden of $20 million a year, they need some incentive.

[blackham9258]

Here is my strategy and reasoning:

Paul will likely get overpaid in the market: $9-$11 per for 4 years. Thats too much for a 3rd big, and if he is your starting big you are a mediocre team.

Al will likely get $11-$14 per for 4 years. Unfortunately the same holds true for Al, if he is your starting center you are a mediocre team.

My choice would be to trade Al Jefferson/Raja for Pau because doing that doesn't preclude you from extending Paul Millsap at a reasonable rate, because the case could be made to Paul that Pau is just a one year rental, in which case Paul seeing that Pau's contract comes off the books the year later before the kids contracts (Hayward, Favors) kick in, that the Jazz are making a commitment to him. And he also sees that the Jazz as an organization by taking the last year of Gasol are extending their window to compete before turning it over to the young kids too soon.

You see, we all know we can't keep both Al and Paul in the off season because both will be looking to sign 4 year deals.... and because the contracts of Favors and Hayward will kick in one year later in the second year of any deal signed with Al or Paul. By trading for Pau we get an All Star C/PF who will be unshackled from Kobe and will return to prominence. By trading Jefferson we allow ourselves the ability to resign Paul to a good long term contract. But the best part is what this allows us to do:

Scenarios for Paul MIllsap if resigned 4/$40: We can trade him for pieces, or keep him if Favors and Kanter are proving to be ready. If it looks like Favors and Kanter are ready then you decide on whether it is better to keep Paul at $10M per year, or Gasol at an expected $12M per a year later. And most importantly you weigh that decision against what Paul vs Pau will get you on the trading block and which will make you a better team. My guess is that Pau will get you more on the trading block but that he will also make you a better team. So you really need to know what his market will be in the following off season.. (can he be extended with one year left on his contact is another key question, and can it be at the lower $12 per?) and will he really resign for $12? How well is he liking Utah and the staff and teamates? Does he seem engaged or just counting down until he can leave in FA? These are important questions because the time to trade him would be at the draft this summer or during free agency this summer... a whole year before Gasol expires.

Scenarios for Pau: Next year he will have the biggest and best expiring in the league. I also firmly believe that he will return to dominance when not playing alongside the black hole of Kobe Bryant. We can either flip him for some huge pieces in the off season or during the season to a team that is trying to win now. Think Clippers with a resigned Chris Paul, we could get a resigned Bledsoe who will be extended on a reasonable contract this off season. Think of Houston with any number of their players who could be emerging stars by then. Think of any lottery team on draft day that is just sick of the thought of another year in the lottery and we can pick up a #2 or #3 pick. Think of the Wizards sitting with the #2 pick in the draft staring at a Mohammed but they have a Beal who they love and they don't want to be duplicative.

But there is another scenario: If Pau returns to dominance and All star level, and say Paul doesn't resign or the price tag is too high for a player that will leave us mediocre... We can resign Pau to a contract that is similar to Garnetts and Duncan's. They as 36 year olds signed 3/36 contracts, but Pau will be 34 when signing a 3 year extension and he doesn't live off athleticism but skill and size. I think we could get 5 years of high end productivity out of Gasol and he allows Favors and Kanter to come around at their natural pace.

I love both Jefferson and Millsap, but neither is a perennial all star, or ever once an all star. Gasol has top 10 player capability for the next 3-4 years at least, Paul and Al will never have that. I also think that Favors has All Star potential but I don't know that for sure. Gasol will bring stability to our franchise and will allow us to rise above the mediocrity of fighting for playoff spots 6-8 for a first round exit.

My preferred plan: Jefferson/Raja for Pau ... Pau returns to full production, and then resign him for 3/$36 to anchor our offense with Favors.
Resign Millsap: I still hold out hope that we sign him for 4/$36 in a softer market as the full cap implication take effect... then trade him for pieces sometime between the deadline or during the summer before Haywards and Favors contracts take effect.

I just see an offense and defense with Favors/Gasol as much more unstoppable. I think Favors offense will come along but having Gasol allows us to contend without putting too much stress on Favors development.

2014/15

E Bledsoe $7M (three way trade with Millsap)/ Maynor $3M / Watson $1.5M
Hayward $7.5M/ Burks $3.5 final rookie year
Caroll $2.5/ Draft Pick
Favors $11M/ Kanter $6M final rookie year
Gasol $12M/ Draft Pick

[roll]

I don't like Gasol trade but he is great player no questions. His ability to pass the ball is great addition to Favors and 3p shooters.

[Ming Kong!]

Some of you just want to see a trade happen.

Gasol is averaging 37mpg and putting up only 14ppg 9.5rpg 3.6apg 1.4bpg, with poor efficiency, he has a career low 16.1 PER.

Jefferson is averaging 32.3mpg 15.4ppg 12rpg 1.9apg 1bpg 1.1spg, with a PER of 19.6.

I know they are both off to pretty slow starts offensively, but Gasol is starting to decline, and his contract is nasty. Either way, Gasol would be a rental for an extra year at best.

[Jajwanda]

Well the one thing I'd say about Utah is that Gasol's contract may look bad at this point but I'd rather spend the money on him in a year then I would on another player in FA. That way you can compete now while saving your cap room for your long-term guys down the line.

[babyjax13]

Why in the world would we want Gasol? We whined about Andrei's contract, Pau's is somehow worse and he isn't as productive as he used to be. Eight years ago? Sure, I'd pull the trigger on that, but not any more. I'd rather let Jefferson and Millsap walk and get NOTHING than trade for Pau.

[SoCalJazzFan]

There are reasons, and good ones, to trade Al and Sap and get Pau back.

Pau might be on the decline, but his contract (as large as it is) is only for this season and next season (end in 2014)- just in time for the Jazz to throw money at Favors and Hayward.

If the Jazz sign Al and/or Sap, it will be at least through 2016/2017 as they both will want a 4 year deal.

With both Al and Sap on the court this year, the Jazz haven't been very effective, and the wings even less so. Favors and Kanter's minutes are slim and their development stunted.

I also think that Pau is playing out of his normal position/area of the floor, and has been since last year. He moved farther away from the basket due to Bynum taking up the paint and has again this year with Howard. Let him play with someone like Favors and he can play where he is more comfortable and effective.

Pau will be a very good and willing passer to the wings, who should be shooting more open shots in this offense.

If you don't resign Al and/or Sap, who are you going to sign this summer?? The FA class is pretty thin.

This isn't an AK situation. It is for 2 seasons, setting yourself up to sign the best 2 players on your roster and free agents at that time.

However, it's going to have to be a complicated deal to unload both Al to another team and Sap to the Lakers to get Pau and a backup PF. Some of the players I see as potentially being part of the trade won't be able to be traded until mid-December. For those who think that the Lakers will take Al for Pau, I've got real estate in the Mojave desert to sell you at a really good price and some pretty well known website links that show that the Lakers have a pretty good center already.

[babyjax13]

So we pay $21 million for a solid starter (not a superstar) because there isn't anything better available? Seems like poor logic to me when we all know Favors and Kanter could use more playing time.

[Jajwanda]

For one year yes, you pay that because you don't pay long-term. You will only have three guys next year anyway which is ideal. It's a way of carrying on the current situation (Veterans that can compete), opening up time for the young guys, and not paying money long-term.

If I were to put these three assets:

- Millsap
- Burks
- Bell

In front of you, what would you want for each?

[RookieJazz]

There are reasons, and good ones, to trade Al and Sap and get Pau back.

Pau might be on the decline, but his contract (as large as it is) is only for this season and next season (end in 2014)- just in time for the Jazz to throw money at Favors and Hayward.

If the Jazz sign Al and/or Sap, it will be at least through 2016/2017 as they both will want a 4 year deal.

With both Al and Sap on the court this year, the Jazz haven't been very effective, and the wings even less so. Favors and Kanter's minutes are slim and their development stunted.

I also think that Pau is playing out of his normal position/area of the floor, and has been since last year. He moved farther away from the basket due to Bynum taking up the paint and has again this year with Howard. Let him play with someone like Favors and he can play where he is more comfortable and effective.

Pau will be a very good and willing passer to the wings, who should be shooting more open shots in this offense.

If you don't resign Al and/or Sap, who are you going to sign this summer?? The FA class is pretty thin.

This isn't an AK situation. It is for 2 seasons, setting yourself up to sign the best 2 players on your roster and free agents at that time.

However, it's going to have to be a complicated deal to unload both Al to another team and Sap to the Lakers to get Pau and a backup PF. Some of the players I see as potentially being part of the trade won't be able to be traded until mid-December. For those who think that the Lakers will take Al for Pau, I've got real estate in the Mojave desert to sell you at a really good price and some pretty well known website links that show that the Lakers have a pretty good center already.

+1. Finally, someone seems thinking the same I think about this.
Just wanna add something: There is no awesome free agent next summer. So even you say "let both walk away next summer", who Jazz will sign with this extra cap? Sign a couple of back up players to steal minutes from the youngers?

I just hope Jazz can get a pick or dump Bell in this deal.

[babyjax13]

For one year yes, you pay that because you don't pay long-term. You will only have three guys next year anyway which is ideal. It's a way of carrying on the current situation (Veterans that can compete), opening up time for the young guys, and not paying money long-term.

If I were to put these three assets:

- Millsap
- Burks
- Bell

In front of you, what would you want for each?

That's just it, though, we're paying $21 million for a guy that *might* get us into the second round of the playoffs and who wouldn't be in our long term plans rather than starting Enes and Favors and giving some time to Jeremy Evans. Then you sign a couple of guys to fill out the rotation and you're good to go.

Some candidates:
Branden Wright
Jason Maxiell
Carl Landry
David West
JJ Hickson

Those aren't super sexy, but if Kanter and Favors are developing they'd do the job. And I don't understand why people think the free agency crop is thin:

Dwight Howard
Andrew Bynum
Josh Smith
Al Jefferson
Paul Millsap
Andrei Kirilenko

Now some of these guys may have signed extensions and I don't know about it, but it's not likely that we're going to do much in the way of free agency anyways. Honestly, I'd rather save the money and add another decent prospect to the team in the middle of the draft and have a ton of cap space to start working with. But, that's just me. I guess we can just waste more money to be stuck in mediocrity (which is why I HATED our offseason - and so far it looks like I'm right and we're going to have to fight darn hard to get that 8th seed).

[Jajwanda]

The majority of those guys will demand more than one year. I wouldn't underestimate how important it is to win in the NBA. If you're talking about late lottery picks-8th seed versus reaching the 2nd round you're doing a whole lot of good putting a certain mindset in your young guys. There are expectations, goals, and attitude that you carry when you do that. It's part of the reason why the Jazz were so good for so long was that it was expected.

If you were talking about high tanking (1-5), I understand but between late lotto and the playoffs, don't underestimate the money and don't underestimate how critical it is for the Favors and Kanter.

We'll take Bell in the deal but we'll need a third team to take Jefferson. I'd suggest the Bucks for Dalembert.