Leto wrote:I disagree that Boozer is a bad fit--which is what you're suggesting. He fits better with Howard than Howard does with Gasol. Furthermore, this package nets you Ariza, who is basically Deng-lite, and an athletic PG in Teague. As I mentioned, you are not going to get a better package for Gasol. This deal solves at least one more of your problems at the wing position and gets you a better fit at PF.
As to the "2014 plan", this trade assumes you don't have a 2014 plan. If you have a 2014 plan, then there is no reason to trade Gasol because he's already a huge expiring. Also, there's no reason for this thread if all you want is expiring contracts because Gasol is already an expiring contract.
I was suggesting that Boozer is not an ideal PF for MDA's system. I don't believe any reasonable person can disagree with this. Ideal fit would be a stretch 4. Boozer cannot reasonably be considered a stretch 4 (does he even attempt 3 pointers?). While Ariza would indeed be a good fit IMO, the cost of Boozer's cap eating contract in 2014 outweighs the Ariza benefit.
Re: the 2014 plan, your assumption that LAL doesn't have such a plan defeats the entire purpose of the trade board (TB), which (I thought) was to propose potential trades and have them critiqued. In fact, LAL DOES have a 2014 plan, as evidenced by all of the contracts (except Nash and probably D12) expiring in 2013. So wishing it away to propose a trade that is never going to happen is a waste of time. The reason to trade Gasol is because he is not an ideal fit next to D12, his salary is prohibitive when you add in the corresponding luxury tax payment, and he still has considerable value in the league as a skilled low post player (opinions of the TB notwithstanding). Re: expiring contracts, yes LAL will be looking for expiring contracts IN ADDITION to trading into cap space to reduce the luxury tax hit, as well as (possibily) draft pick(s).
