Pau May sit it out... Last game as a Laker?

[RJM]

He's been in Los Angeles six long years. It's been fun, Pau. No matter what happens next. In this day and age, six seasons with a franchise is an eternity. In six years, he's helped bring two championships to Los Angeles.

I'd call that a success. Round of applause.

[Jakay]

In a perfect world, the Lakers are world beaters one last time with Nash Kobe and Pau on the team.

[crazyeights]

So the WT says Bulls, Cavs, Bobcats, Grizzleys are expected to pursue Pau...and he says it's not money, but contending that's most important....

The Cavs are a mess. The Bobcats are improved, but by means a contender. The Grizz have stalled a bit, but with his brother/the homecoming angle I can see it...and the Bulls are nice but with a huge question mark.

If we get a nice player in the draft. Get Kobe and Nash healthy. Sign back some of these guys, I think we can outperform most of those teams. Those are a lot of ifs themselves, but I honestly don't see the perfect situation for Pau out there....

[MAMBAEMD]

I have the utmost respect for Pau.
He has been a class act as a Laker. He always put team first.
He pouted once in a while but I never minded that because even when he pouted, it was for team goals, and never from a selfish place. It also showed that he cares and has passion.
There were times when my perception was he wasn't giving his all. But that was a perception. Frankly, when it mattered, he came to play, he played hard, and he played smart.
There isn't much more you can ask for.
And some of you know about his work in our community. He does a lot of volunteer work with the Children's Hospital in LA. He is a positive influence in our community.
From a basketball perspective, whether he comes back or not will depend on what else we do in free agency.
I personally would love for him to come back. I think he can contribute. With him and Kobe, assuming healthy and even at 80 %, we'll be in every game, also assuming some of these young bucks come back (Henry, Farmar, Meeks, etc...)
I hope they sign him for 2 years, (team option second year) for big bucks.
The Laker strategy for getting back to playoff contention should be a 3-5 year plan. I think we can use Pau to help be a bridge to get back on top.
That said, I can definitely see a contending team go after him too. He would be a perfect fit in Miami or San Antonio.

[DEEP3CL]

So the WT says Bulls, Cavs, Bobcats, Grizzleys are expected to pursue Pau...and he says it's not money, but contending that's most important....

The Cavs are a mess. The Bobcats are improved, but by means a contender. The Grizz have stalled a bit, but with his brother/the homecoming angle I can see it...and the Bulls are nice but with a huge question mark.

If we get a nice player in the draft. Get Kobe and Nash healthy. Sign back some of these guys, I think we can outperform most of those teams. Those are a lot of ifs themselves, but I honestly don't see the perfect situation for Pau out there....

It's all a smoke screen crazy, think about it....

He want's to be on a contending team, but at the same time his people are putting out who the pursuers are.

We all know it'll be a cold day in hell before Cleveland and Charlotte are true contenders, those two teams were thrown out there as his cash cow back up. Those teams would be stupid enough to pay him near 15 mil he seeks.

The Bulls and Grizzlies are fringe contenders, the media throws that word around to freely. Both teams are many pieces away from doing serious damage. The Bulls are hanging from a string with the D-Rose situation, and even when he plays they still lack a proven number 2 scorer/ creator for others type player.

The Grizzlies have gaping holes all over the joint, weak bench, coaching inexperience, future money problems that tighten their cap situation.

And the real contenders can't pay him nothing but the vet's minimum, and Pau isn't ready to surrender that much of his value.

This is going to come down to what Pau wants to settle for.

[Kilroy]

I read the whole 'Winning over Money' thing as, 'I'm willing to take a steep pay cut to play for the Lakers.' ...But I could be wrong... And he was going to take a steep pay cut anyway.

[crazyeights]

I read the whole 'Winning over Money' thing as, 'I'm willing to take a steep pay cut to play for the Lakers.' ...But I could be wrong... And he was going to take a steep pay cut anyway.

With the condition of we have the appearance of competing next year.

I just wonder what that would be for Pau.

[Kilroy]

Pau doesn't care about winning... He's shown that his last couple playoff performances...

I see it as just his way of saying he wants to stay... "The Laker's storied franchise has continually shown it's commitment to winning." Or some such...

He and Kobe are going to retire together in LA if it's up to them.

[TyCobb]

Draft Exum, sign Lebron, re-sign Gasol, and lesgo!

[crazyeights]

Pau doesn't care about winning... He's shown that his last couple playoff performances...

Careful, with talk like that Pau's gonna have to read another self-help book.

[H00PDREAMS]

Teams Looking to Get Pau.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/ne ... be-bryant/
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/04/0 ... l-6/#gasol

Some of you already know...

[LApwnd]

Draft Exum, sign Lebron, re-sign Gasol, and lesgo!

my fantasy in a nutshell

[EArl]

Draft Exum, sign Lebron, re-sign Gasol, and lesgo!

Pass over the Peyote Ty.

[Mamba Venom]

I hope he plays the final home game. He deserves better if its really his last.

Pau deserved better than D'Antonie who came after him his first week here. If Pau is gone next season and D'Antonie is back I will be so pissed.

Love Pau. Please sign for a deal to stay in LA. We will fire D'Antonie if you stay Pau.

[slicedbread2]

He should play one last game for 10-15 minutes in the last game of the season at Staples and then sit down. I personally feel that if D'Antoni is staying, he's out no matter what.

As far as contenders go for his FA, Memphis would be nice since his brother is there, but due to their gaping problems with the bench not to mention shaky future, Pau may have second thoughts about returning.

I could see him as the final piece to the title in Oklahoma City to be truthful with you. I mean his team mate on the Spanish team, Serge Ibaka is there and that'd be attractive not to mention the fact that they have 2 top 15 players on the team and a solid yet young core mixed with some vets to help out. It would have to be a S&T considering their cap space. I'd go for something like this:

Oklahoma City: Pau Gasol
LA Lakers: Dallas first rounder that seems most likely to be conveyed at #21, OKC first rounder in 2014/2015, Kendrick Perkins and a second or a young prospect.

I hate Perk's deal like anybody else but getting potentially 2 first rounders in this year's draft has to be a net positive for the rebuilding/retooling Lakers and can give Kupchak some options. Maybe Adrien Payne could be available at 21 perhaps?

Another team that I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned is San Antonio AKA the UN of basketball. Coach Pop would enjoy using Gasol's skill set in his system and could easily mesh in well with Tim Duncan for say 10-15 minutes together on the floor depending on the match ups. And they have the cap space not to mention they are always in the hunt for the title. It'd be good for Gasol who could get a lighter version of Tim Duncan's deal at 7-8 million a year with the last year being a P/O. As for a S&T, they could do this:

San Antonio: Pau Gasol
LA Lakers: 1 first rounder, 2 second rounders, expiring salary, maybe one of their Euro stash prospects, TPE.

It feels pretty light, but due to the Spurs having some cap space to play with, they can't screw up the S&T with Pau the way they did with Dwight where they didn't even get a first rounder for his behind.

[LApwnd]

He should play one last game for 10-15 minutes in the last game of the season at Staples and then sit down. I personally feel that if D'Antoni is staying, he's out no matter what.

As far as contenders go for his FA, Memphis would be nice since his brother is there, but due to their gaping problems with the bench not to mention shaky future, Pau may have second thoughts about returning.

I could see him as the final piece to the title in Oklahoma City to be truthful with you. I mean his team mate on the Spanish team, Serge Ibaka is there and that'd be attractive not to mention the fact that they have 2 top 15 players on the team and a solid yet young core mixed with some vets to help out. It would have to be a S&T considering their cap space. I'd go for something like this:

Oklahoma City: Pau Gasol
LA Lakers: Dallas first rounder that seems most likely to be conveyed at #21, OKC first rounder in 2014/2015, Kendrick Perkins and a second or a young prospect.

I hate Perk's deal like anybody else but getting potentially 2 first rounders in this year's draft has to be a net positive for the rebuilding/retooling Lakers and can give Kupchak some options. Maybe Adrien Payne could be available at 21 perhaps?

Another team that I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned is San Antonio AKA the UN of basketball. Coach Pop would enjoy using Gasol's skill set in his system and could easily mesh in well with Tim Duncan for say 10-15 minutes together on the floor depending on the match ups. And they have the cap space not to mention they are always in the hunt for the title. It'd be good for Gasol who could get a lighter version of Tim Duncan's deal at 7-8 million a year with the last year being a P/O. As for a S&T, they could do this:

San Antonio: Pau Gasol
LA Lakers: 1 first rounder, 2 second rounders, expiring salary, maybe one of their Euro stash prospects, TPE.

It feels pretty light, but due to the Spurs having some cap space to play with, they can't screw up the S&T with Pau the way they did with Dwight where they didn't even get a first rounder for his behind.

are you even a laker fan? and hell NO to taking Porkins

[slicedbread2]

He should play one last game for 10-15 minutes in the last game of the season at Staples and then sit down. I personally feel that if D'Antoni is staying, he's out no matter what.

As far as contenders go for his FA, Memphis would be nice since his brother is there, but due to their gaping problems with the bench not to mention shaky future, Pau may have second thoughts about returning.

I could see him as the final piece to the title in Oklahoma City to be truthful with you. I mean his team mate on the Spanish team, Serge Ibaka is there and that'd be attractive not to mention the fact that they have 2 top 15 players on the team and a solid yet young core mixed with some vets to help out. It would have to be a S&T considering their cap space. I'd go for something like this:

Oklahoma City: Pau Gasol
LA Lakers: Dallas first rounder that seems most likely to be conveyed at #21, OKC first rounder in 2014/2015, Kendrick Perkins and a second or a young prospect.

I hate Perk's deal like anybody else but getting potentially 2 first rounders in this year's draft has to be a net positive for the rebuilding/retooling Lakers and can give Kupchak some options. Maybe Adrien Payne could be available at 21 perhaps?

Another team that I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned is San Antonio AKA the UN of basketball. Coach Pop would enjoy using Gasol's skill set in his system and could easily mesh in well with Tim Duncan for say 10-15 minutes together on the floor depending on the match ups. And they have the cap space not to mention they are always in the hunt for the title. It'd be good for Gasol who could get a lighter version of Tim Duncan's deal at 7-8 million a year with the last year being a P/O. As for a S&T, they could do this:

San Antonio: Pau Gasol
LA Lakers: 1 first rounder, 2 second rounders, expiring salary, maybe one of their Euro stash prospects, TPE.

It feels pretty light, but due to the Spurs having some cap space to play with, they can't screw up the S&T with Pau the way they did with Dwight where they didn't even get a first rounder for his behind.

are you even a laker fan? and hell NO to taking Porkins

Porkins . Nice one.

Yea that deal with Perk is bad. If the Thunder amnestied him and got Gasol to agree to come before the amnesty deadline, a S&T would work well and you could get some picks and a young prospect plus some expiring contracts maybe.

I think if D'Antoni is coming back, Gasol won't stick around and he may not be the guy to hold grudges, but I would not want to anger the only guy who could really bring back assets that could help the Lakers rebuild go smoother and hopefully faster.

[LApwnd]

Porkins . Nice one.

Yea that deal with Perk is bad. If the Thunder amnestied him and got Gasol to agree to come before the amnesty deadline, a S&T would work well and you could get some picks and a young prospect plus some expiring contracts maybe.

I think if D'Antoni is coming back, Gasol won't stick around and he may not be the guy to hold grudges, but I would not want to anger the only guy who could really bring back assets that could help the Lakers rebuild go smoother and hopefully faster.

OKC will operate just like Chi, I dont forsee them amenstying anyone, both teams are penny pinchers.

[slicedbread2]

Porkins . Nice one.

Yea that deal with Perk is bad. If the Thunder amnestied him and got Gasol to agree to come before the amnesty deadline, a S&T would work well and you could get some picks and a young prospect plus some expiring contracts maybe.

I think if D'Antoni is coming back, Gasol won't stick around and he may not be the guy to hold grudges, but I would not want to anger the only guy who could really bring back assets that could help the Lakers rebuild go smoother and hopefully faster.

OKC will operate just like Chi, I dont forsee them amenstying anyone, both teams are penny pinchers.

OKC for sure. Chicago? Well if they want to bring over that Euro prospect, they are most likely to have to amnesty Boozer in order to create cap space plus Thibodeau's patience has worn thin with Boozer being a liability on defense. I don't think the Bulls would want to piss off Thibs since he's one of the better coaches in the league. Plus they are players in the Love and Anthony sweepstakes so they'd have to, but who knows what'd happen.

I think San Antonio would be the ideal landing spot for Gasol plus they could send the Lakers picks like a late 1st, 2 seconds, a prospect and a TPE. At this point, Gasol deserves better than to most likely endure another season of D'Antoni. I could imagine Pop toying with other teams and the B-ball IQ would be unfair. But Pau has all the cards in his hand and who knows where'd he want to go to be honest since the supposed teams on that list are fringe contenders at best.