Pau Gasol Traded To Lakers For Nothing

[timvp]

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.


:pctoss

[to21]

Whaaaaaaaaa?

[2Cleva]

Mitch acting like Jerry West.

About damn time! We're back baby!

[2Cleva]

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.

[MoSpur]

WOW. This is good for LA.

[ChumpDumper]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/01/gasol-traded-lakers/

[to21]

^ Exactly! Now you have the missing puzzle. :rolleyes

How long is Bynum out?

[SAtown]

Very nice pickup for the Lakers.

[ChumpDumper]

But we could never get Mike Miller for nothing right, Casper?

[Kori Ellis]

The Spurs should have just traded them Elson, Barry, picks and cash. :lmao

What a weird trade.

[urunobili]

oh oh... the flakers will be tougher now...

[VaSpursFan]

are you kidding me???? the grizzlies gave him away for a can of Coke and some popcorn. hell, we could have offered elson...wow...mitch did his thing.

[Budkin]

Omfg!

[sa_kid20]

Damn where did this come from?

[timvp]

PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Lamar Odom
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum

:depressed

[ChumpDumper]

Nevermind.

[MoSpur]

So when Bynum comes back, it'll be a starting five of Kobe, Lamar, Fisher, Bynum, and Gasol? Wow.

[urunobili]

timvp do you think this is a move to reunite him with his brother as well? the flakers drafted him this last round if i am not wrong...

[Budkin]

Reading True Hoop it sounds like the Grizz just wanted the expiring contract to go after some free agents this summer. How many years does Elson have left?

[Vinny Del Negro]

This is bad.

[nfg3]

Wow this is huge for LA and the Grizzles got nothing really decent. Brown sucks and is a throw away next year. Dude is an incredible bust. This is going to be interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing how Gasol fits into the Lakers system.

[MoSpur]

PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Lamar Odom
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum

:depressed

My thoughts exactly.

[Shank]

This reeks of collusion.

[MoSpur]

We could have given the Grizzlies Elson, Horry and Oberto for Gasol.

[Medvedenko]

Holy shit.........I wanted Miller but getting stone hands off our team is a god send.

[VaSpursFan]

PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Lamar Odom
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum

:depressed

that's actually a sick starting 5...wow :madrun

[VaSpursFan]

if memphis is having a fire sale, can we trade for mikey miller?????

[jman3000]

too many chiefs not enough indians?

this obviously looks like a great trade for the lakers... but it might just be 2004 all over again.

[ChumpDumper]

if memphis is having a fire sale, can we trade for mikey miller?????Ghost Writer says no.

[urunobili]

too many chiefs not enough indians?

this obviously looks like a great trade for the lakers... but it might just be 2004 all over again.do you fucking remember how we ended that season?

[timvp]

The expiring contracts of Barry, Elson and Horry plus their choice of Mahinmi, Splitter and/or first round picks for Gasol would have been a rather nice trade.

Gasol isn't good enough to be a franchise player but as a second or third option he'd be pretty awesome.

[Medvedenko]

There's no way this is 04 again.....

You now have 2 twin towers and a 6'10 (soft as butter) SF and Kobe.....

[VaSpursFan]

Ghost Writer says no.

mikey miller would be an excellent 2 guard because he can actually shoot...i love Fin dawg but i'd rather see Mikey stretching the d.

[Dingle Barry]

That front court is sick nasty silly. Oh well, we have Oberto, Lord of the Tip-Out Offensive Board.

[whottt]

Only one ball...and that's Kobe's...for a better idea of how this turns out, see 04.



And no...Kobe isn't Jordan.

[ChumpDumper]

mikey miller would be an excellent 2 guard because he can actually shoot...i love Fin dawg but i'd rather see Mikey stretching the d.I already floated the idea elsewhere a couple of days ago. Good thinking.

[Extra Stout]

Well, that's a rather one-sided trade.

[Budkin]

And the Lakers are now instant contenders. :bang

[mardigan]

And they traded Stro Show for Jason Collins?
Man, they are cleaning house

[MoSpur]

The expiring contracts of Barry, Elson and Horry plus their choice of Mahinmi, Splitter and/or first round picks for Gasol would have been a rather nice trade.

Gasol isn't good enough to be a franchise player but as a second or third option he'd be pretty awesome.

The Grizz would have been better off with something like that, but maybe...shoot I don't know why they did that. Good job by Mitch and the Lakers. Its going to be even better now. Kobe should shut his mouth now.

[atxrocker]

h0ly fuck. nice move for LA.

[SAtown]

do you fucking remember how we ended that season?

Do you remember how the Lakers finished that season?

[urunobili]

what do we need to match up better with that team?

[VaSpursFan]

Only one ball...and that's Kobe's...for a better idea of how this turns out, see 04.



And no...Kobe isn't Jordan.

i would agree with you but kobe has been playing a little more team oriented lately and with the additional fire power, he can relax for for a few quarters and dominate the 4th. it's going to be interesting to see how fast they can orient Gasol to the triangle and integrate him into the offense.

[Medvedenko]

Kobe can do his thing and have a low post threat in Gasol while Bynum gets healthy. We still keep Odom as a the 3rd option. Oh and we got rid of fucking cake hands.

[timvp]

Only one ball...and that's Kobe's...for a better idea of how this turns out, see 04. Turned out great for the Spurs.

And no, I don't think this makes the Lakers championship favorites or anything like that. But there's no doubt that this trade just made the Lakers a lot tougher to beat once they are healthy. Before this trade, I thought the Lakers would be one and down in the first round again.

Now it looks like they should be able to make it to the second round or maybe the WCF. The already tough West just got tougher.

[Medvedenko]

Not to mention we have Marc Gasol as second round pick. I'm a little upset that Crittenton went...but Farmar has improved a lot.

[2Cleva]

Kobe has been sharing the ball to people who can't score like Odom/Walton/Kwame.

Now there's a 1-2 punch inside with Gasol and Bynum, Kobe dicing things up in the middle and shooters like Fisher, Farmar and Sasha around.

I'd deal Odom for a shooter but he can play Casper all he wants now.

[MoSpur]

They're going to have a huge front court. Bynum is a young beast.

[ThomasGranger]

This is bad news for Spurs fans but even worse for GS and Phoenix fans.

[whottt]

i would agree with you but kobe has been playing a little more team oriented lately and with the additional fire power, he can relax for for a few quarters and dominate the 4th.


In theory that's how it would work...and it would work well.


However, I'll still say that when it comes right down to it...it's still all about Kobe.





it's going to be interesting to see how fast they can orient Gasol to the triangle and integrate him into the offense.



True...


Don't get me wrong, the Lakers cleaned house on this trade, it's an incredibly one sided trade in their favor.

I don't think it really makes the Lakers a whole lot scarier though.


Doesn't make them as scary as Jason Kidd would have.

[Medvedenko]

I can't even concentrate on my work today...this is huge for us. If we're healthy and put Ariza in the starting lineup we can have this defensive line.

Fish
Kobe
Ariza
Pau
A-bomb......

Wow...now we can trade odom for Kidd...... :)

[TwoHandJam]

Jesus H. Christ how did the Spurs' FO drop the ball on this one???? We could have done better than Kwame F'n Brown! And how brain dead are the Grizzlies to trade Pau to a team in their own conference?

Insane.

[whottt]

Turned out great for the Spurs.


Kobe wasn't the one that got us in particular in 04...Hedo was. Then Shaq.


But Kobe was the reason that 04 Laker team didn't win a championship.

[samikeyp]

I have never been impressed with Gasol but now that he has some talent around him, that may change.

[timvp]

Just gotta hope that the Lakers and Suns somehow play each other in the playoffs. The Lakers would kick their azz now.

The first test for this new Lakers lineup is to see if they can handle small ball thrown at them. If they can, they'll swallow up small ball teams like the Suns and Warriors.

[Medvedenko]

Whott....what are you smoking...before Bynum and Ariza went down The lakers were like 9-1 when kobe scored less than 20 points. Hell we even won games when he barely broke 10 points. Having another option saves him for the 4th.

[MoSpur]

And Swift is going to New Jersey?

[VaSpursFan]

i should have known something was up, gasol was on my fantasy team and he's been curiously out of the line-up due to "back spasms".

[Shank]

Sounds like when I'd sucker someone out of a trade in fantasy football. Smells fishy.

They honestly couldn't have dangled Gasol to the rest of the NBA and gotten something better than Kwame Brown? A retarded baby monkey has more talent.

[lefty]

Is the trade confirmed ????????? :wtf

[atxrocker]

And Swift is going to New Jersey?


swift fucking sucks

[2Cleva]

Confirmed by all the LA papers.

[ludda]

I find this hard to believe. Chicago couldn't nag Gasol? Lakers got Gasol for Kwame freaking Brown?? No way...

[lefty]

Confirmed by all the LA papers.

Damn.

Now I have more respect for the Lakers

:bang :bang

[VaSpursFan]

I already floated the idea elsewhere a couple of days ago. Good thinking.

great minds think alike :toast

[samikeyp]

Confirmed by all the LA papers.

and by SI.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/02/01/gasol.trade/index.html

[ancestron]

oh noes

[timvp]

John Paxson should be fired immediately. That team has like 35 small forwards, a lot of good young talent and they don't go out and try to get Gasol? Gasol would have been a perfect fit on the Bulls. They need a post threat desperately.

Hell, Scola would probably be averaging 17 and 9 on the Bulls . . .

[VaSpursFan]

I find this hard to believe. Chicago couldn't nag Gasol? Lakers got Gasol for Kwame freaking Brown?? No way...

paxson shoud be fired...but, this trade popped out of nowhere. talk about CIA

[Fabbs]

This reeks of collusion.
Exactly what it is.

[ThomasGranger]

Damn.

Now I have more respect for the Lakers

:bang :bang

Now I have more respect for their front office.

[himat]

The WC playoffs are going to be insane:

Main Contenders in the West:

Spurs
Mavs
Suns

Teams that have a great shot:

Lakers
Hornets
Jazz

Teams that have a good shot at a first round upset:

Nuggets
Blazers
Warriors
Rockets

I think at least one of the Main Contenders is going to lose in the first round. Look how different the East is:

Main Contenders:
Boston
Detroit

Teams that have a great shot:
Cleveland
Orlando

Teams that have a good shot at a first round upset:
Chicago
Washington
Toronto

[whottt]

Whott....what are you smoking...before Bynum and Ariza went down The lakers were like 9-1 when kobe scored less than 20 points. Hell we even won games when he barely broke 10 points. Having another option saves him for the 4th.



You're right Med....it became pretty clear when Kobe was demanding a trade this past summer that he's totally grown up now.




You don't get it do you...if Kobe had just wanted to be part of a team, he'd have never run Shaq off. He still wants the same thing...the Kobe show winning a championship.

[DarkReign]

PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Lamar Odom
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum

:depressed

Indeed.

I dont know if Kobe's "trade me" drama had anything to do with the front office's move,

but

Kobe is looking stupid right now in the sense that the Lakers were contenders before this trade. Now....shit....favorites, maybe outside of Boston?

[2Cleva]

Exactly what it is.

Hell, it worked for Boston.

:clap

[spursfan09]

:lol Lakers got owned!!!






Just kidding.
This is great for Lakers.
I'm not upset about this one bit....nope no way.

[Spurminator]

Hell, it worked for Boston.

:clap


Paging Danny Ferry...

[timvp]

Brent Barry, Francisco Elson and a pick for Mike Miller.

Make this happen.

[lefty]

Reaction of Lakers fans :lmao (and I don't blame them)

http://www.clublakers.com/forums/breaking-news-gasol-traded-to-lakers-t88743.html

[ThomasGranger]

Brent Barry, Francisco Elson and a pick for Mike Miller.

Make this happen.

Why, not? Hell, if they're just giving players away . . .

[BigVee]

Good for the Spurs...Lakers traded one guy who does a decent job of guarding Duncan for a guy who does not.

[Rummpd]

Spurs still the favorites, Gasol is soft.

[samikeyp]

Weren't those the same Laker fans who have been ready to hang Kupchak for about 3 years now? :lol

[ThomasGranger]

Stern must be absolutely giddy right now.

[whottt]

On the bright side for Gasol...

He might not get swept in a playoff series...


Fourth time's the charm :smokin

[2Cleva]

Weren't those the same Laker fans who have been ready to hang Kupchak for about 3 years now? :lol

Yes it is.

If Danny Ainge can luck into some shit, so can Mitch!

We giddy over here

:drunk

[himat]

Spurs need to get their act together now if they want to make the Finals. There are so many threats in the West. I was being generous in my post about the East. The contenders are Boston, Detroit, and possibly Cleveland.

[Kori Ellis]

Reaction of Lakers fans :lmao (and I don't blame them)

http://www.clublakers.com/forums/breaking-news-gasol-traded-to-lakers-t88743.html



i feel like the man who hasnt bang ten years and than sudendly he scores jessica alba...

yes yes o my godddd yeasssss ahhh yeas ahhhhhhh yeas omg ahh ahhha YESSSSSS...
_________________

[lefty]

Weren't those the same Laker fans who have been ready to hang Kupchak for about 3 years now? :lol

West pulled the trade; Kupchak is his puppet

[ludda]

Gasol is soft, but with all that talent around him, it wont matter.

What the fuck.

[lefty]

:lol

[Whisky Dog]

son of a bitch.

[timvp]

Oh and maybe this trade will clue in Spurs fans on the power of the expiring contract. I think the Spurs may become active around the trade deadline because they have over $15M in expiring contracts. In the modern day NBA, an expiring contract is worth as much or more than a good player in the trade market.

[urunobili]

West pulled the thread; Kupchak is his puppet
:tu

[TheNextGen]

Kobe wasn't the one that got us in particular in 04...Hedo was. Then Shaq.


But Kobe was the reason that 04 Laker team didn't win a championship.


I guess you havent been Kobe for the last 3 seaons. He's not the ball hogger we want him to be anymore.

[lefty]

It's a good thing we're landing Damon Stoudamire then.

We can beat them in the playoffs, but we're gonna need everybody to be 100% healthy.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Well, fuck.

[VaSpursFan]

Brent Barry, Francisco Elson and a pick for Mike Miller.

Make this happen.

i second this...if memphis is going in a different direction, send mikey in our direction. he'd be an awesome 2 guard...can hit the 3, has the middle game and can slash if needed.

Pop...just do it :ihit

[WalterBenitez]

Kobe would say "he or me" in a month or so

[urunobili]

It's a good thing we're landing Damon Stoudamire then.

We can beat them in the playoffs, but we're gonna need everybody to be 100% healthy.and who is going to match up with bynum? Timee.. that leaves Oberto on Gasol... if you haven;t seen the match argentina lost to Spain the the 2006 World Champinship.... Gasol owns him badly... we need another capable big... trade Bonner, Elson and Oberto for something decent please...

[Whisky Dog]

Oh and maybe this trade will clue in Spurs fans on the power of the expiring contract. I think the Spurs may become active around the trade deadline because they have over $15M in expiring contracts. In the modern day NBA, an expiring contract is worth as much or more than a good player in the trade market.

They need to do something if there's something that can be done. I'd love to know what they are working on now that could come to fruition soon. I think Pop and RC see the writing on the wall this season and know that this team as built might not get it done.

[101A]

What a weird turn of events.

Boston benefits from one-sided trades to become the favorite in the East. Now this for LA. Strange. I mean, who benefit from LA v. Boston? Who would ever want to see THAT?

[1Parker1]

PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Lamar Odom
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum

:depressed


:pctoss Did the Lakers just become the WC Fav with this trade? :pctoss

[himat]

:lol at Kori's post. Which starting 5 is better: Pistons or Lakers?

Pistons:
G Chauncey Billups > Derek Fisher
G Kobe Bryant > or >> Rip Hamilton :lol
F Tayshaun Prince > or = Lamar Odom
F Rasheed Wallace > or = Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum > Dice

[Medvedenko]

I'm telling you....Kobe had championship potential before the Gasol trade and was commending the team very well. Now with Gasol we have a legitimate shot when I thought we were at least 1 more year out. We still need to get rid of Odumb, but still it's going to be nice seeing the Twin Towers being fed by Kobe's slashing.....

[lefty]

:lol at Kori's post. Which starting 5 is better: Pistons or Lakers?

Pistons:
G Chauncey Billups > Derek Fisher
G Kobe Bryant > or >> Rip Hamilton :lol
F Tayshaun Prince > or = Lamar Odom
F Rasheed Wallace > or = Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum > Dice

They almost beat you at home without Bynum

[bostonguy]

There's no way this is 04 again.....

You now have 2 twin towers and a 6'10 (soft as butter) SF and Kobe.....

Plus that 04 team still made the finals as it was the Pistons being a better team than it was egos. Age didnt help either for the Lakers that year and that led to implosion. Different team and they arent old either. Oh yeah and Phil Jackson is still the head coach.

[mardigan]

The Lakers also traded the right of Marc Gasol reported by Bucher :lol
Not a bad trade for Memphis really

[lefty]

and who is going to match up with bynum? Timee.. that leaves Oberto on Gasol... if you haven;t seen the match argentina lost to Spain the the 2006 World Champinship.... Gasol owns him badly... we need another capable big... trade Bonner, Elson and Oberto for something decent please...

Or we can ask David Robinson to come out of retirement

[Head Honcho]

i think this hurts phx much more than the spurs. now they have 2 bigs to worry about getting owned by.

[anjlbitz]

This is unbelievable. I would have never thought this kind of trade would be possible outside of NBA Live.

[lefty]

This is unbelievable. I would have never thought this kind of trade would be possible outside of NBA Live.


:lol

[ThomasGranger]

The only downside I see for the Lakers is having the cash to pay Bynum when the time comes.

[Medvedenko]

I'm glad the Lakers didn't hold pat on their "we're injured so let's stand pat and wait until we get healthy BS" We're 3-5 without Bynum and Ariza and are in the midst of slipping in the standings. I like our chances come playoff time and getting home court. You have Odom moving to the SF as a the 3rd option with Gasol and Bynum controlling the paint. Oh and we also have KOBE FUCKING BRYANT. Yes, I'm a little too happy...

[timvp]

As a Spurs fan would you trade Barry, Elson, a first rounder and the choice of either Splitter or Mahinmi for Mike Miller? After looking at how Miller is shooting this season (50%+ from the field, 43%+ from three) and how he has even lit up Bowen this year, I lean toward yes.

[TwoHandJam]

West pulled the trade; Kupchak is his puppet
Wouldn't that be the same notable ex-Laker West who was President of Basketball Operations for the Grizzlies as recently as June of last year? Hmmmmmm.

Don't tell me the Grizzlies couldn't have gotten more for Pau by dangling him in front of other teams instead of this shady back-door trade for Kwame stinkin Brown. The league should crack down on this because this shit stinks.

I guess I really shouldn't blame the Spurs' FO. They never had a chance and neither did any other team.

[VaSpursFan]

the west is freaking stacked...it's going to be nothing but intense matches in the playoffs this year...holy crapoli!!!

[whottt]

I guess you havent been Kobe for the last 3 seaons. He's not the ball hogger we want him to be anymore.


You know what...you're right, I remember being impressed with Kobe's maturation when he was on that run of scoring 40 points, with that 80 point game, and when he demanded a trade this past summer...


You're right, not the same Kobe...he just wants to be part of the team now.


I admire your perception...

[ThomasGranger]

The league should crack down on this because this shit stinks.

But they won't because they are dying for a Lakers/Boston finals.

[Vingianx]

Wow!!

[Medvedenko]

You know what...you're right, I remember being impressed with Kobe's maturation when he was on that run of scoring 40 points, with that 80 point game, and when he demanded a trade this past summer...


You're right, not the same Kobe...he just wants to be part of the team now.


I admire your perception...

Oh and those run of 50 point games and string of 40 point games came on the heals of crazy injuries and oh, we actually won those games.

[VaSpursFan]

As a Spurs fan would you trade Barry, Elson, a first rounder and the choice of either Splitter or Mahinmi for Mike Miller? After looking at how Miller is shooting this season (50%+ from the field, 43%+ from three) and how he has even lit up Bowen this year, I lean toward yes.

i'm all for it since memphis is in fire sale mode...i've seen a bunch of his games because he happens to be on my fantasy team...LOL. but, he is seriously balling. if memphis is trying to "sell high" now is the time to move mikey...hopefully to the spurs :fro

[himat]

They almost beat you at home without Bynum

That doesn't mean anything. That's like saying the Sonics are better than the Spurs because of the recent game.

[slayermin]

Pop and RC needs to call in some favors.

[nkdlunch]

they kept odom lol

[1Parker1]

Darn, I wish Duncan/Parker would have thrown a hissy fit this summer. Maybe then the Spurs front office wouldn't have stayed pat in the offseason and realized that their veteran players have now reached old people status! :pctoss

:lol

[whottt]

Oh and those run of 50 point games and string of 40 point games came on the heals of crazy injuries and oh, we actually won those games.


I know...Kobe had to do it.

Just like he had to win that scoring title...


Because it's about the team :tu

[himat]

Plus that 04 team still made the finals as it was the Pistons being a better team than it was egos. Age didnt help either for the Lakers that year and that led to implosion. Different team and they arent old either. Oh yeah and Phil Jackson is still the head coach.

Let's not compare Bynum to Shaq yet. Gasol and Bynum together probably won't be the threat Shaq was back then...Gasol is soft a lot of times.

[mardigan]

Mike Miller would add so many things that the Spurs need its unreal. Shooting, rebounding, decent d, good size, and he's only just turning 28. Do it, now.

[Bruno]

This trade makes Lakers really better. They are now in the Suns/Spurs/Mavs category.

Spurs should be one of the team the less hurt by this trade.
Odom at PF was a nightmare matchup for Spurs, they had to go small to match that. With Gasol, Odom will play more SF and less Pf than before.
Lakers also lost Kwame Brown. He is a big bust but he was qutie good at defending Duncan.

[tlongII]

I effing HATE the Lakers! It will be very interesting to see who has the better twin towers next season...

[TheNextGen]

I know...Kobe had to do it.

Just like he had to win that scoring title...


Because it's about the team :tu

You can use sarcasm all you want. But if you realistically think that Kobe is the same guy from a couple years ago, tahts up to you. Last night i saw a Kobe with 11 Turnovers becuz he kept passing to kwame. I see a Kobe that has more assist then ever and averaging less points. If you think Kobe is going to ball hog while having Bynum and Gasol on the floor....then i hope you are right..or else we are all in trouble.

[hater]

good they added a proven plaoff choker

[ludda]

This trade makes Lakers really better. They are now in the Suns/Spurs/Mavs category.

Spurs should be one of the team the less hurt by this trade.
Odom at PF was a nightmare matchup for Spurs, they had to go small to match that. With Gasol, Odom will play more SF and less Pf than before.
Lakers also lost Kwame Brown. He is a big bust but he was qutie good at defending Duncan.

I'd say they leapfrogged the Suns and Mavs. I still like our chances b/c I have to believe, but Suns and Mavs look like puny little puppies now.

[Medvedenko]

You can use sarcasm all you want. But if you realistically think that Kobe is the same guy from a couple years ago, tahts up to you. Last night i saw a Kobe with 11 Turnovers becuz he kept passing to kwame. I see a Kobe that has more assist then ever and averaging less points. If you think Kobe is going to ball hog while having Bynum and Gasol on the floor....then i hope you are right..or else we are all in trouble.

See the lakers prior to the injuries...this was exactly what was happening.

[TwoHandJam]

Mitch acting like Jerry West.

About damn time! We're back baby!
You mean West doing Mitch favors. Thinly veiled collusion methinks. West is president of basketball operations for the Grizzlies not 6 months ago and all of a sudden the Grizzlies decide the best they can get for Pau is Kwame and some first round picks?

Ludicrous. The league should rescind this trade.

[VaSpursFan]

I'd say they leapfrogged the Suns and Mavs. I still like our chances b/c I have to believe, but Suns and Mavs look like puny little puppies now.

i look for the mavs to panic now and make a trade. and the suns just crapped themselves :lol :lol :lol

[whottt]

You can use sarcasm all you want. But if you realistically think that Kobe is the same guy from a couple years ago, tahts up to you. Last night i saw a Kobe with 11 Turnovers becuz he kept passing to kwame. I see a Kobe that has more assist then ever and averaging less points. If you think Kobe is going to ball hog while having Bynum and Gasol on the floor....then i hope you are right..or else we are all in trouble.


When it's time for the glory to be given out...Kobe Bryant is going to be passing to one guy...hisself. You can count on that.

[himat]

Stern is having orgasms over the idea of a Lakers Celtics Finals. I hope Detroit and SA get in again.

[Medvedenko]

I don't think he was traded for nothing....Crittenton is going to be special.

[bostonguy]

Let's not compare Bynum to Shaq yet. Gasol and Bynum together probably won't be the threat Shaq was back then...Gasol is soft a lot of times.
Of course not but this team isnt old like that 04 team was. Payton/Malone were old and washed up the time the finals arrived. This team has solid depth to go with a solid starting 5.

[phyzik]

ESPN article has this picture of Pao Gasol http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/4297.jpg :lol

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3226203

[spursfan09]

ESPN article has this picture of Pao Gasol http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/4297.jpg :lol

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3226203

ESPN is just so excited that they are not paying attention to what they are doing.

[atxrocker]

I hope Detroit and SA get in again.


yeaah, that would be exciting. :rolleyes

[2Cleva]

You mean West doing Mitch favors. Thinly veiled collusion methinks. West is president of basketball operations for the Grizzlies not 6 months ago and all of a sudden the Grizzlies decide the best they can get for Pau is Kwame and some first round picks?

Ludicrous. The league should rescind this trade.

Like I said before, if it worked for Boston....♦

[1Parker1]

Actually, this trade may help the Spurs indirectly. This may propel the Mavs...whom I still think are the Spurs toughest matchup in the West to go ahead and trade for Kidd, in which case they will be much easier to matchup against the Spurs as Harris/Terry/Stackhouse have hurt us in the past. :tu

:lol This is all wishful thinking but it could happen!

[ludda]

I don't think he was traded for nothing....Crittenton is going to be special.

:smokin
you guys got a huge steal, just admit it. Kwame Brown..a guy that some teams wouldn't take even if you paid them. Crittenton...OKAY. Picks...OKAY.

[spursfan09]

yeaah, that would be exciting. :rolleyes

???
Before he said that he said that Stern is happy because there could be a possible Celts and Lakers match in teh finals. Then he said he wanted them to be in the finals. Hence admitting it wouldn't be exciting and it would turn Stern's world upside down once again.

[bostonguy]

Mavs are also in deep shit if they have to face the Lakers in a series. Bynum/Gasol in the paint means Dirk has to guard one of them put him in risk of early foul trouble. Kobe will also get to the hoop and create so much attention to a team he plays very well against.

[samikeyp]

Stern is having orgasms over the idea of a Lakers Celtics Finals. I hope Detroit and SA get in again.

:tu

[timvp]

I don't think he was traded for nothing....Crittenton is going to be special.Yeah, I actually like him but he's far from a sure thing. Plus the Grizzlies already have Conley and Lowry to man point guard for the foreseeable future. Critt got a lot of time at shooting guard with the Lakers but his future is more at point guard.

[whottt]

To be fair...

Kwame Brown is the best defensive big on the Lakers...and in particular a guy that has given Duncan some troubles in the past on the defensive side of the ball.


This trade isn't all bad for us...

[himat]

Gabriel (Bristol, CT): So Memphis' front court will be Kwame and Darko? Two top lottery picks like that will surely make them formidable, right? Maybe they're building the all over-hyped-at-draft team.

SportsNation J.A. Adande: (3:23 PM ET ) didn't even think of that angle. Wow. Can you imagine the conversations those two could have? What it's like to be a bust. They can share stories

:lol

[ThomasGranger]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Lakers go on a run the rest of the season and put together some mean winning streaks.

[El_Mago]

This will make the Lakers a force in the playoffs.

I still believe no one out West can take out a healthy Spurs squad in a seven game series.

The arrival of Splitter next season can help us match up with the lakers as well. Plus, Ian will be set too.

We will have a good rotation of bigs with Duncan, Oberto, Splitter, and Ian.

[ludda]

Actually, this trade may help the Spurs indirectly. This may propel the Mavs...whom I still think are the Spurs toughest matchup in the West to go ahead and trade for Kidd, in which case they will be much easier to matchup against the Spurs as Harris/Terry/Stackhouse have hurt us in the past. :tu

:lol This is all wishful thinking but it could happen!

If you watched Terry run the point last night, I would be surprised if the Mavs have not already been trying to get rid of him. He has regressed. If we met again, I like our chances against the Mavs. If they got Kidd without giving up Harris somehow (hey firesales in Memphis and NJ) they Mavs would get better.

[TheNextGen]

Odom/ Farmar for Kidd?

[TwoHandJam]

Like I said before, if it worked for Boston....♦
Are you saying that Jefferson, Ratliff, Telfair, Gomes... is as close to fair value for Garnett as Kwame, a scrub and some picks is for Pau???

[urunobili]

Pop and RC needs to call in some favors.
maybe Chris Wilcox from Presti for Bonner/Elson?

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Fuck!

[thispego]

WOW HOW DID THE LAKERS PULL THAT SHIT OFF :rolleyes

this is what is stupid about the NBA

[himat]

Are you saying that Jefferson, Ratliff, Telfair, Gomes... is as close to fair value for Garnett as Kwame, a scrub and some picks is for Pau???

Hell No it isn't. Jefferson and Gomes already show signs of becoming very good. Kwame has shown barely anything.

[TwoHandJam]

WOW HOW DID THE LAKERS PULL THAT SHIT OFF :rolleyes

this is what is stupid about the NBA
It's called collusion and the league should crack down on this flagrant, lopsided trade but they won't as they're too busy masturbating over the possibility of more revenue/ratings from a Lakers/Celtics finals.

[thispego]

A I = andre miller?
Pau Gasol = kwame brown?

what kind of drugs do some of these GM's take because i want to try them out

[TwoHandJam]

Hell No it isn't. Jefferson and Gomes already show signs of becoming very good. Kwame has shown barely anything.
Exactly.

[himat]

A I = andre miller?
Pau Gasol = kwame brown?

what kind of drugs do some of these GM's take because i want to try them out

Don't try them. You might ditch your girl for a man.

[MoSpur]

Imagine Lakers vs Celtics in the Finals?? Stern would be the happiest man in the world.

[Spurms Chumps]

Uh Oh Bad news for the boring spurs!

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

This trade doesn't make Lakers Favorites, and Gasol has to defer to Bynum when he comes back..lets see how he handles that.

What ticks me off is how Memphis just gave him away for nothing. Shit maybe if we kept Beno we would be able to get Rudy Gay for him...who the fuck is running the front office there?
The GM who won three rings for the Lakers. The GM that Kobe was all but begging to return during his "Trade Me, Trade Me Not" episode. This is bullshit.

[Purple & Gold]

:elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant

[smahmood26]

timvp do you think this is a move to reunite him with his brother as well? the flakers drafted him this last round if i am not wrong...

Yeah but his draft rights were also traded away.

[MoSpur]

Charlie Villanueva for Elson and Finley.

[easjer]

Imagine Lakers vs Celtics in the Finals?? Stern would be the happiest man in the world.


He's got to be spontaneously orgasming right now.

Well, giving it some thought means that it's not as horrifying as when SFIE called me to tell me, but I'm not happy about it.

At this point, I want the Spurs to make a trade. I hate saying it, because Brent Barry is one of my favorite Spurs players, but trade him and Elson to wherever that will bring in a quality addition that can make the trainwreck my team has become worth watching again.

The best news for the Spurs - with their shit play and this trade, they will drop out of favored status for awhile, and well below the radar. They never play well with expectations heaped on them. So maybe being out of the spotlight will allow them the get their shit together and make a legit run.

[El_Mago]

I want Villanueva and he wants out of Mill.

Elson and our 2nd rounders should be good enough.

[41times]

The front office at Memphis are fucking idiots. They just screwed up the West big time.

Phone Call from Lakers: Hello Memphis, yes we are interested in your grizzly looking player Pau Gasol. We will give you this big bag of Magic Beans for him.

Memphis: Is it a really Big bag of beans? Are they brown? are they new?
okay we will take it!!!!!!!!

[TwoHandJam]

How many organizations "blow up" their team and trade their franchise player for the likes of Kwame Brown? Is this the centerpiece of a new team in Memphis? If I'm a Grizzlies fan, I'm pissed as hell. At least Al Jefferson has the potential to be a franchise player in the Garnett trade and he was shipped along with other nice pieces. Kwame Brown has the potential to continue being a polished turd.

This trade isn't even close to being remotely fair and it doesn't take a genius to connect the dots back to the Kupchak/West relationship. This is bad for the league and something should be done about it.

[thispego]

It's called collusion and the league should crack down on this flagrant, lopsided trade but they won't as they're too busy masturbating over the possibility of more revenue/ratings from a Lakers/Celtics finals.
true. :smchode:

[Spurms Chumps]

No trades for you!!

[Ghost Writer]

Okay, the bad news is the Lakers got him for nothing.

The good news is that he's still a candy@ss.

[timvp]

Spurs should be one of the team the less hurt by this trade.I do agree with this. The team in the West least hurt by this trade is the Spurs. When they are allowed to stay big (like they were against the Cavs, Jazz and Nuggets last season), the Spurs are usually fine.

The only non-small ball teams the Spurs have lost to in the Duncan Era were the Shaq-lead Lakers. Bynum and Gasol are good ... but even combined they aren't as good as Shaq was in his prime.

That said, the Lakers did get a lot tougher ... even for the Spurs. Before the trade, I would say the Spurs could have beaten the Lakers in 5 or 6 games with LA having no real shot to win the series against a healthy Spurs team. Now? You are looking at a 6 or 7 game series with the Lakers capable of beating the Spurs.

[thispego]

How many organizations "blow up" their team and trade their franchise player for the likes of Kwame Brown? Is this the centerpiece of a new team in Memphis? If I'm a Grizzlies fan, I'm pissed as hell. At least Al Jefferson has the potential to be a franchise player in the Garnett trade and he was shipped along with other nice pieces. Kwame Brown has the potential to continue being a polished turd.

This trade isn't even close to being remotely fair and it doesn't take a genius to connect the dots back to the Kupchak/West relationship. This is bad for the league and something should be done about it.
mr clutch stikes again

[TheNextGen]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3nHAuZdEH9Q&feature=related

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I just saw this!!!


Why couldn't the Spurs have raped the Grizzlies??!!!! IT'S NOT FAIR!!!! :madrun :pctoss

[ludda]

Who cares if Gasol is the softest big in the league. He's arguably the THIRD best player on that team. Don't matter about his playoff experience or whatever. This trade is just plain GOLD for the Lakers and SHIT for the rest of the West. That's it.

[TwoHandJam]

Okay, the bad news is the Lakers got him for nothing.

The good news is that he's still a candy@ss.
Sure. A candyass that can still put up 18/9 through three and a half quarters at which point he sits back and watches Kobe take over in the fourth with fresh legs.

Hell, we couldn't have used Gasol in our frontcourt. I'd rather go to battle with the likes of Elson, Bonner and Horry's corpse.

[ThomasGranger]

The front office at Memphis are fucking idiots. They just screwed up the West big time.

Phone Call from Lakers: Hello Memphis, yes we are interested in your grizzly looking player Pau Gasol. We will give you this big bag of Magic Beans for him.

Memphis: Is it a really Big bag of beans? Are they brown? are they new?
okay we will take it!!!!!!!!

Probably more along the lines of:

"Hey, Mitch, Jerry here. The owners want to blow up the team and dump some salary. I'm thinking you could really use a player like Pau. Why don't you make me an offer--anybody, as long as the salaries match--and I'll make it happen. Oh, and, I probably don't need to tell you this, but don't say a word about this to anybody, OK?"

[thispego]

This is a huge load and the lakers are my new public enemy number 1 again. fucking cheaters.

[ploto]

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

I am surprised no one commented on this statement.

PS The Lakers should be shorthanded to play the Raptors tonight. :D

[Supergirl]

Damn, why would Memphis give up on their star for nothing? That's f-ed up.

This makes L.A. scary good, at least on paper. Of course, Shaq-Malone-Payton-Kobe was even scarier-good good on paper, and it totally turned out to be a bust.

What I want to know is, how the hell can the Lakers AFFORD Gasol?

[MoSpur]

So are the Grizzlies done dealing or are they willing to trade more? Lets say someone like Miller?

[2Cleva]

Damn. For a brief moment there Mitch could have smacked my momma and I would have told her to shake it off and apologize to the man.

What a great day for LA.

[Purple & Gold]

This is a huge load and the lakers are my new public enemy number 1 again. fucking cheaters.

:elephant :elephant :elephant

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Sure. A candyass that can still put up 18/9 through three and a half quarters at which point he sits back and watches Kobe take over in the fourth with fresh legs.

Hell, we couldn't have used Gasol in our frontcourt. I'd rather go to battle with the likes of Elson, Bonner and Horry's corpse.


No doubt. This is such a huge positive for LA that it makes me ill. Gasol very easily could be that perfect compliment next to Kobe, a guy with range offensively and defensively who can shoot, rebound, and block shots, and then step aside and let Kobe control crunch time.

The entire Western conference should be pissed that this trade went down. I heard no rumors about this deal at all. LA's front office was more CIA than Pop's ever been.

[MajorMike]

So... when Bynum gets back where is he gonna play?

[Medvedenko]

Damn, why would Memphis give up on their star for nothing? That's f-ed up.

This makes L.A. scary good, at least on paper. Of course, Shaq-Malone-Payton-Kobe was even scarier-good good on paper, and it totally turned out to be a bust.

What I want to know is, how the hell can the Lakers AFFORD Gasol?

How was the 04 team a bust....one Malone injury away and they win again. They made it to the finals you know. That was the same year Kobe was flying back and forth during the playoffs during the rape trial. I was shocked they even made it. Now don't forget about Odom, he can go back to playing the role he was born to play....a good role player who rebounds, passes and runs the O.

[ploto]

So... when Bynum gets back where is he gonna play?
PF

[Medvedenko]

Bynum plays the 5 while Gasol plays the 4....

Gasol has a decent jumper and decent quicks for a big. It's going to get ugly for the West once LA is somewhat healthy......

[MajorMike]

PF

So ok, so where is Odom gonna play?

[TheNextGen]

odoms natural [position is the 3

[DazedAndConfused]

Pau Gasol is the missing piece the Lakers have been searching for ever since Shaq left. He's a true PF in every sense of the word, has a nice midrange shot and good post game. He can share the limelight with Kobe very well too, no chemistry issues there.

The other pieces are already in place for the Lakers.

HOF coach - check
Best wing player in the game - check
Deep bench - check
Elite Center - check

There are no weaknesses to our team now other than Odom at the SF spot. But even that is debatable as a weakness, we won't need him to score a single point. Just rebound the ball.

[Purple & Gold]

So ok, so where is Odom gonna play?

NJ

[Joe Schmoogins]

As a Spurs fan would you trade Barry, Elson, a first rounder and the choice of either Splitter or Mahinmi for Mike Miller? After looking at how Miller is shooting this season (50%+ from the field, 43%+ from three) and how he has even lit up Bowen this year, I lean toward yes..

I wouldnt deal either one of our young bigs... no way. But I'd do it for sure if ian and splitter weren't involved.

[TwoHandJam]

No doubt. This is such a huge positive for LA that it makes me ill. Gasol very easily could be that perfect compliment next to Kobe, a guy with range offensively and defensively who can shoot, rebound, and block shots, and then step aside and let Kobe control crunch time.

The entire Western conference should be pissed that this trade went down. I heard no rumors about this deal at all. LA's front office was more CIA than Pop's ever been.
It was a shady, backdoor Kupchak/West thing that's why. Remember West? The no-too-long-ago PBO for the Grizzlies? If I'm one of the other 29 GMs, I'm on the horn to Stern trying to get this trade rescinded. This trade stinks of collusion.

[T Park]

Good trade, but, when its playoff time the spanish ole machine that is Gasol will shrink again.

IMO hes a horrible defender, hell Jackie Butler schooled him at the end of the year last year.

Good trade, will help, but against the SERIOUS contenders like SA, Dallas, this is a bit of help but not over the top.

They can beat Phoenix with Gasol though.

Phoenix is in serious trouble IMO.

[jmard5]

Holee. I was just gone a few minutes and this happened? That's a sick starting five the Lakers have right now!

[41times]

Here is the trade. Memphis got some picks but still.....

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired forward Pau Gasol in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. The Lakers will also receive the Grizzlies second round draft choice in 2010. In exchange Memphis will receive forward Kwame Brown, guard Javaris Crittenton, guard Aaron McKie (who the Lakers signed earlier today), the draft rights to Marc Gasol and first round picks in 2008 and 2010.

Gasol, a 7th year player out of Spain, is averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.44 blocked shots per game this season. The 27 year old 7’0” forward/center has career averages of 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds. A 2006 NBA All-Star and 2001-02 NBA Rookie of the Year, Gasol also won a gold medal with Spain at the 2006 FIBA World Championships while being named tournament MVP.

[TheNextGen]

It was a shady, backdoor Kupchak/West thing that's why. Remember West? The no-too-long-ago PBO for the Grizzlies? If I'm one of the other 29 GMs, I'm on the horn to Stern trying to get this trade rescinded. This trade stinks of collusion.

if boston/minn can get away with it...im sure memphis/lakers can even easier...especially since west isnt the gm anymore.

[temujin]

I hesitate between:

That's waht happens when your team is run by someone linked to another organization.

and

Pau Gasol is the eventual looser.
It took him NOT to play the final for Spain to win anything, finally.

Pick which one you like.

[MajorMike]

NJ

That's exactly where I was going with that line of thought.

[TheNextGen]

Gasol, a 7th year player out of Spain, is averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.44 blocked shots per game this season. The 27 year old 7’0” forward/center has career averages of 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds. A 2006 NBA All-Star and 2001-02 NBA Rookie of the Year, Gasol also won a gold medal with Spain at the 2006 FIBA World Championships while being named tournament MVP.

That, for a guy who cant catch a basketball.

[DazedAndConfused]

You morons act like Gasol will be the #1 option in LA. He will be the #3 option behind Kobe and Bynum. You are the same people that predicted Boston wouldn't be good because KG, PP, and RA never won anything before. When will you ever learn?

This Laker team needed one move to put them over the top. This was that move. We now have threats at every position. You cannot double team Kobe anymore with Bynum and Pau on the floor. It's a mismatch for every team out there. If the Lakers managed to be the top team in the WC without Pau before Bynum went down, imagine what they can do with him.

[TwoHandJam]

if boston/minn can get away with it...im sure memphis/lakers can even easier...especially since west isnt the gm anymore.
Riiiiight because Kwame, Crittenton and picks = Jefferson, Ratliff, Gomes, Telfair and Green.

Have you ever even seen Jefferson play?

Please.

If you don't think the Grizzlies could have gotten more for Pau then Kwame and some scrubs then you're not even worth conversing with. Shit, they even traded him within their own conference. GMAFB.

[TheNextGen]

You morons act like Gasol will be the #1 option in LA. He will be the #3 option behind Kobe and Bynum. You are the same people that predicted Boston wouldn't be good because KG, PP, and RA never won anything before. When will you ever learn?

This Laker team needed one move to put them over the top. This was that move. We now have threats at every position. You cannot double team Kobe anymore with Bynum and Pau on the floor. It's a mismatch for every team out there. If the Lakers managed to be the top team in the WC without Pau before Bynum went down, imagine what they can do with him.

I disagree. The Lakers were #1 in the west when Bynum got injured...this move just rocketed them to the championship.... of course this is on paper.

[Medvedenko]

I actually agree with you D&C...we were a top team and had the best point diff when Bynum and Ariza went down...all this and Kwame missed 19 games as a laker already this season. Oh, but they're not a threat....please.

[2Cleva]

Riiiiight because Kwame, Crittenton and picks = Jefferson, Ratliff, Gomes, Telfair and Green.

Have you ever even seen Jefferson play?

Please.

I'm not going to lie - the deal was larceny. It was wrong. It shouldn't be allowed and there needs to be an investigation.


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Ah well.

[Medvedenko]

We'll take it 2 cleva...now we need Medvedenko back and we'll be set.

[TheNextGen]

Riiiiight because Kwame, Crittenton and picks = Jefferson, Ratliff, Gomes, Telfair and Green.

Have you ever even seen Jefferson play?

Please.

so you dont think the two gm's Mchale and Ainge were "in on it" together?

What connection does Lakers and Memphis have? Jerry West...he isnt gm anymore. So what im saying is, if minn/boston can get away with collusion, the lakers will DEFINATELY get away with it.

[ludda]

Lakers>>Suns, Mavs. When we get our shit together and get healthy, I forsee a hell of a series.

[1Parker1]

Kobe was playing great alongside Bynum when he was healthy. He was passing, taking his shots as they came, etc. As a result Lakers were #1 in the West at that point. Now just imagine how Kobe's game will turnout with 2 big men?

[TwoHandJam]

I'm not going to lie - the deal was larceny. It was wrong. It shouldn't be allowed and there needs to be an investigation.


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Ah well.
I've no doubt you'll get away with it. The league will always have a soft spot for one of it's media darlings.

It just really, really sucks.

[rascal]

But we could never get Mike Miller for nothing right, Casper?

The Spurs front office never makes trades for impact players, for expiring contracts and/ or draft picks.

[T Park]

he Spurs front office never makes trades for impact players, for expiring contracts and/ or draft picks.

When did Mike I suck in the playoffs Miller become an "impact" player?

[jmard5]

Hell, if this was fantasy NBA, this thread would be vetoed! Never saw this coming.

[TwoHandJam]

so you dont think the two gm's Mchale and Ainge were "in on it" together?

What connection does Lakers and Memphis have? Jerry West...he isnt gm anymore. So what im saying is, if minn/boston can get away with collusion, the lakers will DEFINATELY get away with it.
I'm sure they were but their deal was actually fair. Garnett had no immediate equal but Jefferson can grow into a hell of a player and actually has franchise player potential (he's averaging 21/12 at 23 yrs old!) let alone the other guys (Gomes, Ratliff, Telfair.. ) who were thrown in.

This Laker trade isn't even remotely close to being fair. Pau is a franchise player and Kwame is a scrub. You don't trade a franchise player in his prime for scrubs and picks.

This deal is straight up robbery.

[T Park]

This Laker trade isn't even remotely close to being fair. Pau is a franchise player and Kwame is a scrub. You don't trade a franchise player in his prime for scrubs and picks.



You do if your clearing space for a run at FAs in the summer.

[TheNextGen]

I'm sure they were but their deal was actually fair. Garnett had no immediate equal but Jefferson can grow into a hell of a player and actually has franchise player potential (he's averaging 21/12 at 23 yrs old!) let alone the other guys (Gomes, Ratliff, Telfair.. ) who were thrown in.

This Laker trade isn't even remotely close to being fair. Pau is a franchise player and Kwame is a scrub. You don't trade a franchise player in his prime for scrubs and picks.

This deal is straight up robbery.

Javaris Crit will be an all star in the future. They get rid of a big contract to get a FA in the future. The get 2 first round draft picks. If Memphis's goal is to rebuild, then this is a great deal for them.

[ChumpDumper]

The Spurs front office never makes trades for impact players, for expiring contracts and/ or draft picks.They were never willing to take back a contract with years left on it before.

With the next cap space scheme taking place 2 1/2 seasons from now, they can do that now.

[nkdlunch]

Let's take advantage today! lets try to get Miller for Elson and a bottle of riverwalk water

[anjlbitz]

Who would we have to trade to get our hands on Mike Miller?

[nkdlunch]

this is what happened to the ESPN trade machine after the Gasol trade was entered:
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2587667/2/istockphoto_2587667_clock_parts_4.jpg

[TwoHandJam]

You do if your clearing space for a run at FAs in the summer.
Yeah, I'm sure the FAs will just be clamoring to come to freaking Memphis to play with....... Kwame.

We had trouble getting luring 2nd and 3rd tier players to come play with Tim freaking Duncan when we had millions to spend. You think franchise players are going to flock to Memphis to play with no one of consequence???

:rolleyes

[Medvedenko]

I just wished we could have sent Odom for Miller and Warrick

[tav1]

I can't add much, and I didn't take time to read the entire thread, but our FO better get on the ball. Mike Miller and Juan Carlos Navarro must be available--go get em!

[MoSpur]

I can't wait until the playoffs.

[ChumpDumper]

Yeah, I'm sure the FAs will just be clamoring to come to freaking Memphis to play with....... Kwame.

We had trouble getting luring 2nd and 3rd tier players to come play with Tim freaking Duncan when we had millions to spend. You think franchise players are going to flock to Memphis to play with no one of consequence???

:rolleyesIf they overpay, why not? Players are mostly about money first, especially the younger ones.

[DazedAndConfused]

The thing about Gasol is he is the perfect PF option for the triangle offense. He is the player we have been wanting ever since Shaq left. He, Bynum, and Kobe will catapult the Lakers out of the WC. The aging Spurs are no longer a threat this year unless Parker can come back at 100%.

[TwoHandJam]

Javaris Crit will be an all star in the future. They get rid of a big contract to get a FA in the future. The get 2 first round draft picks. If Memphis's goal is to rebuild, then this is a great deal for them.

Crit will an all star? You mean like Kwame was supposed to be? That kind of all star? Please. The league is littered with scrubs that had "potential". Paying for potential is how you become like the Knicks.

I guarantee you they're about 29 other GMs that could have offered Memphis more than what they got. Trouble is, they never even got the chance. These types of deals are bad for the entire league.

[Medvedenko]

Well Garnett was my first choice....with Pau as the second....I'm happy today.

[j.r. haider]

who cares, they still have the serbian gangster.

[temujin]

his trade smells like Bynum might be out for way longer than expected.

Gasol is famous for failing in big games.

[himat]

The thing about Gasol is he is the perfect PF option for the triangle offense. He is the player we have been wanting ever since Shaq left. He, Bynum, and Kobe will catapult the Lakers out of the WC. The aging Spurs are no longer a threat this year unless Parker can come back at 100%.

You sounded smart until the last sentence. That was said last year and the year before. Plus SA is not the only roadblock in the West.

[TwoHandJam]

If they overpay, why not? Players are mostly about money first, especially the younger ones.
Ok, so maybe you blow your wad on a potential franchise player who gets to team up with......


Kwame.

Nice.

[pad300]

I'm sure they were but their deal was actually fair. Garnett had no immediate equal but Jefferson can grow into a hell of a player and actually has franchise player potential (he's averaging 21/12 at 23 yrs old!) let alone the other guys (Gomes, Ratliff, Telfair.. ) who were thrown in.

This Laker trade isn't even remotely close to being fair. Pau is a franchise player and Kwame is a scrub. You don't trade a franchise player in his prime for scrubs and picks.

This deal is straight up robbery.

Not to mention Garnett is older than Pau. Minnesota got 2 1st round picks back as well (their own, this year, a lottery pick) and Boston's 2009 pick (estimated as 25-30). Whereas the picks that go to Memphis are LA's 2008 and 2010. LA's current draft position #24. Their 2010 pick, given they will have at least Kobe, Bynum, and Pau est. 25-30...

Yeah, I'd describe this trade as collusion too...I think this does make the laker s the favorite out west. Starting Pau and Bynum as a frontcourt gives the Lakers as formidable a frontcourt in the NBA. Due to the weakness of our current second bigs (the guy beside Duncan), it plays even (or better) I think, with us. Their backcourt is, of course, formidable. Kobe is a load, and playing Odom at SF is potentially dangerous too. Fisher is a crafty old bastard too; look at our series with the Jazz last year...

[Don Quixote]

Great pickup for the Lakers. When Bynum and Ariza get back, that team will be ready to rumble.

Not sold on Fish as a starting PG ... still think Farmar is better. But they have a good bench, too.

When was the last time Mihm played? 2005?

[e20dylan]

How come everyone is getting excited about Mike Miller?

Career Playoffs
40% FG shooting
34% 3pt shooting
9 pts per game

he played very well in the olympic qualifiers

[MoSpur]

The thing about Gasol is he is the perfect PF option for the triangle offense. He is the player we have been wanting ever since Shaq left. He, Bynum, and Kobe will catapult the Lakers out of the WC. The aging Spurs are no longer a threat this year unless Parker can come back at 100%.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggggggggghhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhtttttttttttttt

[The_Game]

wow

Lakers are finally a contender again.

[magui86770]

I fully expect the Mavs to pull the trigger on the Kidd deal now after this trade.

[MoSpur]

I also expect other teams in the West to make trades. I think this is the season the Spurs make a significant trade before the deadline