Ludden: West teams face long odds against Lakers

[Allanon]

First of all, I am the MVP of the Grizzlies. Marc Gasol is just the means to the end. You don't see him take the clutch shots. Your avatar and sig is gay in general cause it is about Kobe Bryant. Nothing is more gay than Kobe Bryant, except for Sasha Vujacic and Luke Walton. Laker fans supporting Laker s, gay and worthless. If I get traded there, I wouldn't report to Hollywood, where gay happens. Besides, why would you bring up Marc Gasol's beard, if you are not gay enough already, Laker s like you just want to see Kobe grow the beard again, because Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic aren't gonna be growing beards anytime soon.

Well, you've been so ty at trolling that I've figured out who your real user name is. You're the same little bitter you've always been.

So stop being a little Spurfan and use your real nickname.

[mystargtr34]

Lot's of people don't agree. But I make them look stupid down the road.

'Specially the Bynum haters...could be pretty embarrassing for some ST'ers if I dig up those threads.

Its a Spurs board, so there's gonne be alot of trash talking going on of opposing players. I mean, one guy said Bynum's worst case scenario is a more explosive Tim Duncan. I garuantee you 99.9% of people here would take Bynum on their team, but they wont say that when there are some Laker-fans gloating about how he can be better than David Robinson.

[Allanon]

Its a Spurs board, so there's gonne be alot of trash talking going on of opposing players. I mean, one guy said Bynum's worst case scenario is a more explosive Tim Duncan. I garuantee you 99.9% of people here would take Bynum on their team, but they wont say that when there are some Laker-fans gloating about how he can be better than David Robinson.

I know this.

This isn't any different than people insisting the Grizzlies got ripped off. Marc Gasol's one of the best Centers in the West.

He's a much better fit for the Grizz young core and their salary than 30 year old/$16 million Pau.

But because it's a Spurs board, nobody's gonna say the Grizzlies made off like Bandits. Rather, the Lakers robbed the Grizz.

Time will prove me right yet again but nobody's gonna admit it.

[mystargtr34]

I know this.

This isn't any different than people insisting the Grizzlies got ripped off. Marc Gasol's one of the best Centers in the West.

He's a much better fit for the Grizz young core and their salary than 30 year old/$16 million Pau.

But because it's a Spurs board, nobody's gonna say the Grizzlies made off like Bandits. Rather, the Lakers robbed the Grizz.

Time will prove me right yet again but nobody's gonna admit it.

Ok, well im not going to get into another Gasol trade tirade...people have drawn their own conclusions.

[Ice009]

I've been preaching for over a year now, the Grizzlies made out like bandits.

The Grizzles did not make out like bandits you silly .

Gasol was a throw in, who just happened to become a better player a couple of years later than everyone thought.

The trade at the time was a trade for rubbish players.

[Allanon]

The Grizzles did not make out like bandits you silly .

Gasol was a throw in, who just happened to be a lot better than everyone thought.

The trade at the time was a trade for rubbish players.

What the are you talking about?

The Grizzlies specifically asked for Marc Gasol.

The Grizz got:

1) $15 million Salary Cap relief
2) 2 1st round draft picks
3) Marc Gasol (which according to that ESPN article is a younger "nastier" Pau Gasol)

It won't be long before Marc makes the All Star team.

How is that NOT making out like bandits you silly ?

[z0sa]

I love how the Grizzlies lucked into getting a good player in the trade yet somehow that means it wasn't a completely unfair trade at the time it was made.

[Ice009]

What the are you talking about?

The Grizzlies specifically asked for Marc Gasol.

The Grizz got:

1) $15 million Salary Cap relief
2) 2 1st round draft picks
3) Marc Gasol (which according to that ESPN article is a younger "nastier" Pau Gasol)

It won't be long before Marc makes the All Star team.

How is that NOT making out like bandits you silly ?

It was a lopsided trade and you know it.

I said Gasol was a throw in because he was not in the NBA. I guess poor choice of words on that one.

So now you are saying that the trade was all for Marc Gasol? I thought the story was salary cap reasons the trade was made. So now you are saying it was for Marc Gasol, not salary cap reasons?

Why would the Grizzlies do that only to end up with Marc Gasol, who is not an All-Star and then trade for Zack Randolph. That's a bad deal.

I've had enough of you Allanon. You are a controlled troll. You try and build up a nice guy reputation and then pick and choose when to troll very carefully. That is exactly what you are doing in this thread. Trolling.

[Allanon]

It was a lopsided trade and you know it.

I said Gasol was a throw in because he was not in the NBA. I guess poor choice of words on that one.

So now you are saying that the trade was all for Marc Gasol? I thought the story was salary cap reasons the trade was made. So now you are saying it was for Marc Gasol, not salary cap reasons?

Why would the Grizzlies do that only to end up with Marc Gasol, who is not an All-Star and then trade for Zack Randolph. That's a bad deal.

Don't be stupid. I've said this for over a year now. I saw the talent in Marc Gasol and I said it. He was beasting in Europe and became MVP.

I can give you a free pass for thinking at the time it was a lopsided trade. Not many people can see talent.

But now even with the given results and you still think it was lopsided is just plain idiocy.

I've had enough of you Allanon. You are a controlled troll. You try and build up a nice guy reputation and then pick and choose when to troll very carefully. That is exactly what you are doing in this thread. Trolling.

Pick and choose my ass, check the threads or ask your Spurs fellows. I've been saying this same story about Marc Gasol for over a year now. I've even argued with my fellow Laker fans over it.

I''ve had enough of you Ice009, you pretend to be knowledgeable but you're really just a hater.

[bostonguy]

I gotta side with Allanon on this. He has said it for quite sometime that Marc Gasol would be a damn good player.

[HarlemHeat37]

To be fair, Laker fans were obviously pimping their "prospects" to make the trade look better..they were also heavily hyping Crittenton, and he's worse than a scrub at this point..so 1/2..

[picc84]

Ever since the Gasol trade my grocery bill has more than halved. The anger and pain seems to nourish me.

[mystargtr34]

Ever since the Gasol trade my grocery bill has more than halved. The anger and pain seems to nourish me.

Where do you keep your ring?

[TD 21]

I've never understood why Lakers fans argue this deal. It's not about what Gasol (Marc) has turned into, it's what his value was at the time. At the time, he was an unathletic, overweight, out of shape center who people projected as a competent backup at this level because of his size and skill. Some said at the time that he's not a lock to stick in the league, though. Crittenton was a project right from the jump and projected as an off the bench combo guard (think poor man's Crawford) if he reached his potential. In addition to the 1st round pick that was thrown in (essentially meaningless, because of how low it was destined to be), there was very little ulative value in this deal. In return, they got a big man as skilled as any in the league not named Duncan, who was just entering his prime.

We know the Grizzlies did this for "cap related purposes", but if you don't think there was something else at work behind the scenes on this, then you're in denial and niave. It's not just the West connection between the two franchises; the league had to have played a roll in this. Most of the rest of the league didn't even know about it in advance or have time to put together a package and because of that to this day they're still furious. Think about that for a second: how often are teams openly furious about a trade when it occurs? What about going on 2 years later? Unheard of. What likely happened is the league saw their marquee franchise off to a surprising start and knew that if that team had a competent 2nd star (mainly up front) that they'd have a chance to contend, which meant having them on national TV more, which leads to more ratings and subsequently more money for the league. Bryant was one of their two marquee players and they didn't want the remainder of his prime spent on a team toiling in mediocrity.

[Capt Bringdown]

The Gasol trade did what it was intended to do, end the Spurs championship run and install the Lakers as the default champions for the next few years.

That's showbiz.

The NBA wants to sell certain narratives, and that's what they do best. They don't know how to sell anything else than big stories. And the biggest story they like to sell is the GOAT, as in tune in to watch the GOAT team, with the GOAT player, the GOAT coach, the GOAT rivalry etc.

They don't know how to market anything else.

[TD 21]

The Gasol trade did what it was intended to do, end the Spurs championship run and install the Lakers as the default champions for the next few years.

That's showbiz.

This is a much more efficient way of saying what I just said. Well done.

Forgot to comment on Ludden...I know Spurs fans like him because he used to be a beat writer for the team and give good inside information, but this guy is one of the bigger Lakers ass kissers that I've come across (Adande, Rosen, etc.) and that's saying something. He's written I believe 4 articles since the season started: one was about the Spurs, the other 3 about the Lakers and they're all filled with the usual incessant slobbering, as if they're the greatest team he's ever seen and unbeatable. It's funny how when the Lakers are on top, they're unbeatable and historically great; when the Spurs are on top, they're always vulnerable.

[Culburn369]

6 points in the 4th quarter.

tee, hee.

[picc84]

I recognize that the deal was one-sided, ludicrous, and comically absurd. I just don't give a .

What do you want us to do, say sorry? Gotdamn you sound like vaginas.

*gasol shoots J in Duncans face*

"Gee golly, i'm sorry guys, I feel horrible, tell Timmy we'll be sending a gift basket with redeemable cards to Red Lobster, maybe that will take some of this unbearable guilt away!"

*Gasol slam dunks in Howards face for championship*

"Gosh-diddily-arnit, that just grinds my gears, I wish they'd take every point Pau scores off the board and donate it to charity, maybe the Spurs 'We-wish-it'd-been-us' Foundation, I just feel miserable guys, really."

I mean really, trying to make Laker fans feel bad about it is like trying to make a lottery winner feel bad about winning the megamillions while you're sitting in your trailer eating frank and beans watching reruns of Golden Girls. For 3 years. Really just not worth your time.

[Allanon]

I've never understood why Lakers fans argue this deal. It's not about what Gasol (Marc) has turned into, it's what his value was at the time.

1. Not Laker fans, Laker fan...I've been the only one saying this for over a year now.

2. Teams trade for potential. Especially a young rebuilding team like the Grizz. At the time of the trade, Marc was beasting in Europe and became MVP. Pau didn't fit because of his age and salary. Marc was the perfect fit for them.

3. Spurs fans of all people, should know how hard it is to get a great Big man like Marc Gasol...he should be getting no less than $13 million for the stats he's putting up right now instead of a rookie contract.

4. And you say what his trade value was at the time. I can understand if you felt it was robbery back then. Not many people can see potential in overseas players. People see Splitter as a savior but didn't extend Marc Gasol that same courtesy. But the value of the trade should now be clearly evident to you.

Looking back at it today, there was no highway robbery done here.

With Marc being much younger than Pau, non Laker fans should be thanking the Grizzlies for -blocking the Lakers from having 2 of the best big men for the next 10 years.

[TD 21]

I recognize that the deal was one-sided, ludicrous, and comically absurd. I just don't give a .

What do you want us to do, say sorry? Gotdamn you sound like vaginas.

*gasol shoots J in Duncans face*

"Gee golly, i'm sorry guys, I feel horrible, tell Timmy we'll be sending a gift basket with redeemable cards to Red Lobster, maybe that will take some of this unbearable guilt away!"

*Gasol slam dunks in Howards face for championship*

"Gosh-diddily-arnit, that just grinds my gears, I wish they'd take every point Pau scores off the board and donate it to charity, maybe the Spurs 'We-wish-it'd-been-us' Foundation, I just feel miserable guys, really."

I mean really, trying to make Laker fans feel bad about it is like trying to make a lottery winner feel bad about winning the megamillions while you're sitting in your trailer eating frank and beans watching reruns of Golden Girls. For 3 years. Really just not worth your time.

I got no problem with this at ude and am not trying to make Lakers fans feel guilty because of it. In fact, this is the at ude that Lakers fans should have ... not this boastful, we're-better-than-everyone-else act. Everyone knows that the Spurs did things better than anyone else in the past decade; shady trades altering who wins more les in the decade doesn't change that.

[Ice009]

To be fair, Laker fans were obviously pimping their "prospects" to make the trade look better..they were also heavily hyping Crittenton, and he's worse than a scrub at this point..so 1/2..

Exactly. I still don't give any Lakers fan a pass because Crittenton was hyped up as much or maybe more than Gasol. They were hyping the out of most of those players and wow they got one half right, because Gasol is not currently an All-Star so again that is wrong. Saying he will be an All Star doesn't mean until he actually does it.

How did the All-Star Crittenton turn out? What a joke.

[Ice009]

I got no problem with this at ude and am not trying to make Lakers fans feel guilty because of it. In fact, this is the at ude that Lakers fans should have ... not this boastful, we're-better-than-everyone-else act. Everyone knows that the Spurs did things better than anyone else in the past decade; shady trades altering who wins more les in the decade doesn't change that.

lol at least that guy admits it. I am OK with a post like that too.

I am not looking for the bull Allanon is trying to pass around "The Grizzlies made out like bandits".

[Allanon]

I got no problem with this at ude and am not trying to make Lakers fans feel guilty because of it. In fact, this is the at ude that Lakers fans should have ... not this boastful, we're-better-than-everyone-else act. Everyone knows that the Spurs did things better than anyone else in the past decade; shady trades altering who wins more les in the decade doesn't change that.

At least you said it nicely. Props TD21.

Too bad that stupid Ice009 couldn't be as civil.

[TD 21]

1. Not Laker fans, Laker fan...I've been the only one saying this for over a year now.

2. Teams trade for potential. Especially a young rebuilding team like the Grizz. At the time of the trade, Marc was beasting in Europe and became MVP. Pau didn't fit because of his age and salary. Marc was the perfect fit for them.

3. Spurs fans of all people, should know how hard it is to get a great Big man like Marc Gasol...he should be getting no less than $13 million for the stats he's putting up right now instead of a rookie contract.

4. And you say what his trade value was at the time. I can understand if you felt it was robbery back then. Not many people can see potential in overseas players. People see Splitter as a savior but didn't extend Marc Gasol that same courtesy. But the value of the trade should now be clearly evident to you.

Looking back at it today, there was no highway robbery done here.

With Marc being much younger than Pau, non Laker fans should be thanking the Grizzlies for -blocking the Lakers from having 2 of the best big men for the next 10 years.

No, Lakers fanS. You're not the only one, you're one of many. Because I've seen many attempt to defend this trade and I just don't get it.

I just explained what was thought to be the upside for both Gasol and Crittenton in the previous post. Those two, plus the 1st round picks ulative upside did not equal any more than half of Gasol's worth. There were questions about Gasol's athleticism and conditioning and where his sheer size and skill would be enough in the NBA. Obviously, he's in much better shape now and proving otherwise. But like I said, you have to take things for what they were at the time of the deal.

The words "great" and "Marc Gasol" should never be used in the same sentence. Most overused word in sports: great. Duncan is great, Bryant is great, Marc Gasol...not so much. $13 million? $10, max.

Except for the fact that Bynum and Gasol would have a difficult time playing extended minutes together defensively because neither could effectively guard power forwards.

Let me ask you: what are you attempting to justify this trade? There is no justification. Just because it turns out that the Grizzlies got some value out of it does not mean there wasn't any wrongdoing here. Not alerting other teams beforehand is su ious enough. Then you throw in the fact that he was dealt to the league's marquee franchise, which was one impact player away from being back among the league's elite...it's just all too convenient.

[Killakobe81]

Let me say this trade was not Highway robbery ...butGrizz did not make out like bandits I would say Lakers win trade 70 - 30 because we have a le but this can change If Marc continues to develop ...plus cap space didnt get them much and critt was traded ...