Spurs' Gregg Popovich rethinks Pau Gasol deal

[Allanon]

Allanon, I'd say 99% still disagree even though you tried pimping the trade.

When the deal was done maybe only about 5% of the people thought Gasol would be as good as he is now. I thought at best he might be 10 and 8 type of player. I seriously doubt Memphis had any clue he would be this good and I doubt anyone knew that Marc would lose that much weight over the summer to help better his game. Losing the weight has helped him a lot.

As far as Randolph goes you could probably say 0% people on this board thought he would be an NBA All-Star.

Read the first sentence. I am pretty sure Pop still does not agree with the trade at all. He is just saying that Memphis took a big risk and it looks like it is paying off for them. What else is he going to say? He can't say they suck and it's not looking like a good trade. He is just stating the obvious.

I would have given it a 5% chance of actually paying off when the trade was done. Looks like they may have won a lottery of sorts. It's more luck than it was planned to turn out this way. You can't tell me you thought Memphis would be this good this season.

I admit I didn't know about Randolph...all I knew is that they had cleared major cap room.

But I watched Marc Gasol become the Spanish League MVP being a tougher, better D version of his brother. I said he'd be at least a tough 15/10 guy over a year ago. Now it looks like that was a conservative number.

Kobe even admitted in the Summer Olympics 2008 that he wished the Lakers had kept Marc. Marc played great against Bosh and Dwight. It wasn't just because he lost weight this summer. He was very solid in his first year...losing the weight gave him the flexibility to play Power Forward as well as Center.

I haven't changed my story, I (and several others including some Spurs fans) knew he would be legit.

It's no different than knowing Splitter's gonna be pretty good when he gets here. It's a no-brainer and I'm sure Chris Wallace saw it as well since he insisted on getting Marc in return. If not for drafting Thabeet, I'd think Chris Wallace is the Executive of the Year, hands down. I still think he's going to either win it or be in the running.

Y'all have given me and laughed at my notion of Marc being good for over a year now...if you ain't gonna give me props or eat any crow, at least be man enough to let it go.

[Ice009]

I admit I didn't know about Randolph...all I knew is that they had cleared major cap room.

But I watched Marc Gasol become the Spanish League MVP being a tougher version of his brother.

I haven't changed my story, I (and several others including some Spurs fans) knew he would be legit.

It's no different than knowing Splitter's gonna be pretty good when he gets here. It's a no-brainer and I'm sure Chris Wallace saw it as well since he insisted on getting Marc in return.

What is legit? Most people thought his ceiling might be 10 and 8 or 10 and 10. Are you saying all those people that said he would be legit thought he could be 15 and 10? he might even be 18 and 10 sooner or later. He is better than 99% of people expected him to be at this stage when he first entered the NBA. Memhpis simply won the lottery, not even the Lakers knew he would be this good if they took Sun Yue before him in the draft.

I really don't think it was a no-brainer he would be this good, this quick or even at all.

[doobs]

It doesn't matter what a deal looks like in retrospect. The deal was dirty because Memphis could have gotten SO MUCH MORE for Gasol. And everyone knew it.

[Ice009]

Also, if you want props I want to see some posts or links before the Pau Gasol trade was done where you said Marc Gasol would be this good. Not after the trade. I don't care what was said after the trade because well lots of people had to come up with something to justify the trade.

[Allanon]

What is legit? Most people thought his ceiling might be 10 and 8 or 10 and 10. Are you saying all those people that said he would be legit thought he could be 15 and 10? he might even be 18 and 10 sooner or later. He is better than 99% of people expected him to be at this stage when he first entered the NBA. Memhpis simply won the lottery, not even the Lakers knew he would be this good if they took Sun Yue before him in the draft.

I really don't think it was a no-brainer he would be this good, this quick or even at all.

What is legit? 15/10. I toldja all that this is what he'd be and y'all were laughing.

EVEN during this summer, before the season began, I said the same thing and just got back laughter.

Chris Wallace obviously thought he was getting a good deal.

I said it was a good deal.

Midnight Pup earlier in this thread thought it was a good deal.

[Allanon]

Also, if you want props I want to see some posts or links before the Pau Gasol trade was done where you said Marc Gasol would be this good. Not after the trade. I don't care what was said after the trade because well lots of people had to come up with something to justify the trade.

Dude, I don't need your props. Reasonable fans know I've said this for a long time now.

It's also well known I joined this site AFTER the Gasol trade...and I manned up to it and ate crow when it was shown.

But, some people just can't man up.

[21_Blessings]

Draft Express

Gasol on the other hand looks like an absolute steal for the Lakers, having drafted him in the late second round (#48) this past June. His skill level is looking better and better these days, knocking down a 3-pointer calmly, hitting a pretty turnaround jumper, and doing a terrific job moving off the ball and creating space for his post-mate Vroman to operate. He’s a team player who really knows how to pass the ball and is looking much more comfortable in his own skin than we ever remembered him. He also utilized his size very nicely both on the glass and inside the paint, making his presence felt here and altering quite a few Charleroi shots. In short, we’re talking about an absolute stud at this level. It’s still not 100% clear that he’s athletic enough to play substantial minutes in today’s NBA, especially early on, but to land a player this big with this kind of skill level and basketball IQ is an absolute coup. He might be the best big man in the ACB these days, which is saying an awful lot.

This before the trade. Gasol was the 2008 ACB MVP which is a big deal in Europe. There were plenty of scouts at the time calling him the best player in Europe. Lakers fans were getting super excited about him long before the Gasol trade ever happened.

[tlongII]

Who gives a ? The Lakers won't be winning any more les anyway.

[Ice009]

Dude, I don't need your props. Reasonable fans know I've said this for a long time now.

It's also well known I joined this site AFTER the Gasol trade...and I manned up to it and ate crow when it was shown.

But, some people just can't man up.

That is my point then. After seeing Gasol in the NBA it is a lot easier to say he would be good. When the trade was made Pau Gasol was a proven commodity and Marc Gasol was not. No one had any idea what he could do in the NBA. Even when a foreign superstar enters the NBA hardly anyone knows what to expect. They could be great or they could be a bust.

If you actually said Gasol would be this good long before the Lakers traded him I would say you either fluked it or really knew your .

For the record I have no idea how good Splitter would be as he hasn't played in 1 NBA game. I'd have to see him in the NBA against the best compe ion before I'd know if he's any good.

[Allanon]

That is my point then. After seeing Gasol in the NBA it is a lot easier to say he would be good. When the trade was made Pau Gasol was a proven commodity and Marc Gasol was not. No one had any idea what he could do in the NBA. Even when a foreign superstar enters the NBA hardly anyone knows what to expect. They could be great or they could be a bust.

If you actually said Gasol would be this good long before the Lakers traded him I would say you either fluked it or really knew your .

For the record I have no idea how good Splitter would be as he hasn't played in 1 NBA game. I'd have to see him in the NBA against the best compe ion before I'd know if he's any good.

I said Marc Gasol was 15/10 good before he played an NBA game.

I said it based upon me watching him in the Spanish league.

And I'll say it now, if Splitter makes it to the NBA, he's going to be around 15/10 good as well.

[Ice009]

Draft Express



This before the trade. Gasol was the 2008 ACB MVP which is a big deal in Europe. There were plenty of scouts at the time calling him the best player in Europe. Lakers fans were getting super excited about him long before the Gasol trade ever happened.

"He might be the best big man in the ACB these days"

All that says is he might be the best player in the ACB. That doesn't equate to people saying he is the best player in Europe. They are the quotes I am looking for. Best player in Europe.

[Ice009]

I said Marc Gasol was 15/10 good before he played an NBA game.

Did you say that before the Lakers traded him?

[Allanon]

Did you say that before the Lakers traded him?

No, I was not a member at ST until after the Gasol trade.

But I did say it while everybody was pissed that they had traded Pau for Kwame. I pointed out that Marc will make the trade very even, if not unfair for the Lakers.

I even argued with some fellow Lakerfans over it, unfortunately.

[21_Blessings]

"He might be the best big man in the ACB these days"

All that says is he might be the best player in the ACB. That doesn't equate to people saying he is the best player in Europe.

You're ing stupid, congrats!

Winning ACB MVP = best player in Europe argument. Regardless.

Regardless, the trade was clearly legit. Worked out for both teams. Don't be bitter about Milwaukee sticking their 14 million dollar right up the Spurs asses.

[BadOdor]

No, I was not a member at ST until after the Gasol

lolz.

[Allanon]

I refuse to act with common decency

lolz.

[HarlemHeat37]

Of course it was collusion, no-brainer..

If you actually look back at what Laker fans were saying at the time, Gasol was actually the 3rd most important piece involved..the cap space was #1, which is understandable, but Crittenton was actually a lot more hyped than Gasol in this trade, which speaks volumes..

If you look at what non-Laker fans were saying, the majority had the obvious reaction, which was outrage..it was obviously a worked trade, also due to the fact that no other team had any chance to make an offer against the Lakers..obviously not a coincidence that this was a team that Jerry West was acquainted with..

The Zach Randolph trade was also met with huge outrage and ridicule from everybody..look at any forum when it happened, everybody thought it was ridiculous..luckily for Memphis, it worked out, but it certainly wasn't a smart move at the time..

If you believe this was all strategic and smartly planned, then Chris Wallace has to be one of the smartest men on the planet..this is a guy that was known as one of the worst GMs in NBA history, even before joining Memphis, he was ridiculed as the GM of the Celtics..

Then again, Laker fans were the same people that criticized Mitch Kupchak for a LONG time about his inability to surround OJ Bryant with a good supporting cast..yet Kupchak pulled off arguably the greatest trade of all-time, supposedly without collusion..how can this be?..Kobe was ting on him for his poor skills as a GM just a few months earlier, how did he become a genius in such little time?..

Who knows..that's just how it is..it happened and it's over with..something you have to accept as an NBA fan, but it was obviously planned..

[HarlemHeat37]

Also, Marc Gasol is one of the most overrated players in the NBA..for obvious reasons though..

[Allanon]

Some Laker fans agreed that it was a steal.

Some Laker fans (and some knowledgeable Spur fans) knew Marc Gasol would be a very good NBA player and saw the fairness of the trade.

As usual, broad stereotypes are in-accurate.

[Ice009]

You're ing stupid, congrats!

Winning ACB MVP = best player in Europe argument. Regardless.

Regardless, the trade was clearly legit. Worked out for both teams. Don't be bitter about Milwaukee sticking their 14 million dollar right up the Spurs asses.

No you are stupid. Winning ACB MVP doesn't mean to me.

Do you think all those guys winning MVP when Jordan played mean they are better than Jordan? Absolutely not. If MVP means you are the clear cut best player then all you Lakers fans have to start saying Lebron is the best because after all he won the MVP.

What's it going to be? Is Lebron the best or are you going to blow your own statement to pieces by saying MVP = Best.

Just because he won MVP does not mean he is the best player in Europe at all. All I want is clarification because I personally have never heard anyone call Marc Gasol the best player in Europe before he came to the NBA. I recall before Scola was in the NBA that a lot of people regarded him as the best player out side of the NBA. I have just never heard anyone say that about Marc, which is why I wanted some quotes to back up what you are saying. I'm not saying no one said that, but I have never heard or read that anywhere. I would like to.

[Allanon]

Y'know.

I said in my 2nd post that I would just drop this from now on. But after seeing all these people who won't man up (with a few exceptions like Spursfan90210 and Midnightpulp), I'm going to add Pop's quote to my sig just to rub it in for another year or two.

[MiamiHeat]

JUST Because Mark Gasol turned out to be decent does NOT excuse the trade

at the time, he was an unproven bench euro player.

[Blackjack]

It still amuses me that no one realizes or acknowledges, outside of SA, that Pop was saying that tongue-in-cheek, dripping with sarcasm; he hated the trade because he knew how good it made the Lakers (it was an absolute steal).

Pop wanted to start a trade committee, one in which he would head?

Yeah, there was nothing facetious about that; nothing..

[Chieflion]

[Danny.Zhu]

I admit that deal makes sense for Memphis at that time. I'm just cannot believe that no other team could make a better offer than that of Lakers. That was a steal anyway.