Spurs contact Pau Gasol reportedly

[callo1]

No cap space to bid

Boozer will be amnestied.

[Knoxxx]

I would rate the Bulls as the favorites for Gasol based on cap space. Miami could be in play but we keep hearing Bosh and James won't take pay cuts so who knows how that plays out. Wade and Gasol splitting $20 million could work. Personally I would play the no state income tax card with Gasol if I were heat and offer him $ 8 million. $38 million to James and Bosh then about $14 million to split between Wade and Haslem. Then all they have left is Cole and are left to filling out roster with minimum salary players hehe.

[G-Dawgg]

Pau Gasol is a skilled big man and the Spurs don't need him to be athletic or quick. He would be perfect for the Spurs. He's taller than Duncan has a good mid range jumper, a very good post game, is a very good passer, can rebound some and block a few shots.... What's not to like? Bring him in.. I'm sure if the Spurs really wanted him, they would find a way to work something out. People in their front office get paid millions to figure that out..

[313]

He's already won championships, he just wants to get paid.

[FvckMavs]

Boozer will be amnestied.

Teams with cap space will bid for him first.

[ulosturedge]

Seems to me that the Spurs are using Gasol to keep Diaw from asking too much. I mean if Diaw asks for a lot then that puts Gasol on the radar. If someone doesn't throw substantial money at Gasol he might be willing to take a bit less to play for another Championship. You think a 3rd Championship for Gasol would put him in a much better position for hall of fame talk? That might play into the whole equation.

[tmtcsc]

I don't think Gasol has anything to do with pursuing Gasol. Diaw is more versatile anyways.

[Knoxxx]

Diaw is a better fit for Spurs roster, also cheaper and younger. Indications are Spurs fully expect to resign Diaw and already communicated such to Gasol while they would welcome him aboard with full MLE. I think it all comes down to winning vs. money with Gasol. The question is how much money he would be giving up which is why you field the offers.

[moisaenz]

Only way Gasol goes to San Antonio is if he is promised to start which could happen maybe is time for Duncan to come off the bench.

[MarHill]

Only way Gasol goes to San Antonio is if he is promised to start which could happen maybe is time for Duncan to come off the bench.

Duncan is not coming off the bench. He has been and still is the franchise.

[spurspokesman]

Duncan is not coming off the bench. He has been and still is the franchise.

[Nathan89]

As long as he doesn't go to OKC or the Heat. We don't really need him but it would be exciting.

[callo1]

Teams with cap space will bid for him first.

True, it is unlikely that the Spurs would be the highest bidder, even if they had an option to bid.

[heyheymymy]

duncan off the bench? i guess, but right now that sounds like a 'what are you smoking' proposal.

[$pursDynasty]

As long as he doesn't go to OKC or the Heat. We don't really need him but it would be exciting.

While keeping Boris and replacing Bonner with Gasol would be sweet, as long as he doesn't go to Miami or OKC I am cool with him going anywhere else.

[exstatic]

Miami and OKC can never pay him with their current construction. We MAY be able to pay him something next year if Manu and Tim roll off.

[moisaenz]

Duncan is not coming off the bench. He has been and still is the franchise.

I know he is not, i am just saying that would be the only way Gasol would accept MLE money and the way it would work since both Gasol and Tim would be horrible defensively

[cd021]

Offensively yes, but defensively Perk is a top 5 one-on-one defender in the post. Without him, OKC doesn't get past Memphis. Look at Duncan posting up Ibaka and Perk. That's tells you all you need to know whose the best one-on-one post defender on OKC is.

But that is such a limited skill set. It wasn't just his offense that was bad, but when he was on the floor the Thunder had an O Rtg of 82 and a net Rtg of -17. They were better defensively but he is an offensive black hole he hurt the team far more than he helped.

He can defend ZBo, sure, but i'd have taken my chances with someone like Collision. Zbo may have been able to exploit the matchup but offensively things would have gone much smoother and Memphis can't simply hang with OKC in that department.

[cd021]

While keeping Boris and replacing Bonner with Gasol would be sweet, as long as he doesn't go to Miami or OKC I am cool with him going anywhere else.

Gasol would probably be replacing Baynes not Bonner.

[cd021]

You can do a 4th year as well.

I didn't realize that.

[vander]

man the more I think about it the more I want Gasol, Spurs better at least try, otherwise it will leave us looking back thinking "what if". what if the Spurs had made an effort and added Gasol? what could have been?

would the Lakers have any interest in cheap roster fillers like Baynes/Ayers/Belli/Daye in a S&T? they have a lot of spots to fill and free agents are getting overpaid

[Bartleby]

The Lakers are making a big push to get Melo (which sounds like it may be working) and keeping Gasol is most likely a big part of that plan.

[xmas1997]

The Lakers are making a big push to get Melo (which sounds like it may be working) and keeping Gasol is most likely a big part of that plan.

Gasol will have to take a huge pay cut to stay there if Melo comes aboard, and make something in the 6+ mil. area.

[Kindergarten Cop]

Gasol will have to take a huge pay cut to stay there if Melo comes aboard, and make something in the 6+ mil. area.

Why would he have to do that? Couldn't he sign BEFORE Melo for ~$9-10M (thus removing his cap hold), which would still leave room under the cap for Melo to sign a Max (or close to a Max) deal?

Not only that, but they could probably find a desperate team to take Nash's contract as well.

[Darkwaters]

Gasol will have to take a huge pay cut to stay there if Melo comes aboard, and make something in the 6+ mil. area.

Why? They have his bird rights and can pay him what they want. And if you think the Lakers won't pay the tax...you're crazy.