Laker Fans Deserve An Apology

[ElNono]

If you dont think a 33 mil over two years player with his skillset is a big name regardless of his issues on and off the court at the time then I don't know what to say. They took a chance on him for his skills and he matured in the process. It was all possible because of the trade as well as his extensions. Same with Marc. Everybody scoffed and laughed.

Look who's laughing now!

You don't get a 'big name' player for Quentin Richardson.
Your spinning is hilarious though.

All props go to ZBo for turning his at ude around, but you understand how silly it sounds you or Memphis had all this figured out when the Gasol trade happened?

Tell me, did you get shivers when you foresaw in the master plan that they were signing Allen Iverson?

[cobbler]

You don't get a 'big name' player for Quentin Richardson.
Your spinning is hilarious though.

All props go to ZBo for turning his at ude around, but you understand how silly it sounds you or Memphis had all this figured out when the Gasol trade happened?

Tell me, did you get shivers when you foresaw in the master plan that they were signing Allen Iverson?

Nobody said that. I said I and the Grizz foresaw Marc being a good player. And I even said they gambled on ZBo and won. They don't have the flexability to take on ZBo's 33 milion contract if they hadn't made the tade. Geeeez. It's not rocket science. Did they know when the Pau trade went down exactly who and when they would get someone? No. Did it give them the room to do so... YES.

They gambled on the Iverson thing too. Didn't work out. Still, with Kwame being waived, they had the flexabilty to do what they in fact DID.

The proof is in the pudding.

[ElNono]

Nobody said that. I said I and the Grizz foresaw Marc being a good player. And I even said they gambled on ZBo and won. They don't have the flexability to take on ZBo's 33 milion contract if they hadn't made the tade. Geeeez. It's not rocket science. Did they know when the Pau trade went down exactly who and when they would get someone? No. Did it give them the room to do so... YES.

The point being that they would have had the same cap space, and possibly bigger, if they waited for a better deal at the end of the season. ZBo was in New York when the trade happened. He had a tour with the Clippers for a season until he finally landed in Memphis.

They gambled on the Iverson thing too. Didn't work out. Still, with Kwame being waived, they had the flexabilty to do what they in fact DID.

Marc Gasol is not the reason they're in the playoffs. Neither is ZBo and Mayo. If that would be the case, then they would have been a playoff team last season too. The reason they're a playoff team this season is Allen, Battier and Hollins.

To claim a 'trade' that happened 3 seasons before had a hand in that, and that they would still be stuck with Pau at this point is what's incredibly silly.

[cobbler]

The point being that they would have had the same cap space, and possibly bigger, if they waited for a better deal at the end of the season. ZBo was in New York when the trade happened. He had a tour with the Clippers for a season until he finally landed in Memphis.



Marc Gasol is not the reason they're in the playoffs. Neither is ZBo and Mayo. If that would be the case, then they would have been a playoff team last season too. The reason they're a playoff team this season is Allen, Battier and Hollins.

To claim a 'trade' that happened 3 seasons before had a hand in that, and that they would still be stuck with Pau at this point is what's incredibly silly.

Well, seeing as its all the talk and Pop even commented similarly, I guess there's a lot of silliness out there.

[Giuseppe]

Terrific conversation though.

[BlackSwordsMan]

Only laker fan I respect is Kori and not f'n anybody else.

[namlook]

Why do the fans deserve an apology for something they had absolutely no hand in?

You really want an apology?

LOL. The OP is being facetious.

[Darrin]

6-figure salary for an All-Star Appearance? And you ?

[ElNono]

When we trade Bonner, Jefferson and Hill for Dwight Howard, I'll apologize...

[lefty]

Apology accepted

[LkrFan]

LkrFan that ...

Let it go bro... you guys got a steal and two ships (and counting!) out of it...

Oh, and get on AIM dawg!

FIFY. No thanks necessary.

[ElNono]

FIFY. No thanks necessary.

Could've been 3 if not for those pesky Celtics...

[LkrFan]

You should consider ending yourself imho

'sup Ace? You guys gonna beat Boston or what? Don't answer that. We already know...

[LkrFan]

We can't beat the Grizzlies so I want to pick on LkrFan.

[LkrFan]

^This er deserved last nite, royally.

Kill him with the goods then get on AIM dawg!!

[LkrFan]

Lakerfan seriously thinks they didn't collude, but gets pissed off about the Garnett trade

That's a big negative. The Lakers would have sent Bynum and LO as part of a deal for KG. I'm glad Lurch screwed that up. If you were a Laker fan, would you like Kobe and KG, or Kobe and Bynum/Gasol/LO tandem? Even you aren't that dumb. Are you? Don't answer that cowtipper.

[LkrFan]

I'll give LkrFan props though... the in this thread by Lakerfan is hilarious...

Apologize damnit!

[Ghazi]

LkrFan whats your AIM man!

[lefty]

LkrFan whats your AIM man!

omg soooooo funny

[LkrFan]

No means No, and you're not Kobe or Neal

[LkrFan]

When we trade Bonner, Jefferson and Hill for Dwight Howard, I'll apologize...

[LkrFan]

Could've been 3 if not for those pesky Celtics...

still pisses me off to this day. Even last year's "revenge" doesn't erase that memory.

[Jelloisjigglin]

still pisses me off to this day. Even last year's "revenge" doesn't erase that memory.

Same here. It's the losses that stay with you more.

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

I've posted much of the following recently, I'll try again. Some of it has been said by others, but bears repeating.

The initial Shaq trade of 2004 changed the power balance of the west. Why was there no discussion of a trade committee then? There was only celebration among the Spurs, Mavs, and Suns. What the Lakers did was suck for 3 years, draft Bynum, then move the last piece; Caron Butler/Kwame Brown/Pau Gasol.

Who else could the Lakers have traded Kwame Brown for? Garnett was on the market but the T-Wolves insisted on getting Odom and Bynum. New Jersey would unload Kidd, but Bynum had to be part of the package. Lakers wouldn't take Shaq back, he went to the Suns. Kwame Brown was going to go, the only question was where.

Myth: Grizzles took the first offer. Wrong, Gasol was on the market for at least a year. I saw a thread at a Lakers boad where a fan predicted the Brown for Kwame trade a full year ahead of it happening when it was clear he was on the block. Both the Bulls and Suns made offers, but were turned down.

One thing that is clear, is the Grizzlies would only take expiring contracts. This refutes the useless comments that say the Grizzlies could have done better trading elsewhere. Yes, they could have. Bulls offered a package with Luol Deng, but his wasn't expiring. I don't know what Gasol made in 2008-09 but that salary saved became profit for Memphis owner. Basketball is a business.

"The Lakers gave nothing up to get Gasol." If Odom were included, that would weaken the Lakers, but again, his contract wasn't expiring. Deals like this happen all the time. What did the Spurs give up to get Richard Jefferson? Yeah, I know he hasn't worked out as planned, but it's the exact same concept.

Now, I mentioned this, but no one has really noticed. Memphis made a deal that meant a total rebuild, and they have to justify it to their fans. Marc Gasol was a prospect at the time, but it was a name their fanbase knew. They give up an older Gasol for a younger one, making it totally acceptable move when spun to the fans. If this isn't clear, imagine this: Suppose Manu Ginobili had a 21 year old brother playing Euroball with incredible potential but another team had his NBA rights. Spurs send Manu to a contender for expirings, but get his little brother in the deal. Trading Ginobili may be a sin nearly as bad as trading Tim Duncan, but I would wager the Spurs' fanbase would accept a deal like that, because a core piece would be in place to build around for years to come. Sending Pau to the Lakers helped them win 2 championships and Memphis hasn't won one yet, but they are now threatening to be contenders. Both teams made the best deal possible period, and end of story.

I guess there is one more thing to add though. If Pau, or no other help come to the Lakers, who wins the last 3 les?

2008: Celtics beat anyone.
2009: Nuggets or Magic
2010: Suns or Celtics.
2011: To be determined....4-5 contenders not named Lakers.

Those are the teams and fanbases that should complain the most about the Gasol trade.

[ElNono]

2011: To be determined....4-5 contenders not named Lakers.

But the Spurs were eliminated because of the Pau trade!

/gnlf