Gasol traded to Lakers

[spreedom]

I think the word is, is that Gasol has a pretty sore back.

[WayOutWest]

Sore back, too much traveling and too little experience with the triangle is the Laker-speek. Can't wait to see this guy get into the flow with the Lakers.

[dude1394]

I continue to be very sad we did not get Gasol.

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/dunk-o...rint_rows=9999

Per the dunk-o-meter he's 25th in the league. I fail to see how a guy who plays so close to the basket would not be extremely valuable. Yuck....Kubchak showed everyone how it's done, you work those good-old-boy contacts baby.

[dude1394]

Grrrrrrrrr....So Memphis is basically shopping all over town, obviously this was no secret.

Cubes if you weren't willing to pull this guy in for dollars you and Donnie are idiots.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=127347&src=150

Grizzlies owner: Trade talks with Bulls unsatisfactory
By Mike McGraw | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 2/3/2008 11:56 PM

Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said he believes the Bulls should be willing to pay the NBA's luxury tax and said he traded Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday in part because he was worried the Lakers were ready to make a deal to acquire Ben Wallace.

Heisley, a St. Charles resident, spoke to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal about the Grizzlies' decision to trade the 7-foot Gasol to the Lakers essentially for draft picks and salary-cap room.

The Bulls had been chasing Gasol for more than a year and were disappointed not to land the 27-year-old power forward.

"We had conversations with Chicago which were non-satisfactory," Heisley said in the Commercial-Appeal. "They didn't want to take on the luxury-tax situation and Los Angeles was. In this league, if you're in a big-market area you can afford to do those things.

"We negotiated as hard as we could for quality players and (the Bulls) refused to give up anybody in their core group. What they offered us were guys who play on the second and third team, so we turned them down."

The Bulls thought they had a deal a few weeks ago to obtain Gasol in exchange for Andres Nocioni and other pieces, but the Grizzlies insisted the Bulls take another bad contract, most likely Brian Cardinal, in return.

In order to make that deal, or acquire Gasol for expiring contracts, the Bulls' payroll would have risen beyond the luxury-tax threshold next season.

"There is no mystery to it," Heisley said. "I'm not dumb enough to think we got quality for quality for Pau. What we did was try to open up flexibility. We had to reconstruct and start building a team like Portland did and like what Minnesota is trying to do."

To get Gasol, the Lakers gave up Kwame Brown's expiring contract, rookie guard Javaris Crittenton, all-but-retired guard Aaron McKie, the rights to Gasol's brother Marc, two first-round draft picks and cash.

"What we started to see was that we weren't going to get an elite player coming back," said Memphis general manager Chris Wallace. "Rather than take a 'name' player that wasn't going to get us where we wanted to go, we preferred to get picks and salary-cap room."

Heisley also felt the Grizzlies needed to act fast before the Lakers decided to acquire Wallace from the Bulls for Brown and Vladimir Radmanovic.

"Otherwise we'd be like Chicago is today and gotten nothing done," Heisley said. "We were worried that the Lakers might do the deal with Chicago."

A Bulls source doubted the Lakers had serious interest in acquiring Wallace and wondered if there might be hard feelings between Heisley and Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

Heisley is a longtime Chicago-area resident who has said he became interested in owning an NBA team while watching the championship-era Bulls.

"When Chicago broke up the Bulls, I was fuming for three days," he said. "And the Bulls still aren't back."

Injury report: Ben Wallace (sore knee) and Tyrus Thomas (sprained foot) skipped Sunday's light practice at Seattle's Key Arena, but both are expected to play tonight against the Sonics.

Bulls coach Jim Boylan continued to maintain that Andres Nocioni is not injured and the reason Boylan sent Viktor Khryapa to replace Nocioni less than two minutes into the third quarter of Saturday's 105-101 loss at Sacramento was because Khryapa was playing well.

That last part is debatable, since Khryapa had no points, 4 fouls and 3 turnovers in 21 minutes against the Kings.

[dalmations202]

Did I just read that Heisley is satisfied without getting a kiss?

That is how it read to me.

[Tokey41]

I'm sure he's fine without one... considering he just got !@#$ed. Ford has an article up a few other better possibilities the Grizz could have explored (we aren't even on the list).

[WayOutWest]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insid...3dGasol-080205

Ten teams that had the goods to get Gasol
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
Updated: February 5, 2008

"Merry Christmas, L.A."

That sentiment, voiced by Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson upon hearing about the Pau Gasol trade, has been resonating around the NBA.

While just about everyone expected the Memphis Grizzlies to trade Gasol before the Feb. 21 trade deadline, no one predicted it would be this soon or for so little in return. Instead of established players, the Los Angeles Lakers gave the Grizzlies only a package of expiring contracts, draft picks and marginal prospects for Gasol.

While most GMs weren't publicly venting their frustration on having missed out on Gasol, plenty were willing to do so privately.

The excuses ranged from blaming Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace to blaming their owners to ? well ? pointing the finger in just about every direction but their own.

One GM I spoke to asserted he had a better deal to offer, claiming that Wallace didn't return his calls.

Another said that just two weeks ago, Wallace was asking for twice as much in return. If this GM had known the Grizzlies were lowering the asking price on Gasol, he would've made another offer, he said.

A Western Conference GM said the Grizzlies' timing threw him off: "Big trades like this normally don't happen until after the All-Star break. Who would've guessed that the Grizzlies would've jumped the gun and taken such a lopsided deal three weeks before the trade deadline?"

Another prominent GM said his owner vetoed any trade that would've pushed his team into luxury-tax territory.

Sour grapes, anyone?

From the sob stories, two themes emerged:

One, a lot of GMs are more than a little jealous that the Lakers, of all teams, landed Gasol -- especially given the price tag.

Second, it sounds like the Grizzlies didn't walk away with the best deal available.

Given that, we have to ask: Which other teams could have landed Gasol, and what could they have offered?

As a starting point, let's look at the basic parameters of the deal the Grizzlies accepted:

? About $11 million in expiring contracts (Kwame Brown and Aaron McKie)
? A prospect drafted in the middle of the first round in 2007 (Javaris Crittenton)
? A second-round pick from the same draft (Marc Gasol)
? Two first-round picks, likely to be in the No. 20 to 30 range (2008 and 2010)

Which teams could have matched or exceeded that deal? As it turns out, plenty of teams could have.

Here's a look at 10 teams that missed the boat on Gasol (in alphabetical order):



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Atlanta Hawks



Potential offer:
? Josh Childress (3.6 million expiring contract)
? Tyronn Lue ($3.5 million expiring contract)
? Lorenzen Wright ($3.25 million expiring contract)
? Anthony Johnson ($2.8 million expiring contract)
? First-round draft pick (2010)
? Note: Shelden Williams or perhaps Marvin Williams could have been included in place of Childress

Why the deal would have worked for Atlanta: Childress is an important sixth man for the team, but the Hawks are stacked with swingmen and probably don't want to pay Childress a lot as a restricted free agent this summer. The rest of the contracts are dead weight.

Gasol would have given the Hawks a much-needed veteran plus flexibility to trade more assets down the road.

Why the deal would have worked for Memphis: The Grizzlies would have received roughly the same amount of cap space. Childress, who has a 17.8 PER (player efficiency rating) this season, is a better player than Crittenton is likely to become, and the Hawks' draft pick (potentially a lottery pick) likely would be worth more than the two picks the Grizzlies received from the Lakers.

The downside is that Childress is a restricted free agent this summer, and the Grizzlies might have had to shell out more than the midlevel exception to keep him.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chicago Bulls


Potential offer:
? P.J. Brown ($8 million, prorated, expiring sign-and-trade contract)
? Viktor Khryapa ($1.9 million expiring contract)
? Tyrus Thomas ($3.5 million)
? First-round draft pick -- lottery-protected (2008)

Why the deal would have worked for Chicago: While giving up Thomas and a draft pick might have hurt the Bulls' effort to rebuild with youth, they would have been giving up little in terms of actual on-court contribution while adding what they desperately need -- a low-post scoring presence.

The downside for Chicago would have been that adding Gasol's salary to the books would have pushed them into the luxury tax, something Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf is telling general manager John Paxson he won't pay.

Why the deal would have worked for Memphis: The Grizzlies would have received roughly the same amount of cap space.

Thomas has amazing raw tools and would fit a need for the Grizzlies at the 4. He was regarded by many as the top prospect in the 2006 draft, putting him on a much higher plane than Crittenton.

Also, the pick from the Bulls likely would have been in the No. 15-19 range, assuming the Bulls would make the playoffs with Gasol aboard, making it an upgrade over the picks the Lakers sent to Memphis.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Golden State Warriors


Potential offer:
? Mickael Pietrus ($3.4 million expiring contract)
? Matt Barnes ($3 million expiring contract)
? Austin Croshere ($770,610 expiring contract)
? Patrick O'Bryant ($2.2 million expiring contract)
? Brandan Wright ($2.3 million)
? Kelenna Azubuike ($687,000 expiring contract)
? First-round draft pick

Why the deal would have worked for Golden State: The Warriors would not have given up any of their core players while adding the perfect low-post complement to Don Nelson's run-and-gun system.

O'Bryant is clearly not a Nellie favorite, and Wright is hardly seeing any action either. Given that, getting Gasol would have been quite a coup.

Why the deal would have worked for Memphis: The Grizzlies would have received roughly the same amount of cap space.

Wright, a talented 20-year-old big man, was considered one of the best long-term prospects in last year's draft and could fit right into the hole left by Gasol at power forward.

Azubuike and Pietrus have talent, and O'Bryant was a top prospect in 2006. The Grizzlies would have had the option of bringing them back or letting them walk (as expiring contracts).

One note: Azubuike, Barnes and Pietrus would have had to agree to this trade.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Los Angeles Clippers


Potential offer:
? Elton Brand ($15.3 million)
? First-round draft pick (2008)


Why the deal would have worked for the Clippers: There's a chance Brand will bolt this summer when he has a chance to opt out of his deal.

Adding Gasol would've given the Clippers a solid, younger front line while preserving their flexibility to make other deals. And as a bonus, they would have kept Gasol out of the hands of the Lakers.

Why the deal would have worked for Memphis: Brand is a useful commodity in any scenario, and his contract could have provided the Grizzlies with several appealing options.

If he had decided to return next season, he would have upgraded the team, since he's a better player than Gasol and a better fit on the Grizzlies' front line.

If he had wanted to become a free agent, the Grizzlies could have let him walk (and cleared cap space) or worked out a sign-and-trade with him and another team.

Or he and the Grizzlies could have agreed on a long-term deal to keep him in Memphis.

Also, the Clippers' 2008 first-round pick almost certainly will be a lottery pick of more value than the two picks the Lakers gave the Grizzlies.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Miami Heat


Potential offer:
? Jason Williams ($8.9 million expiring contract)
? Alonzo Mourning ($2.7 million expiring contract)
? Daequan Cook ($1.1 million)
? Alexander Johnson ($770,610)
? Two first-round draft picks

Why the deal would have worked for Miami: If the Heat are going to make one last push for the playoffs with Shaquille O'Neal (who has two more years on his contract after this season, at $20 million per year), they need more help for Dwyane Wade.

Getting Gasol would have given them another scorer and some depth in the frontcourt.

Why the deal would have worked for Memphis: This trade would have probably been a wash with the Lakers deal.

The Grizzlies would have cleared a similar amount of cap room, and Cook is on par with Crittenton as a prospect.

The two future first-round draft picks might have turned out to be more valuable than the Lakers' picks, especially in the long run. But Miami already owes a pick to Minnesota, so it would have been awhile before the Grizzlies actually received the picks, which might have been a problem.

One solution that might have made a trade with Miami work for Memphis would have been to include Brian Cardinal, whom the Grizzlies have been trying to move for years. The Heat could have sent back Smush Parker and Dorell Wright's expiring contract.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Jersey Nets


Potential offer:
? Jamaal Magloire ($4 million expiring contract)
? Bostjan Nachbar ($2.5 million expiring contract)
? Antoine Wright ($1.6 million expiring contract)
? Nenad Krstic ($1.9 million expiring contract)
? Darrell Armstrong ($770,610 expiring contract)
? Malik Allen ($770,610 expiring contract)
? Two first-round draft picks

Why the deal would have worked for New Jersey: The Nets might prefer to move Jason Kidd and/or Vince Carter and start rebuilding. But both players are proving difficult to move.

The other direction to go would be to add a low-post scoring presence. Gasol would have been a great fit. The Nets' payroll would have been totally wrapped up in four guys (Kidd, Carter, Gasol, Richard Jefferson), but the team would have become strong again.

Why the deal would have worked for Memphis: The deal would have cleared about the same amount of cap room.

Krstic should be a very nice player again once he recovers from knee surgery. He will be a restricted free agent this summer, but the Grizzlies could have locked him up fairly inexpensively.

And the two first-round picks should be better than those the Lakers gave up.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Orlando Magic


Potential offer:
? Keyon Dooling ($3.6 million expiring contract)
? Pat Garrity ($3.8 million expiring contract)
? Maurice Evans ($1.7 million expiring contract)
? J.J. Redick ($2 million)
? Draft rights to Fran Vazquez
? Two first-round draft picks

Why the deal would have worked for Orlando: The Magic are an up-and-coming team, but they lack depth on the front line. Rashard Lewis is playing out of position at the 4. Put Gasol at power forward and move Lewis back to the 3 -- with Turkoglu providing All-Star level support at both positions -- and the Magic would have had perhaps the best front line in the NBA, considering Dwight Howard's presence at center.

Why the deal would have worked for Memphis: The Grizzlies would have received roughly the same amount of cap space.

Redick is a former lottery pick who can really shoot -- perhaps he's not a better prospect than Crittenton, but he's probably on the same tier. Vazquez is a better international prospect than Marc Gasol.

And those two first-round picks are likely to be better than the picks Memphis got from the Lakers.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Phoenix Suns


Potential offer:
? Shawn Marion ($16.4 million, can opt out after season)
? Atlanta's 2008 first-round draft pick

Why the deal would have worked for Phoenix: The Suns are looking for size and have been shopping Marion for two years. Meanwhile, he asked to be traded during training camp and might opt out of his contract, leaving Phoenix empty-handed.

The Suns actually would have saved some money in the short term and wouldn't have had to worry anymore about Marion's moods or negotiating position. While Gasol wouldn't have given them the toughness they need, he would have been a great fit in coach Mike D'Antoni's system.

As for the draft pick, the Suns don't seem to value those, usually selling them or trading them away.

Why the deal would have worked for Memphis: The Grizzlies would have cleared a great amount of cap room if Marion opted out of his contract, which would have been expected, given the choice of staying in Memphis or leaving for a long-term contract elsewhere. Also, that could have led to a sign-and-trade opportunity for Memphis to land a player it might have wanted this summer.

If Marion had decided not to opt out, his contract would still be expiring in 2009.

Atlanta's draft pick likely will be a late-lottery or mid-first-round pick, which is probably more valuable than the pair of picks the Lakers gave up.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


San Antonio Spurs


Potential offer:
? Brent Barry ($5.5 million expiring contract)
? Francisco Elson ($3 million expiring contract )
? Robert Horry ($3.6 million expiring contract)
? Ian Mahinmi ($625,000)
? Two first-round draft picks (2008 and 2010)

Why the deal would have worked for San Antonio: Adding Gasol would've injected new life into the franchise. With Gasol and Tim Duncan manning the frontline and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the backcourt, the Spurs would've been back on top of the West. The downside would be the serious luxury tax ramifications of adding Gasol. But he'd probably be worth it.

Why the deal would have worked for Memphis: This is virtually an identical deal to what the Lakers offered Memphis. The Grizzlies would have received roughly the same amount of cap space.

Mahinmi is a prospect, albeit a very raw one, who can play the 4.

The two first-round picks, like the Lakers, would've likely been very late first-round picks.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Toronto Raptors


Potential offer:
? Andrea Bargnani ($4.8 million)
? Carlos Delfino ($1.8 million expiring contract)
? Juan Dixon ($2.5 million expiring contract)
? Joey Graham ($1.6 million)
? Jamario Moon ($770,610)

Why the deal would have worked for Toronto: The franchise is high on Bargnani and Moon, but Gasol alongside Chris Bosh would have given the Raptors one of the best front lines in basketball. Given the strength throughout the roster, the Raptors would have been real competitors to the Celtics and the Pistons.

Why the deal would have worked for Memphis: The Grizzlies would not have cleared a lot of cap room, but they would have received some very interesting young players, especially Bargnani (the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft) and Moon, an older rookie who is likely to be a first team All-Rookie selection this year.


Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

[DirkFTW]

Ugh, I am definitely happy he's in LA and not Phoenix or SA.

[dude1394]

Yea that Gasol wouldn't help us a bit. What a load.

[Underdog]

Kobe just shot a season-low 3-13, but Gasol got 24 & 12 to help the Lakers beat the Nets 105-90...

Looks like Kobe isn't crying anymore...

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Yea that Gasol wouldn't help us a bit. What a load.

Once again, offense is not the problem...if there is a problem at all.

[dude1394]

I am NOT a happy mavs-land camper. This lakers team looks to me like it's going to kick our ass everyday but sunday.

I am getting that nasty feeling I had with the antoines', that we'll strap 'em up but really don't have much of a chance here.

Bad,bad feelings to have right now. But there they are.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by dude1394

I am NOT a happy mavs-land camper. This lakers team looks to me like it's going to kick our ass everyday but sunday.

The good news? Our next game against the Lakers is Sunday, March 2...

[Dtownsfinest]

Gasol was great. Sore back huh?

[Usually Lurkin]

well, the Gasol filled lakers lost to the lowly hawks. Gasol with 12 and 7. Maybe that team has a fatal flaw or something.

[Jack.Kerr]

Originally Posted by Usually Lurkin

well, the Gasol filled lakers lost to the lowly hawks. Gasol with 12 and 7. Maybe that team has a fatal flaw or something.

That's Raef centerin' right there. Been there, done that. Don't need it anymore.

And rookie Al Horford snagged 20 boards.

[WayOutWest]

Gasol is not much of a rebounder despite his per game average. He has a hard time fighting for rebounds, only seems to snag uncontested ones. Odom is much better at snagging them in traffic. He is definately EuroSoft but he is still 1 trillion times better than Kwame. When Kobe/Bynum/Ariza get healthy, the Lakers are going to make a serious run.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Jack.Kerr

That's Raef centerin' right there. Been there, done that. Don't need it anymore.

And rookie Al Horford snagged 20 boards.

Right our center is averaging 5.5 and 7.

Really tearing it up isn't he. But our other center can't get on the floor because we are too busy playing our 6'8' center with the 9.7efficiency rating.

Versus that Gasol guy with the 22.62 efficiency rating.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Right our center is averaging 5.5 and 7.

Really tearing it up isn't he. But our other center can't get on the floor because we are too busy playing our 6'8' center with the 9.7efficiency rating.

Versus that Gasol guy with the 22.62 efficiency rating.

Ownage. Gasol would be a huge upgrade over Damp or Diop. People overrate our centers on these boards. More often than not Damp has a 6 point 5 rebound game. Damp has some defensive intangiles, but please, would anyone really start Damp over Gasol at center? Not a chance.

[MFFL]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Right our center is averaging 5.5 and 7.

Really tearing it up isn't he. But our other center can't get on the floor because we are too busy playing our 6'8' center with the 9.7efficiency rating.

Versus that Gasol guy with the 22.62 efficiency rating.

Gasol would be the backup C & PF here. He'd get the minutes that were alloted to Diop and Bass.

Gasol is better in every way to those two.

[kg_veteran]

Originally Posted by dude1394

I am NOT a happy mavs-land camper. This lakers team looks to me like it's going to kick our ass everyday but sunday.

I am getting that nasty feeling I had with the antoines', that we'll strap 'em up but really don't have much of a chance here.

Bad,bad feelings to have right now. But there they are.

I'm not sure why you feel that way. They win the C and SG positions, but we win the PG, SF, and PF positions.

[WayOutWest]

Originally Posted by kg_veteran

I'm not sure why you feel that way. They win the C and SG positions, but we win the PG, SF, and PF positions.

That is correct but the margin that the Mavs are better than the Lakers has now been significantly been reduced at the PF position. Dirk is clearly better than Gasol but the difference between the two is not major like it was before with Kwame/Odom at the PF. The Gasol/Odom matchup against Dirk/Howard is 100X closer than before the trade. Once they get healthy, Bynum/Kobe/Ariza, I would take the Lakers over the Mavs.

[Jack.Kerr]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Right our center is averaging 5.5 and 7.

Really tearing it up isn't he. But our other center can't get on the floor because we are too busy playing our 6'8' center with the 9.7efficiency rating.

Versus that Gasol guy with the 22.62 efficiency rating.

For the infinitieth time, it's not about Gasol v. Damp, and it's not justt about individual offensive production. It's about getting a center who can complement Dirk's strengths and mitigate his weaknesses.

And I'll take Dirk/Damp over Dirk/Gasol or Dirk/Raef every day of the week. (Might even ride that combo to a Finals appearance.)

And guess what? You're gonna have to as well.

[Underdog]

Bring back P-Pod!

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by kg_veteran

I'm not sure why you feel that way. They win the C and SG positions, but we win the PG, SF, and PF positions.

I really am not that sure KG, I just don't like it. I see in Gasol/Kobe/Odom/Bynum/Fisher as just a really, really stout line-up with a coach who really, really stresses defense.

I do not like that matchup. Bynum can score, their new powerforward can score(like we only wish we had an inside guy to score), their sg is all-world, odom is very good and fisher is very good. They have some pretty good bench players as well.

I would put them at the top of my list if I were a betting man. Bynum, Gasol, Odom do lot's of heavey lifting and kobe throws the knockout. I just don't like it.

I do like the improvement in devin/josh and dirk. But I don't like that we have stopped looking for our centers at all down low and we have to play a 6'8" center to get any scoring there.

Our SG situation still looks damn anemic to me, they all have an efficiency rating of less than 10.

I'm still just so unbelievably pissed that we didn't get Gasol because I think he was perfect for this team, and for donnie/avery to not see that makes me really wonder if they have what it takes. Kupchak sure does.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by dude1394

I'm still just so unbelievably pissed that we didn't get Gasol because I think he was perfect for this team, and for donnie/avery to not see that makes me really wonder if they have what it takes.

To be fair, every GM was taken off guard by the Gasol move - Marion and P.J. Brown were two offers made by other teams that would have brought either a better player or more cap relief (respectively) and Memphis STILL went after Kwame Brown(???)... The Grizz made their move silently & with the intention of making the Lakers better - afterall, Jerry West never played for Dallas...

[Jack.Kerr]

Originally Posted by Underdog

The Grizz made their move silently & with the intention of making the Lakers better - afterall, Jerry West never played for Dallas...

You do know that West isn't the GM in Memphis, right?

[dude1394]

Well pops thinks something fishy was going down. And he's right, just like fantasy football collusion should not be allowed.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ies/index.html

It's certainly understandable that Memphis would just be going through the motions. After all, the Grizzlies just sent their best player to LA for some spare parts.

The Pau Gasol trade was so lopsided that Spurs president/coach Gregg Popovich wants the league to take action to prevent such fleecings in the future.

"What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension," said Popovich. "There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committe that oversees NBA trades. I'd like to elect myself to that committee. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade."

Avery Johnson's take on the trade has become famous: "Merry Christmas, LA."

In related news, the Mavs are up 21 with 3:52 to go in the third.

NEW YORK -- Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace went on the offensive against his critics on Thursday, calling the unattributed criticism of the Pau Gasol trade from other general managers "pillow talk" and daring any league executives to go on the record against the deal.

Before Friday night's game against the Knicks, Spurs president and head coach Gregg Popovich did just that.

"What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension," said Popovich. "There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committe that oversees NBA trades. I'd like to elect myself to that committee. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade."

When told that Wallace had challenged executives to criticize the deal publicly, Popovich replied, "Well, there you go. I'm on the record."

[purplefrog]

I was listening to the Mavs pregame on ESPN radio on my way home from work and one of the pundits said that according to his sources Donnie was in touch with Memphis about Gasol but the Grizzlies wanted Josh. Donnie and co. were shocked with the deal with the Lakers according to the guys on ESPN radio. I agree with Pop, there is something just wrong with this deal. You begin to wonder if the joking we do about a Stern conspiracy isn't more on target.

[skylive321]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Issue 2/9/2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NO 'BULL'
Exclusive: Damp Discusses Deals
By Mike Fisher -- DB.com




I just finished up a little one-on-one social time with Erick Dampier. My part of the conversation was about telling him how much his mundane media interviews make him sound like a well-schooled disciple of Kevin Costner in “Bull Durham.’’ His part of the conversation was all about making it clear that a) he doesn’t know who Kevin Costner is, b) he doesn’t know what”Bull Durham’’ is, and c) when he’s not giving an official interview, but instead talking comfortably and from the heart, he shares views that are anything but mundane.

“Nobody (in the West) has done anything to make their defenses better,’’ Damp told me, reflecting on Gasol to LA, Webber to Golden State and, yes, even Shaq to Phoenix. “Some of the teams don’t even play defense. The matchups (at center) are fine with me.’’

That’s right: Erick Dampier feels just fine, thank you, about dealing with whatever big men are thrown at him in the West. … and that includes Shaquille O’Neal.

(A temporary aside: He doesn’t feel completely fine. His tender ankle kept him from participating in Friday’s 91-82 drubbing of lowly Memphis. ‘Gana Diop replaced him and carried a load while Jerry Stackhouse and his hammy made a cautious return. )


Shaq has famously derided the skills of the Dallas center. (Remember “Ericka Dampier’’?) Less famously, though, is the fact that in the last three years or so, Dampier has fared quite well against The Diesel. (Here’s some great DB.com Boards research that suggests that O’Neal’s decline begins specifically when he had to battle Dampier in the 2006 NBA Finals.) Their careers keep bumping into each other; one rumor has it that Miami and Dallas this week exchanged Damp-for-Shaq trade talk!

Erick’s words, his tone and his mood tell me Dampier believes that’s more true now than ever.

We rarely see a vociforous Dampier when the notepads, microphones and cameras are out. A few games back, he’d been named the Player of the Game by the gang at ESPN 103.3 Radio. Chuck Cooperstein peppered him with friendly questions, probing questions, you name it. And literally every answer Damp gave – maybe five or six of them – were painfully short and included the phrase “one game at a time.’’

“I don’t think I do that on purpose,’’ Damp explained when I poked fun at his in-public cliché crutch. “I guess it’s just that. … all the questions are always. … well, the questions are the same. ’’

Yeah, but. …”one game at a time’’?


So I reference “Bull Durham.’’ You know, the part where Costner’s sage minor-league veteran Crash Davis tutors rookies on how to avoid every saying anything of consequence in interviews. And then I start firing those (paraphrased) lessons at Damp.

“There’s ‘I’m just happy to be here,’’’ I say.

“And there’s ‘Good Lord willing, things will work out,’’ I say.

“And of course,’’ I add, “there’s ‘We gotta play ‘em one game at a time.’’’

After I finally shut up, 6-11, 270-pound Erick Dampier looks down at me and says. … nothing. You know that blank expression that’s always on his face when he plays? This expression was blanker.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,’’ he said.

It takes a moment for to strike me. …

“Bull Durham’’ came out in 1988, when I was 28. Dampier was 13 in 1988.

“Bull Durham’’ is a movie about baseball. Dampier is a person who is about basketball.

Kevin Costner’s name has some cache in white pop culture. Dampier is, um, not white.

So we agreed to go back to our respective worlds, cherishing the bond we share as believers that Erick vs. Shaq is a matchup the Mavs can survive. And we agreed to revisit these topics at some other point. But we didn’t set a date. We’re just going to take it one day at a time

[Dtownsfinest]

Was it really a fleecing by the Lakers though? I mean they got a great deal for Gasol but isn't Kwame a free agent after this year? Its not like the deal did nothing for the Grizzlies.

[FINtastic]

Originally Posted by Dtownsfinest

Was it really a fleecing by the Lakers though? I mean they got a great deal for Gasol but isn't Kwame a free agent after this year? Its not like the deal did nothing for the Grizzlies.

The thing is, if that's the only offer on the table, I make that deal if I am the Memphis GM. It immediately clears up cap room if you are the Memphis GM so that you can start rebuilding for the future. I don't see any point keeping a highly paid star on your team if you are at the bottom of the league and not looking to compete any time soon.

The real problem is that I can't believe Memphis couldn't have gotten a better offer than Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittendon.

[skylive321]

Originally Posted by Dtownsfinest

Was it really a fleecing by the Lakers though? I mean they got a great deal for Gasol but isn't Kwame a free agent after this year? Its not like the deal did nothing for the Grizzlies.

the bulls had a better deal to offer.. chris wallace is full of sh-t

[WayOutWest]

Originally Posted by skylive321

The matchups (at center) are fine with me.’’

LOL, that's what every center in the league says about Dampier. Dampier has ALWAYS sucked, he had one decent year durring his contract season and dupped the Mavs into signing him to big money. Of course after getting paid Damp reverted to Erica.

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by FINtastic

The thing is, if that's the only offer on the table, I make that deal if I am the Memphis GM. It immediately clears up cap room if you are the Memphis GM so that you can start rebuilding for the future. I don't see any point keeping a highly paid star on your team if you are at the bottom of the league and not looking to compete any time soon.

The real problem is that I can't believe Memphis couldn't have gotten a better offer than Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittendon.

But they clear cap room up for next season like you stated. I guess we could argue whether or not they could've cleared cap space as well as get a young talented player in return but was that deal on the table?

he bulls had a better deal to offer.. chris wallace is full of sh-t

What deal did the Bulls offer?

[skylive321]

Originally Posted by Dtownsfinest

But they clear cap room up for next season like you stated. I guess we could argue whether or not they could've cleared cap space as well as get a young talented player in return but was that deal on the table?



What deal did the Bulls offer?

MVN writer Michael Montgomery wrote that the Bulls offered a choice of any three of the following five players, Ben Gordon, Andres Nocioni, Joekim Noah, Tyrus Thomas, or Thabo Sefolosha for Gasol and was disappointed that it wasn’t enough.

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by skylive321

MVN writer Michael Montgomery wrote that the Bulls offered a choice of any three of the following five players, Ben Gordon, Andres Nocioni, Joekim Noah, Tyrus Thomas, or Thabo Sefolosha for Gasol and was disappointed that it wasn’t enough.

It comes down to salary cap space though. If the Grizz wanted to clear cap space to my knowledge none of those guys do that. I know Gordon and Nocioni just signed new deals. Thomas and Noah are still in their rookie contracts. If i'm the GM of the Bulls I pull that move any day of the week if that's what was proposed. Get 2 or 3 possible starters for Gasol is a great deal. But is Gordon and Nocioni worth adding payroll to a team that isn't going to contend any time soon in the West?