Gasol traded to Lakers : Grizzlies : Commercial Appeal (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/01/gasol-traded-lakers/)


The Commercial Appeal has learned that the Grizzlies have traded Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Kwame Brown, rookie guard Javaris Crittenton and first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2010.

The decision was made that the Grizzlies could no longer move forward with Gasol on and off the basketball court.
The deal allows the Grizzlies to gain salary cap relief, as Brown is in the final year of a deal that pays $9,075,000.



I don't get this trade. For the Lakers this is a brilliant move and turns them into an instant contender.

But what do the Grizzlies really get? A useless Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton. That now gives them 3 talented young point guards in either their first or second season. What's the point of that?
They also get a couple of first round picks, but this just reeks of tanking to me.

The other Western Conference teams must be pretty mad at the Grizzlies for pretty much just giving Gasol away. I know I would be.

I tell ya, Pau was a malcontent in Memphis, that's why the Fakers got him on the cheap. Next, Darko will finally explode. Tater, I'm still interested! :)

Memphis gets the expiring contract.

ESPN - Where to, Pau Gasol? - TrueHoop (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-30-2/Where-to--Pau-Gasol-.html)

It's going to be funny watching Darko, Kwame, and Swift man the paint for the Grizz.

Memphis is so stupid. Why would they want Crittenton anyways? They already have Conley, who does not even play for some dumb reason.

Memphis gets the expiring contract.

ESPN - Where to, Pau Gasol? - TrueHoop (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-30-2/Where-to--Pau-Gasol-.html)

It's going to be funny watching Darko, Kwame, and Swift man the paint for the Grizz.

Expiring contract or not, I still don't think that's a good trade. Who are the big free agents coming up next year? They may have the $$$ but who will want to play in Memphis?

PS - Swift is likely getting traded to the Nets for Jason Collins so unfortunately there will be no Big 3 in Memphis. That surely would be a sight to see, 3 of the biggest busts ever on one team!

Memphis is so stupid. Why would they want Crittenton anyways? They already have Conley, who does not even play for some dumb reason.

Totally. Conley is injured right now, but they also have Kyle Lowry who looks like a very nice prospect. I mean, the whole reason they bought out Stoudamire was to give Conley and Lowry more minutes, and now they will have to split the minutes 3 ways again. Crazy.

I think we know why Crittenton got the DNPCD last night.

The Lakers are stacked now.

Fisher/Kobe/Odom/Gasol/Bynum

Does that even work? Seems like you'd have to bring Odom off the bench when Bynum gets back.

I really think this was an amazing trade for them.

I guess Memphis figured this season was a bust anyway, so why not have the room to jump into the free agent pool next year?

Glad it happened today rather than two days ago. Gasol might have put the Lakes over last night.

The WC playoffs are going to be insane. The Hornets, Lakers, Jazz, Blazers, Denver, and Houston (if they get there act together) are going to be serious threats to the Spurs, Mavs, and Suns.

Laker radio all over it today AM 570 KLAC K-Los Angeles California/Orange County (http://www.xtrasportsradio.com/pages/streaming.html)

They are saying that the Lakers will leave Bynum at the 5, Gasol will play the 4 and Odom who they criticized vehemently because he took and missed that last shot...will move over to the 3...THEY Love it!!!!!!


Also hearing from ESPN that the trade was made because Bynum might be out longer than expected. I am also hearing that Memphis wants to reduce cash, so I wondering if there are any Grizzlies we can steal ..rudy gay for Primo and Fabio etc...

They are saying the Lakers DOMINATED the Pistons last night and should have won the game!!:sssh:

Laker radio all over it today AM 570 KLAC K-Los Angeles California/Orange County (http://www.xtrasportsradio.com/pages/streaming.html)

They are saying that the Lakers will leave Bynum at the 5, Gasol will play the 4 and Odom who they criticized vehemently because he took and missed that last shot...will move over to the 3...THEY Love it!!!!!!

They are saying the Lakers DOMINATED the Pistons last night and should have won the game!!:sssh:

That's going to be a very big frontcourt. Teams are going to have to run, run, run against them!!

Tell you what, the Lakers will be hoping they don't get the Suns or Warriors in the first round. That probably would be a bad matchup for them.

That's a tall team.

6'1"/6'6"/6'10"/7'0"/7'0" !!!

6'8" average height. I bet that Odom comes off the bench later in the year. Not enough shots in that starting lineup for him. Also, they need some 3-point shooting around Kobe. Fisher is not enough. Odom is shooting 23% this year from 3's.

It's going to be scary when they trade Odom and Radmonovich for Kidd.

I think Odom stays the starter. He's great when he's the 3rd (or 4th) option.

I'm in shock over this trade. First i didn't believe it. Now i can't believe it. And third WTF were the other offers like?

Surely CHI could have put together something better.

This is one of the most lop sided trades I have sen in my life. It is a salary dump nothing more. It is just not right. Perhaps they want to follow the Atlanta Hawks GM model of tanking until you get cheap young talent to win with.

Oh, I forgot that Jerry West is calling the shots in Memphis. No wonder it was such a good trade for the Lakers.


The details are sort of complicated.

Memphis gets:
1) Kwame and his expiring $9M contract
2) Crittenton
3) Aaron McKie, who is retired unofficially (they need to do a sign-and-trade. Not sure how this works into the deal and why it is necessary/ what benefit it provides, etc.)
4) draft rights to Marc Gasol (he was drafted 48th in the 2007 draft by the Lakers.)
5) first round pick in 2008
6) first round pick in 2010

That's a whole lot of stuff that needs to be analyzed before declaring that this was a bust for Memphis. Any chance Marc Gasol will become an Eli Manning for Memphis?

Also, it looks like Swift is gone in exchange for Collins (owed $6.2M next year, then contract expires). Staudemire already agreed to the buyout.

This is a full-blown rebuild. Tanking hard is the only logical next step.

Oh, I forgot that Jerry West is calling the shots in Memphis. No wonder it was such a good trade for the Lakers.


The details are sort of complicated.

Memphis gets:
1) Kwame and his expiring $9M contract
2) Crittenton
3) Aaron McKie, who is retired unofficially
4) draft rights to Marc Gasol ??? (anybody know why?)
5) first round pick in 2008
6) first round pick in 2010

That's a whole lot of stuff that needs to be analyzed before declaring that this was a bust for Memphis.

Also, it looks like Swift is gone in exchange for Collins (owed $6.2M next year, then contract expires). Staudemire already agreed to the buyout.

This is a full-blown rebuild. Tanking hard is the only logical next step.

Marc Gasol is Pau Gasol brother. I think he plays in Spain. I don't think he is as good as his brother, but they like him for the potential.

if the Lakers win the "ship", this could be the "Rasheed Wallace trade" analogy that puts them over the top, if Bynum does come back soon and can be the same force he was when he went down.......and oh yeah Gasol and Kobe both like to shoot.so somebody has to back off......:stirthepot:

I live here in and I don't like it!! But I do like that they want to win and are aggressive about going for the ring again...at all costs in other words, F the luxury cap...we got to keep Kobe happy...and we got to win

The Pistons are a good team, but if Joe could just pull off one blockbuster like this that assures that we get by the Celtics, Cavs, etc. and beat those Lakers or Spurs etc I would feel a little more comfy......but if we got to stick with what we got...get those youngsters more PT now so they can hold their own in the post season.

The key for this trade was that the Lakers had a relatively bad player with a large expiring contract. The Pistons don't have any of those.

It's going to be scary when they trade Odom and Radmonovich for Kidd.

Oh man, that works, doesn't it?

The key for this trade was that the Lakers had a relatively bad player with a large expiring contract. The Pistons don't have any of those.

I know...the problem is we have dumped Darko, Arroyo, Nazr and Delfino and have nothing to show for it other than a few $$ of saved cap space and a couple of divison flags hanging from the rafters. Do you know how bad it was living here during the mid 80's and 1999 thru 2004 when the Laker FAN thought they were invincible.:yellowprison:

Even when me and my long time Laker cousin sat here and watched the Celtics and Pistons battle back on Jan 5th, he said it didn't make any difference as the Lakers would beat either one of them in this years finals....I guess he was trying to be a clairvoyant??? ... My only hope that this experiment doesn't work and they lose in the WCF to some one..

I know...the problem is we have dumped Darko, Arroyo, Nazr and Delfino and have nothing to show for it other than a few $$ of saved cap space and a couple of divison flags hanging from the rafters.


Without trading Darko and Arroyo.... Rodney Stuckey would be in Orlando right now.

We can't really say that we have nothing for those two.

Darko was still on his rookie contract with us and Arroyo wasn't being paid much at all.

But, you'll notice that the way Joe D does it, we don't need a blockbuster trade. We have a very financially efficient roster. I mean, who is the most overpaid player on our team (don't count Bresec and his expiring contract)? I don't think that there is an obvious answer. Almost every other team in the league has guys that are getting paid way more than they are worth.

I like the potential Lakers frontline of Bynum, Gasol, and Odom.

Folks want to bring Lamar off the bench, but don't forget that in his early days he played point forward with the Clippers and did quite a good job of doing so... being a near triple double threat every time he hit the hardwood.

This gives them a versatile lineup, and quite a formidable (and complimentary) one/two punch in the paint if Bynum makes it back in time to be playoff effective.

Any team that makes the playoffs in the West is a serious threat. Nothing is clear cut. So far in the East Detroit and Bostons has separated themselves from the rest of the pack.

The thing is that the Lakers also have some other effective players. Going with that overly big starting lineup really creates an imbalance.

Vujacic, Farmar, Radmonovich, Walton, Ariza, and Turiaf can all play, but they are all best as complimentary players. They need a big off the bench and could use a more versatile 3 in the starting lineup.

They should try to trade Odom IMO. Think how much better they'd be with Artest at the 3 instead of Odom. That would never happen, because Odom makes twice as much $ and Sac wouldn't give him to the Lakers, but still, Odom is a big salary and has some unique skills that other teams might want.

The thing is that the Lakers also have some other effective players. Going with that overly big starting lineup really creates an imbalance.

Vujacic, Farmar, Radmonovich, Walton, Ariza, and Turiaf can all play, but they are all best as complimentary players. They need a big off the bench and could use a more versatile 3 in the starting lineup.

They should try to trade Odom IMO. Think how much better they'd be with Artest at the 3 instead of Odom. That would never happen, because Odom makes twice as much $ and Sac wouldn't give him to the Lakers, but still, Odom is a big salary and has some unique skills that other teams might want.


How does the proposal in your third paragraph satisfy the issues raised in the beginning of paragraph #2?

As far as the 3 spot is concerned, I don't think you get any more versatile than Lamar Odom; and bringing a big off the bench becomes less of an issue when you can always move Gasol to the 5 and Odom to the 4 in the event of, say, Walton coming in for Bynum.

Once you trade for Artest you lose the versatility of being able to move your starting 3 (Ron) to the 4 spot. Ron predominantly swings the other way (the 2) which is definitely not what the Lakers need more of.

I was sort of thinking out loud. Something about their team still doesn't seem right to me. They would match up pretty well against us though.

A Pistons/ Lakers rematch would be pretty sweet.

If Tony Parker comes back and is healthy this year I will still take the Spurs!

http://stylusmagazine.com/pbw/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/Kool-AidMan.jpg

Don't bet on the spurs on an even numbered year :P

The thing is that the Lakers also have some other effective players. Going with that overly big starting lineup really creates an imbalance.

Vujacic, Farmar, Radmonovich, Walton, Ariza, and Turiaf can all play, but they are all best as complimentary players. They need a big off the bench and could use a more versatile 3 in the starting lineup.

They should try to trade Odom IMO. Think how much better they'd be with Artest at the 3 instead of Odom. That would never happen, because Odom makes twice as much $ and Sac wouldn't give him to the Lakers, but still, Odom is a big salary and has some unique skills that other teams might want.

Yes, I think it's a bit unbalanced. I still think the Suns would beat the Lakers in a series, and I think the Warriors would also present matchup problems for a team that big. Odom is still the key, if he can produce they are formidable, he is the x-factor.

Marc Gasol is Pau Gasol brother. I think he plays in Spain. I don't think he is as good as his brother, but they like him for the potential.

Yes. Marc Gasol plays in Spain in Akasvayu Girona, but Barcelona have his rights.
He's 23 years old, 7'00", and this season is one of the best players of the league with good numbers, 17pt and 8 rb, better than the numbers of Pau when was selected by Atlanta.
I think that he has very potentially, and he will be better than Pau in a few years.

I was sort of thinking out loud. Something about their team still doesn't seem right to me. They would match up pretty well against us though.

A Pistons/ Lakers rematch would be pretty sweet.

Even sweeter if the Pistons take the title:)

Even with Bynum gone this past week, the Lakers have been in every game and could have won everyone of them including last night. With that being said once Bynum comes back and if Gasol gets acclamated properly to Phil's system, I might be inclined (much to my chargrin) of taking their big 3 and role players over the Celtics big 3 and their bench. ...:stirthepot:. Both teams are turnover prone, but its something about Farmar, Turiaf, Fish, Odom that can keeps them in every game until Kobe takes decides to take over. Let see how they play tonight short handed again vs the Raptors tonght.

Of course I am getting ahead of myself as we know our Pistons will prevail over the C's in May I guess I just we needed a nice trade to get my fingers typing today....Wonder how John Paxson feels tonight since he tried to get Gasol and Kobe the last couple of seasons...........

Wow...Darko's first win.

In my ever so humble opinion, this trade will improve the Grizzlies. Now if only they can get rid of their other soft defensive player, Mike Miller, they would have the start of a good team.

Here is a starting lineup the Griz could now use. Conley at point. A good defensive player. And an awesome offensive player.

Navarro at shooting guard. A heck of an outside shot. He also has a real nice floater in the lane. Defensively he has a bit of length and tries his best. Not the greatest cause he lacks some strength, but ok to good.

Small forward, Rudy Gay. An excellent all around player.

Power forward. Darko

Center. Kwame Brown.

Subs: Lowry or Crittenden at point. Most likely Lowry for now.

Shooting guard. Conley is tall enough to move over to shooting guard. They have some other options too, but I think a three guard rotation of Conley, Navarro, and Lowry would work best.

Small forward. Mike Miller, but not for more than 10 minutes a game. Gay should play 38 minutes per game.

Third big: Warrick.

Memphis also has a couple of other bigs they can use for spot minutes, but this basic 8 man rotation is what they should be using going forward, if they want to win games that is.

In my ever so humble opinion, this trade will improve the Grizzlies. Now if only they can get rid of their other soft defensive player, Mike Miller, they would have the start of a good team.

Here is a starting lineup the Griz could now use. Conley at point. A good defensive player. And an awesome offensive player.

Navarro at shooting guard. A heck of an outside shot. He also has a real nice floater in the lane. Defensively he has a bit of length and tries his best. Not the greatest cause he lacks some strength, but ok to good.

Small forward, Rudy Gay. An excellent all around player.

Power forward. Darko

Center. Kwame Brown.

Subs: Lowry or Crittenden at point. Most likely Lowry for now.

Shooting guard. Conley is tall enough to move over to shooting guard. They have some other options too, but I think a three guard rotation of Conley, Navarro, and Lowry would work best.

Small forward. Mike Miller, but not for more than 10 minutes a game. Gay should play 38 minutes per game.

Third big: Warrick.

Memphis also has a couple of other bigs they can use for spot minutes, but this basic 8 man rotation is what they should be using going forward, if they want to win games that is.
I am watching NBA TV right now and the Memphis GM is talking the same smack...but he sounds like he is on the laker payroll too :)

In my ever so humble opinion, this trade will improve the Grizzlies. Now if only they can get rid of their other soft defensive player, Mike Miller, they would have the start of a good team.

Here is a starting lineup the Griz could now use. Conley at point. A good defensive player. And an awesome offensive player.

Navarro at shooting guard. A heck of an outside shot. He also has a real nice floater in the lane. Defensively he has a bit of length and tries his best. Not the greatest cause he lacks some strength, but ok to good.

Small forward, Rudy Gay. An excellent all around player.

Power forward. Darko

Center. Kwame Brown.

Subs: Lowry or Crittenden at point. Most likely Lowry for now.

Shooting guard. Conley is tall enough to move over to shooting guard. They have some other options too, but I think a three guard rotation of Conley, Navarro, and Lowry would work best.

Small forward. Mike Miller, but not for more than 10 minutes a game. Gay should play 38 minutes per game.

Third big: Warrick.

Memphis also has a couple of other bigs they can use for spot minutes, but this basic 8 man rotation is what they should be using going forward, if they want to win games that is.

It could improve them but only in the sense that they get rid of a player who clearly wanted out.

The fact that Darko can play all five postions will certainly help.

The Lakers are stacked now.

Fisher/Kobe/Odom/Gasol/Bynum

Does that even work? Seems like you'd have to bring Odom off the bench when Bynum gets back.

I really think this was an amazing trade for them.

Odom moves back to small forward where he played at Miami as well as where he played at the beginning of this season.

:hoops:

They are saying the Lakers DOMINATED the Pistons last night and should have won the game!!:sssh:

ESPN hates us.

Jack Nies kept what should have a blowout a close game.

:hoops:

Memphis most likely got something under the table from the league for this trade, because it gives Stern and his minions along with the Media a Celtics - Lakers Finals. This is Stern's dream matchup until he can work it so that a NBA final is between a U.S. and European team. That will be his next goal.

Enjoy the regular season while you can because the Finals match-up is set in cement.

:hoops:

ESPN hates us.

Jack Nies kept what should have a blowout a close game.

:hoops:
It was the local LA Radio guys talking the smack though..Mychal Tompson, Steve Hartman and Vic "the Brick" Jacobs on KLAC this afternoon.. they are the ones that thought that Odom blew the chance to pull out the victory with the air ball after the Lakers dominated the Pistons in the second half..No credit was given to tay's three ball.....and there as no mention of any bad officiating....

It was the local LA Radio guys talking the smack though..Mychal Tompson, Steve Hartman and Vic "the Brick" Jacobs on KLAC this afternoon.. they are the ones that thought that Odom blew the chance to pull out the victory with the air ball after the Lakers dominated the Pistons in the second half..No credit was given to tay's three ball.....

Its Los Angeles.

You live here.

You know what the people here are like, especially the media people.

Only in Los Angeles could they make Britney Spears a running headline story. Well maybe also in France or Italy.

:hoops:

Bynum has a very serious knee injury........i just hope in all the euporia,they do not rush him back. On espn shootaround just know, rick carlisle just called luke walton a"great player".....incredible

Memphis most likely got something under the table from the league for this trade, because it gives Stern and his minions along with the Media a Celtics - Lakers Finals. This is Stern's dream matchup until he can work it so that a NBA final is between a U.S. and European team. That will be his next goal.

Enjoy the regular season while you can because the Finals match-up is set in cement.

:hoops:

You hit the hammer on the nail there....Maybe Stern is in partership with Kevin Mchale and Jerry West too? Jerry is still a Grizzly consultant who probably OK'd the deal to make Mitch Kupcake look good and Mchale gave away KG to help his old buddy Ainge. Let conspirators come out now

old school rivalry >>Celtic/Lakers it's fannnnntastic!!:yellowprison:

You hit the hammer on the nail there....Maybe Stern is in partership with Kevin Mchale and Jerry West too? Jerry is still a Grizzly consultant who probably OK'd the deal to make Mitch Kupcake look good and Mchale gave away KG to help his old buddy Ainge. Let conspirators come out now

old school rivalry >>Celtic/Lakers it's fannnnntastic!!:yellowprison:

Shaq must be really pissed off right about now to put it mildly.

:hoops:

Conspiracy theories or not, it's pretty amazing how much better Kupchak's perfomance as GM looks now as compared to before this season started. In the last year or so, he's weathered the storm of Kobe's whining and mood swings without trading probably the best player in the league, he hung on to Bynum and was rewarded with a breakout season by a young talented center (the hardest position on the floor to fill), and now he's brought in an All-Star caliber big man without giving up any of the team's key contributors. I'm not ready to just hand them the 'ship now, for many of the reasons already listed in this thread, but that's one hell of a year for a GM who had a very underwhelming record in his tenure before this season started.

Kwame is now increasing his stature as the biggest draft bust of modern times through the reality of how he improved both NBA teams that he's played for: by getting traded for guys who are way better than him. :pound:

In my ever so humble opinion, this trade will improve the Grizzlies. Now if only they can get rid of their other soft defensive player, Mike Miller, they would have the start of a good team.

Here is a starting lineup the Griz could now use. Conley at point. A good defensive player. And an awesome offensive player.

Navarro at shooting guard. A heck of an outside shot. He also has a real nice floater in the lane. Defensively he has a bit of length and tries his best. Not the greatest cause he lacks some strength, but ok to good.

Small forward, Rudy Gay. An excellent all around player.

Power forward. Darko

Center. Kwame Brown.

Subs: Lowry or Crittenden at point. Most likely Lowry for now.

Shooting guard. Conley is tall enough to move over to shooting guard. They have some other options too, but I think a three guard rotation of Conley, Navarro, and Lowry would work best.

Small forward. Mike Miller, but not for more than 10 minutes a game. Gay should play 38 minutes per game.

Third big: Warrick.

Memphis also has a couple of other bigs they can use for spot minutes, but this basic 8 man rotation is what they should be using going forward, if they want to win games that is.

There are oh, 8 teams better than this Memphis lineup in the west. At least.

You hit the hammer on the nail there....Maybe Stern is in partership with Kevin Mchale and Jerry West too? Jerry is still a Grizzly consultant who probably OK'd the deal to make Mitch Kupcake look good and Mchale gave away KG to help his old buddy Ainge. Let conspirators come out now

old school rivalry >>Celtic/Lakers it's fannnnntastic!!:yellowprison:


I think its a smoke screen so they could go out and sign Sammy Meija.

The fact that Darko can play all five postions will certainly help.
:pound::pound::pound:

Gasol needed a change of scenery and where better to go than sunny LA under Jackson...Pau is probably peeing himself right now. The trade is HUGE to the Lakers post season possibilities and drives an even bigger wedge between the WC haves and have nots. It also helps to make the EC look even more pathetic in comparison.

Barring a miracle, IMO there's no way the ECF champion has a chance against the WCF champion this year. The WCF winner will have played through at least two tough series to get to the Finals. And the ECF champion will have coasted through two series against teams that made the playoffs by default because they didn't suck as bad as the rest of the EC bottom-feeders.

The talent disparity between conferences is alarming and it's obviously not because of the players.

4 Forum guides posting in a row. LOL

:hoops:

Pau is probably peeing himself right now

I doubt it.

Most likely he is thinking of what Beverly Hills and Hollywood restaurants and nightclubs he is going to be hanging out in to look for and get some gorgeous L.A. talent.

:hoops:

Seriously though, its not that unheard of to tank it for a season and clear up some future cap space at the same time. For all practical purposes Memphis is out of the playoff picture this season.

Similiar way to how we got Sheed so cheap from Atlanta.

Similiar way to how we got Sheed so cheap from Atlanta.

Even down to the waived defensive specialist who returns to his former squad.

There are oh, 8 teams better than this Memphis lineup in the west. At least.

Everyone has an opinion. If you want to talk hoops, name those 8 teams and we can discuss.

Everyone has an opinion. If you want to talk hoops, name those 8 teams and we can discuss.

I think it would be easier to name the teams that are worse than Memphis than teams that are better than Memphis. The Grizzlies are currently 13-33. Only three teams in the entire NBA have a worse record (Miami, Seattle, Minnesota).

Seattle is 11-35 and Minnesota is 10-36. The T-Wolves have won 5 of their last 7, though, so they are coming on.

I'm sure that win-loss record doesn't measure the quality of a team, though....

Everyone has an opinion. If you want to talk hoops, name those 8 teams and we can discuss.

Ok,

Phoenix Suns
LA Lakers
Portland Trailblazers
SA Spurs
Houston Rockets
Utah Jazz
Denver Nuggets
Golden State Warriors

And there is probably a couple more.

yeah there is...Hornets & Mavs

yeah there is...Hornets & Mavs

Dont` know how I left them out!

The east is in seriously darko days. Too much money thrown around willy-nilly by guys given blank checks...the Rashard deal is a prime example. The EC is now paying penance for the stupidity of their GM's & owners.

I wonder if they are going to deal Navarro off too. He kind of got the bait and switch coming from Europe to Memphis right before their garage sale.

I think that it is obvious that Memphis needed to rebuild. Gasol seems like a good player, but the ESPN guys pointed out a very telling stat today before the game. Memphis has won 28% of their games when Gasol has been in the lineup and 27% of their games when he's been injured. How good can he be?

He'll be a nice compliment for Kobe, but this guy should not be the foundation of a franchise. So, in that respect, Memphis may as well have got rid of him. And if you are going to rebuild, then there is no need to get back anything besides cap relief and draft picks. They accomplished that + Crittenton + potentially little Gasol.

I think that they probably have a better chance of winning a title within 5 years now than they did with Pau. Unfortunately for them, they are going to screw up the rebuild.

Rumor has it that Memphis' owners are trying to sell the franchise. When you think of it, that franchise has been one big long disaster since it started out in that crappy Vancouver market, remember, they drafted Steve Francis. In order to sell the team, ownership is trying to cut payroll during the rebuilding phase. BTW - We could get Mike Miller by sending them Primoz, Fabio and FlipJr. naaah, just means I'd have to watch Miller and Jarvis on the floor at the same time throing up a bunch of bricks from the perimeter and getting beat on the defensive end.

Darko and Kwame are going to be on the floor together......oh man that's funny.:pound:

Barring a miracle, IMO there's no way the ECF champion has a chance against the WCF champion this year. The WCF winner will have played through at least two tough series to get to the Finals. And the ECF champion will have coasted through two series against teams that made the playoffs by default because they didn't suck as bad as the rest of the EC bottom-feeders.


Mate, I believe you just made a point against your argument. :MusicBigGrin:
Think about it, whoever gets through the West is gonna be battle-tested sure, but they are gonna be pretty tired and worn out.

Whoever gets out of the East may have played 2 easy series but if its a Detroit/Boston ECF, that would be enough of a challenge for the winner to be prepared for the finals. And they would still be quite fresh if they cruised the first couple of rounds.

The east is in seriously darko days. Too much money thrown around willy-nilly by guys given blank checks...the Rashard deal is a prime example. The EC is now paying penance for the stupidity of their GM's & owners.

Although Rashard was given a massive contract its hard to argue with the fact the Magic are now a clear 3rd in the Eastern Conference.


Darko and Kwame are going to be on the floor together......oh man that's funny.:pound:

Too bad Stromile is getting traded. That would have been a sweet trio to see play together.

Mate, I believe you just made a point against your argument. :MusicBigGrin:
Think about it, whoever gets through the West is gonna be battle-tested sure, but they are gonna be pretty tired and worn out.

Whoever gets out of the East may have played 2 easy series but if its a Detroit/Boston ECF, that would be enough of a challenge for the winner to be prepared for the finals. And they would still be quite fresh if they cruised the first couple of rounds.



Although Rashard was given a massive contract its hard to argue with the fact the Magic are now a clear 3rd in the Eastern Conference.




Too bad Stromile is getting traded. That would have been a sweet trio to see play together.


I agree with that statement about the East this year. The landscape is not that much different from the 04 playoffs with Boston filling in for Indiana as the 60 game winner and Clev for NewJerey as the battle tested 2nd round team, although Boston may get them this year in the 2nd round. Plus throw in Orlando and Toronto as the wildcards.

What do we have to complain about anyway as the East has been tough enough to stop the Pistons for the past 2 years.

Rumor has it that Memphis' owners are trying to sell the franchise. When you think of it, that franchise has been one big long disaster since it started out in that crappy Vancouver market, remember, they drafted Steve Francis. In order to sell the team, ownership is trying to cut payroll during the rebuilding phase. BTW - We could get Mike Miller by sending them Primoz, Fabio and FlipJr. naaah, just means I'd have to watch Miller and Jarvis on the floor at the same time throing up a bunch of bricks from the perimeter and getting beat on the defensive end.

Miller would actually be a fairly significant upgrade to Hayes, but we won't trade for Miller.

:hoops:

miller's contract is horrid...not really an option

It occurred to me this morning when reading about how long it took AJ to recover from his ankle sprain (according to Joe D. in today's FREEP AJ did not recover until last month; i.e., January,) which was about three months that Bynum might not be able to return and be effective again until next year.

So right now I am thinking what are the Lakers chances to get out of the West to the Finals this year with Gasol instead of Bynum?

Gasol is a definite downgrade from Bynum. Bynum is better defensively and a better rebounder. The Lakers do not need Gasol's scoring that much though it will help.

Bottom line is that the Lakers are better today than they were two days ago but not as good as when Bynum was playing. They are certainly serious contenders to get to the NBA Finals this year even without Bynum, but unless Bynum returns to full strength by the playoffs I think that the Lakers will have a tough time getting to the Finals, but still it may be possible for them to do.

If Bynum returns to full strength by the playoffs the Lakers should get to the Finals unless one of their other key players gets seriously hurt.

:hoops:

miller's contract is horrid...not really an option

Thanks for confirming and expanding on what I just said; i.e., that we won't trade for him.

:hoops:

This is a great trade for Memphis. Darko will have room to operate now without Sasquatch grabbing the spotlight. It's Darko's show now in Memphis. He's the man. :pound: I'll be interested to see how he responds. This is really the opportunity he's been waiting for. Howard grabbed the spotlight in Orlando and Darko was confined to garbage minutes in Detroit. Pau leaving could be Darko's coming-out party.

As far as the Lakers go, great trade for them. Kobe and Sasquatch can play the inside-outside game all night.

This is a great trade for Memphis. Darko will have room to operate now without Sasquatch grabbing the spotlight. It's Darko's show now in Memphis. He's the man. :pound: I'll be interested to see how he responds. This is really the opportunity he's been waiting for. Howard grabbed the spotlight in Orlando and Darko was confined to garbage minutes in Detroit. Pau leaving could be Darko's coming-out party.

As far as the Lakers go, great trade for them. Kobe and Sasquatch can play the inside-outside game all night.


True. There are no excuses for Darko now. Memphis' roster is going to be tailor made for Darko.

Star players like Pau have always been jealous of him and so Darko has modestly kept his level of play low to compensate. I anticipate a surge in Darko's stat line..particularly in AOTG.

Some interesting comments on the trade by Mark Heisler who has covered the NBA and the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times for a number of years. Keep in mind that Heisler has never had too many good things to say about the Pistons, their players and former players and that is an overstatement. He does make some other interesting points in the article.


This wasn't the Lakers' only option. They could have had Chicago's Ben Wallace for Kwame Brown and Vladimir Radmanovic, according to an NBA source, incurring far less cost.

Moving Radmanovic's contract, which has three seasons worth $19 million left, would have meant the Lakers were taking on only an additional $20 million.

However, the Lakers thought Wallace was old and diminished, which was true. He's attitudinal, too, but I don't think he's as bad as he looked with the runty Bulls. He and Bynum might have been a devastating defensive tandem, but we'll never know.

Lakers' trade could have a downside - Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-heisler2feb02,0,6314802.story)

:hoops:

Some interesting comments on the trade by Mark Heisler who has covered the NBA and the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times for a number of years. Keep in mind that Heisler has never had too many good things to say about the Pistons, their players and former players and that is an overstatement. He does make some other interesting points in the article.

Lakers' trade could have a downside - Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-heisler2feb02,0,6314802.story)

:hoops:

Buddha...do you disagree that Ben is old and diminished?

Some interesting comments on the trade by Mark Heisler who has covered the NBA and the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times for a number of years. Keep in mind that Heisler has never had too many good things to say about the Pistons, their players and former players and that is an overstatement. He does make some other interesting points in the article.

Lakers' trade could have a downside - Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-heisler2feb02,0,6314802.story)

:hoops:
Lakers still have not let on that Bynum injury could take 2 months to recover. With the west so tight the Lakers couild have found them selves as the 9th or 10th seed before they retured from their Kobe showcase tour if they had not signed Gasol or some other big (the could have taken Darko or Ben for less:))

Part of the deal was the Lakers signing the retired Aaron Mckie for $750,000, who had been assistant coach for the Sixers this season. I guess they weren't paying him that much.?? Will he report to Grizzlies now and get waived and then become their assistant?


The other article also implies that they have no problem paying the luxury tax for several years as long as Kobe is happy and that possibility of winning it all for several years.
Sign Up (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers2feb02,1,5183063.story?ctrack=3&cset=true)

Acquiring Gasol is a heavy financial investment for the Lakers, who will pay millions in luxury taxes for several seasons after not paying any last season and being only about $1.5 million over the tax threshold this season before Friday.

Jerry West is still a consultant for the Grizzlies :stirthepot:

Buddha...do you disagree that Ben is old and diminished?

30 anything ain't old when you are my age.

He he as good a player now as in 2004, what do you think?

:hoops:

Lakers still have not let on that Bynum injury could take 2 months to recover. With the west so tight the Lakers couild have found them selves as the 9th or 10th seed before they retured from their Kobe showcase tour if they had not signed Gasol or some other big (the could have taken Darko or Ben for less:))

Part of the deal was the Lakers signing the retired Aaron Mckie for $750,000, who had been assistant coach for the Sixers this season. I guess they weren't paying him that much.?? Will he report to Grizzlies now and get waived and then become their assistant?


The other article also implies that they have no problem paying the luxury tax for several years as long as Kobe is happy and that possibility of winning it all for several years.
Sign Up (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers2feb02,1,5183063.story?ctrack=3&cset=true)

I guess I wasn't clear. Let me try again to say what I think I wanted to say.

When Bynum will come back and will be at full strength has not yet been determined. Getting Gasol for what they gave up will improve the team this year over what they had yesterday, with Bynum injured..

Whether getting Gasol is good enough to get to the Finals, if Bynum does not return this year to full strength or at all, is in my mind open to question.

However if Bynum returns and is at full strength before the playoffs begin then it seems to me that the Lakers will have a good chance to get to the Finals.

:hoops:

30 anything ain't old when you are my age.

He he as good a player now as in 2004, what do you think?

:hoops:

I think Ben's play has dropped dramatically. Chicago would love to have someone take him off their hands. Noah can fill Ben's spot.

Noah can fill Ben's spot.
...and he can rebound as well.

True. There are no excuses for Darko now. Memphis' roster is going to be tailor made for Darko.

Star players like Pau have always been jealous of him and so Darko has modestly kept his level of play low to compensate. I anticipate a surge in Darko's stat line..particularly in AOTG.

Look for Kwame's numbers to skyrocket because of Darko. Those in the know will credit at least 50% of Kwame's production to Darko just because of the attention the opposing team will have to pay towards the Serbian gangster.

I anticipate a surge in Darko's stat line..particularly in AOTG.AOTG? Does that mean 'Attention Occupied Toward Game'?

Probably "assists off the glass," or as Bill Walton says, "what a pass... what a mind!"

Too bad they traded away Pau and Stro (and might waive Kwame); now the Grizzlies don't have anyone who can clean up Darko's misses for him, unless he's to do it himself, Moses style.

In all seriousness, I don't see how this won't lead to Darko putting up halfway-respectable numbers. His competition in the frontcourt is Brian Cardinal, and the office has made a commitment to tank. 12-13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2-3 blocks wouldn't strain his hold on sanity too much, I don't think.

In all seriousness, I don't see how this won't lead to Darko putting up halfway-respectable numbers. His competition in the frontcourt is Brian Cardinal, and the office has made a commitment to tank. 12-13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2-3 blocks wouldn't strain his hold on sanity too much, I don't think.
Who knows?
Yesterday he had 12 points on 6-9 shooting, 12 rebs and 2 blocks. And Wednesday he was pretty good;
Milicic had 14 points (6-of-10 FG), 16 rebounds and five blocked shots in 40 minutes Wednesday night in Memphis' loss to Denver.

Who knows?
Yesterday he had 12 points on 6-9 shooting, 12 rebs and 2 blocks. And Wednesday he was pretty good;

Too bad he was -10. But I guess that speaks more to the team defense Memphis plays - or lack of it.

Either way, the Serbian Gangster has been unleashed and none of our worlds will ever be the same.

Either way, the Serbian Gangster has been unleashed and none of our worlds will ever be the same.
Amen brother.

It will be interesting to see how Gasol matches up tonight against Boone. my money is on Boone, though Gasol might get his numbers. We will see.

:hoops:

Nice game from Gasol. It was obvious early in the game that Kobe was not trying to score. He was fitting in like Sheed! Gasol looked very comfortable in the triangle with very little practice time.

Also, Darko with his 3rd straight double double. And his +9 made him the only one on the team better than +1 for the game.

McDyess is the only Piston who has had 3 straight dubdubs this year... and he had 4.

Huge game from Mike Miller too. Mo Williams went on a tear at the end to come back and beat them.

Gasol outplayed Howard today, and Odom came up with some surprising defense at the end in Orlando.

Also, Pop tears Chris Wallace a new one:

"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 (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/02/08/popovich.grizzlies/)."

Crittenton is starting to pay quick dividends. His first game with serious minutes for the Griz.

Minutes 19
Points 10
Rebounds 4

He is going to be a good one.

:hoops: