<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>When healthy and happy, Gasol is one of the truly great skilled big men in the NBA. Despite missing significant time last season, Gasol had his most efficient campaign to date, putting up a 19.3 per 40 FIC. He improved as a scorer, rebounder and shotblocker in what was his sixth NBA season. This year, he has regressed slightly while playing for a Memphis team going in a direction that everyone knew would sooner or later no longer include the 2002 Rookie of the Year. Gasol is currently ranked 36th in the NBA in season FIC, but he does have a 16.3 per 40 FIC, which is ahead of All-Stars like Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, David West and Allen Iverson. Adding Gasol to a frontline that already includes Bynum and Odom will give the Lakers enough length and skill to match-up against any team in the NBA. Gasol will thrive in the triangle as a passer and as a secondary scoring option to Kobe Bryant, particularly because he’s so multi-talented and imaginative. It will be especially interesting to see how Gasol develops in Los Angeles as a shotblocker and rebounder now that he won’t be asked to carry such a substantial load offensively as he was with the Grizzlies. Financially, Gasol is a huge commitment for the Lakers. He is signed for three more seasons at $15.1 million, $16.5 million and $17.8 million. Odom will come off the books for the Lakers after next season, which will be Bynum's final campaign under his rookie contract before his inevitably huge extension takes effect. Plainly, the Lakers weren’t going to deal Bynum in any trade, but holding onto Farmar is really the key to this trade from my perspective. Only Brandon Roy (14.1 per 40 FIC) has been a better per minute player than Farmar (13.8 per 40 FIC) amongst NBA sophomores and he’s been an efficient scorer, penetrating into the lane to create scoring opportunities for himself and others. More than Kidd and certainly more than Jermaine O’Neal, Gasol is the All-Star player that will adequately complement Kobe and will give the Lakers’ title hopes (now extremely legitimate title hopes) more teeth. Kudos to the Buss family and Mitch Kupchak for having the gall to dig in during Kobe's trade demands and for pulling off this bold move for Gasol. Grade for Lakers: A-</div> Source
Memphis got rid of a guy who didn't want to be there, got an expiring contract and a good young Pg and can add him to trade value and with the depth of the top half of the draft this year, its not horrible for the Grizz
Personally, I think the deal is a definite A. We addressed a huge need, and that was size, and we did it in a big way. Pau Gasol, when healthy, might be a top 5 big in this league. He's going to be the perfect compliment to Kobe and with a frontcourt trio of Odom, Bynum and Pau clogging up the lane, we could easily be one of the best rebounding teams in the league. As for the Grizzlies, I honestly think that got raped in this deal. I realize they're team is basically up for a fire sale, with the only two untouchables likely being Conley and Gay. However, you have to think they could have gotten better than Kwame, Critt and picks basically. I realize that Kwame is a huge expiring deal and that Critt has a ton of potential, but wow.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Moo2K4 @ Feb 2 2008, 12:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>As for the Blazers, I honestly think that got raped in this deal. I realize they're team is basically up for a fire sale, with the only two untouchables likely being Conley and Gay. However, you have to think they could have gotten better than Kwame, Critt and picks basically. I realize that Kwame is a huge expiring deal and that Critt has a ton of potential, but wow.</div> you mean the grizz
A ++++ Why? 4 main points. 1st - We got rid of Kwame 2nd - We got a PF who can play in the high post who <u>WILL NOT hinder Bynum's progress</u> as a dominant Center. Gasol can pass and can shoot along the 2 pt area. 3rd - Although we lost Critt, we managed to hold on to Odom and Farmar. Imagine that we were almost sold on trading kwame AND odom for JO. We got an All - star caliber player for cheap. 4th - The Lakers, although moved a bit over the cap (Gasol 13M > Kwame + Critt 10M), have established a core group of players in which they could make a run at a dynasty since Gasol has 4 yrs left on his contract. Really good deal mitch... wait to show us that "we should wait for the right opportunities" Note: Since Gasol could eat up some of Bynum's stats and mins. this could be A GOOD THING for the FO, they will have more leverage on signing Andrew to a contract farther from the Max, around 10M a year. (Mabye)
