<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>NEW ORLEANS -- Grizzlies head coach Marc Iavaroni would rather his team continue to battle opponents on the basketball floor. Not in a court of public opinion. Iavaroni took the high road Saturday although he was well aware of the sharp criticism his team recently received from San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Popovich, who also serves as the Spurs' president of basketball operations, called the trade that sent Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for draft picks and salary-cap flexibility an incomprehensible deal. "He's a great coach and they do a good job there," Iavaroni said when asked about Popovich's critique. "I don't read into anyone else's comments. That's just the nature of the league. People have a right to their opinion. We're just taking care of our best interests." The Griz received Kwame Brown, rookie Javaris Crittenton, the rights to Marc Gasol and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010. "What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension," Popovich told SI.com. "There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade." Last week, Griz general manager Chris Wallace expressed outrage that other NBA general managers leaked details of Gasol offers to national media, and then anonymously criticized their deal with the Lakers. "Well, there you go," Popovich said. "I'm on the record." Brown, with an expiring $9million contract, was the key to the transaction. The Griz are expected to clear $12 million-$13 million under the salary cap to shop for free agents this summer. If they stay idle in free agency, the Griz could have as much as $17 million to spend in 2009. Popovich wasn't the only high-profiled NBA guru to put a spin on the deal. Former Griz president and Lakers legend Jerry West granted the Los Angeles Times a rare interview, and praised the Lakers for doing the deal. Reportedly, acquiring Gasol could cost the Lakers $30million in luxury tax payments. "(Gasol's) a terrific kid, a very skilled offensive player," West told the newspaper. "He's got size and some versatility. He's a very good player. It's a terrific deal for the Lakers. He's a wonderful person. Very team-oriented. If you're around him, you'll find he's not aloof. I have nothing critical to say about him. This is a steal for the present." West also insisted he didn't broker the transaction, which backed up Griz owner Michael Heisley's statements when asked about rampant speculation to the contrary. West insisted he isn't involved with any team. "And I'm not going to be," he said.</div> Source: Memphis CA
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Trench @ Feb 12 2008, 12:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Dont hate man. lol.</div> Yeah exactly. The Spurs were blessed to land Tim Duncan with the #1 pick even though they had David Robinson. If David Robinson never injured himself they wouldn't have had Duncan and a head start on all the other franchises by having salary cap flexibility.
It's funny how he never mentioned anything when Baron Davis was traded to GS for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis? And the Vince Carter trade.
What a freaking baby. He never complained when the lottery balls fell in his favor to land Duncan. He wouldn't have complained had his team landed him either. He's just being a baby because he realizes the Lakers made a significant move to get better, while his Spurs are slowly showing their age.
you will note other GM's have privately spoken out agains this lopsided trade, Pop just manned up and admitted it bothered him. You have to admit this is an obviously one sided trade where the Grizz gave away their best player for future late round draft picks, an unproven rookie and salary cap room and the Lakers got an All-Star and gave up a backup forward and a rookie who wasn't playing to get him. that's highway robbery any way you look at it.
Who cares though? The two sides agreed to the deal and it was approved. That's all that matters. The Grizz had to have known they were getting screwed over by trading away they're best player, but they still did it. They wanted to shed cap space and they're going to succeed. That's really the end of it. Each team agreed, so move on and get over it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Feb 12 2008, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>you will note other GM's have privately spoken out agains this lopsided trade, Pop just manned up and admitted it bothered him. You have to admit this is an obviously one sided trade where the Grizz gave away their best player for future late round draft picks, an unproven rookie and salary cap room and the Lakers got an All-Star and gave up a backup forward and a rookie who wasn't playing to get him. that's highway robbery any way you look at it.</div> No other GM or Owner manned up to pay the luxury tax bounty Dr. Buss was willing to pay.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Feb 12 2008, 12:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Feb 12 2008, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>you will note other GM's have privately spoken out agains this lopsided trade, Pop just manned up and admitted it bothered him. You have to admit this is an obviously one sided trade where the Grizz gave away their best player for future late round draft picks, an unproven rookie and salary cap room and the Lakers got an All-Star and gave up a backup forward and a rookie who wasn't playing to get him. that's highway robbery any way you look at it.</div> No other GM or Owner manned up to pay the luxury tax bounty Dr. Buss was willing to pay. </div> Exactly man. The other owners are PUSSIES, POP is a dumb**** for saying this. It's the fault of the other owners.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Feb 12 2008, 01:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Feb 12 2008, 12:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Feb 12 2008, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>you will note other GM's have privately spoken out agains this lopsided trade, Pop just manned up and admitted it bothered him. You have to admit this is an obviously one sided trade where the Grizz gave away their best player for future late round draft picks, an unproven rookie and salary cap room and the Lakers got an All-Star and gave up a backup forward and a rookie who wasn't playing to get him. that's highway robbery any way you look at it.</div> No other GM or Owner manned up to pay the luxury tax bounty Dr. Buss was willing to pay. </div> Exactly man. The other owners are PUSSIES, POP is a dumb**** for saying this. It's the fault of the other owners. </div> That was a very Mamba-esque response from you. He will be proud.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Feb 12 2008, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Feb 12 2008, 01:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Feb 12 2008, 12:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Feb 12 2008, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>you will note other GM's have privately spoken out agains this lopsided trade, Pop just manned up and admitted it bothered him. You have to admit this is an obviously one sided trade where the Grizz gave away their best player for future late round draft picks, an unproven rookie and salary cap room and the Lakers got an All-Star and gave up a backup forward and a rookie who wasn't playing to get him. that's highway robbery any way you look at it.</div> No other GM or Owner manned up to pay the luxury tax bounty Dr. Buss was willing to pay. </div> Exactly man. The other owners are PUSSIES, POP is a dumb**** for saying this. It's the fault of the other owners. </div> That was a very Mamba-esque response from you. He will be proud. </div> I like to think of myself as a snobby-Black-Mamba with a monocle and elegant streak. We were born the same day and year too.
Mark Cuban joins the baby club. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Join the committee: Mark Cuban said he was bothered by the Lakers-Grizzlies trade that sent Pau Gasol to Los Angeles for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie and draft picks, widely regarded as one of the most one-sided deals in league history. "Yeah, it bothers me," he said. "I want to be on the same committee as [Gregg] Popovich." Popovich, coach of the San Antonio Spurs, said the league should have a trade-review committee and that he would have vetoed the Lakers-Grizzlies deal if he had a vote.</div> Source: Dallas News I'm not sure if Cuban's quote was tongue in cheek, but I'm not surprised he's whining either. He's still one of my favorite owners though for any professional sport.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DooBee @ Feb 12 2008, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Where were Pop and Cuban when KG got traded?</div> Lets not pretend the Grizzles got anyone as good as Al Jefferson, a player they had to turn around and give a huge/near max extension to that very year. -Petey
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Petey @ Feb 12 2008, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DooBee @ Feb 12 2008, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Where were Pop and Cuban when KG got traded?</div> Lets not pretend the Grizzles got anyone as good as Al Jefferson, a player they had to turn around and give a huge/near max extension to that very year. -Petey </div> Jealousy is a stinky aroma.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Feb 12 2008, 03:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Petey @ Feb 12 2008, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'> Lets not pretend the Grizzles got anyone as good as Al Jefferson, a player they had to turn around and give a huge/near max extension to that very year. -Petey</div> Jealousy is a stinky aroma. </div> Haha, come on. It's great when your team acquires a star for pennies on the dollar. It sucks when your team gets beaten to a deal like that. Sucks even worse if it's your main rival, or a team close to yours in terms of talent. But still there is a difference between the trade he mentioned. -Petey
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumpman @ Feb 12 2008, 08:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's funny how he never mentioned anything when Baron Davis was traded to GS for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis? And the Vince Carter trade.</div> Because now the Lakers are a bigger threat in the West.
