An Update On Mike Brown's Assistants And The Pau-To-Minnesota Rumors
by DexterFishmore on Jun 20, 2011 2:53 PM PDT
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PrintNew Lakers coach Mike Brown is starting to round up his posse of assistants. According to reports today from Dave McMenamin and Ric Bucher of ESPN, Brown intends to hire recently disemployed Pistons head coach John Kuester to oversee the Laker offense. Jim Boylen, the former head coach at the University of Utah, will also join as a bench assistant, and Chuck Person as well has been offered the opportunity to stay on in that role. Person has also interviewed for an assistant's gig under Kevin McHale with the Rockets and is expected to make a decision sometime this week.
Serving in Tex Winteresque "behind the bench" roles will be Ettore Messina, whom we've discussed extensively, and Quin Snyder. Snyder you may remember as the onetime coach at the University of Missouri or perhaps as a former Dukie with offensively overstyled hair. As for our friend and spiritual guide Brian Shaw, he's moving on. He'll soon interview with Indiana for the job of lead assistant coach. We wish him well and fear the horrible vengeance he'll no doubt inflict on the Lakers' organization someday.
Now, who wants to talk about Pau Gasol and the Minnesota Timberwolves? You all do? Goodie!
All right, this has all got a bit twisty, but I'll do my best to summarize. The two guys who've been pushing this story are Eric Pincus, an LA-based reporter who writes for HoopWorld, and Jerry Zgoda, the Wolves' beat writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Eric has an excellent rep in the business. I'm not as familiar with Jerry's work, but since he covers the Wolves on a daily basis for Minnesota's flagship paper, he should know whereof he speaks. In other words, there's no reason to believe anyone's full of shit here.
When you piece together what these guys have been writing the past couple days, as Eric attempts to do here, it boils down to this:
1. The Wolves are interested in Gasol to help with Ricky Rubio's transition to the States and also because Pau's really good and Kahn needs to start showing some improvement ASAP.
2. The Lakers are interested in Kevin Love, the second pick in the draft and maybe a few other Minnesota assets because they realize they need to get younger and deeper. If the Lakers could get Love, the two pick and some filler (e.g., Darko to back up Bynum), they'd be very tempted.
3. But Kahn's not going to do that deal. He thinks a hard salary cap is coming, which would force the Lakers to ratchet down their payroll. Therefore, he thinks he can pry Gasol loose on the cheap, or at least that it's worth a try.
4. But the Lakers aren't about to play along because a hard cap is far from a sure thing. It might not happen at all, or if it does happen there's likely to be a phase-in period that wouldn't require immediate roster surgery. There's no point stripping out payroll before you even know what the new rules will be.
So even though the two teams have actually spoken about this, at the moment there's no meeting of the minds. That could always change, but it seems like it would require one side or the other to adjust its fundamental view of what the new CBA will look like. More likely, the whole idea just disappears, perhaps to be revisited after the new labor agreement is signed.
Follow Dex on Twitter @dexterfishmore.
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I dont think that the Pau trade will move forward
Especially since there is now a big rumour going around about Bogut going to the TImberwolves for the #2 pick among other things.
The other big rumour is that Clippers-Sixers are getting closer to a Kaman-Iguodala trade.
good for the clippers if they can get iguodala
"the man who created a legend; the legend who resurrected a franchise."
I HOPE so...man that would be great.
PG: Mo Williams/Eric Bledsoe
SG: Eric Gordon/Randy Foye
SF: Iggy/Aminu (if not traded)/Ryan Gomes
PF: Blake Griffin/Mo Speights/Craig Smith
C: DeAndre Jordan/Mo Speights
Then in 2012, pretty much guaranteed top 5 pick from the TWolves (unless they start winning this year)
Proud member of Club FTR. falconPUNCH! for president!
I really hope it doesn't go through....
still have faith in Pau bouncing back stronger next season..the bench(excluding LO) is what need to be worked on.
by purplebloodgoldheart on Jun 20, 2011 3:46 PM PDT reply actions
this is all a smokescreen
we’re actually going to get Rubio for Walton and Shawfather.
Mo' Everything
"Please remember: it's not my fault your team sucks." - DexterFishmore
Stalk, err, Follow me on Twitter: @bluefalcon916
by bluexfalcon on Jun 20, 2011 3:47 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Don't think anything goes down (if at all) until after new CBA
That said, I’d do Love, 2nd pick, filler in a second.
I don't think anything goes down
however, if Kahn were to agree to something along the lines of Love, 2nd pick, and Darko I’d be inclined to listen to the deal.
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
When did Darko Milicic become the next big thing in the NBA?
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
by SoCalGal on Jun 20, 2011 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
don't you remember in '04 when he single handidly took out the Lakers in the finals? LOL
He got his name when his parents were in a restaurant. His father was very pleased with a steak he ordered and at the time his mother was pregnant. So his dad asked the waiter what's the name of the steak that he ordered and the waiter, obviously told him. It's called, Kobe.
by lakerdynasty on Jun 20, 2011 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions
lol
when he was drafted no. 2 overall.
Darko provides a nice back-up big to Drew. He’s not inept like most of our centers have been lately. Besides, this is the same Darko that dropped 20 on Pau to start the year. lol. i obviously kid, but he is not a bad player and it would provide depth.
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
Darko is signed through 2013-14 at about 5 mil/yr, has been incredibly unproductive until he got to one of the worst teams in the league. If there is a hard cap coming, no way.
Throw Luke in the deal then
he’s just as much dead weight. And he wasn’t always unproductive, he just never lived up the hype of being the no. 2 pick in that incredible draft
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
LOL, who cares when he was drafted? Kwame Brown was drafted #1 overall. How'd that work out?
Oh yeah, we dumped him for Pau Gasol. This season, we cursed Pau because he made Darko look like an All Star, which he clearly is not. Now all of a sudden, he’s a Lakers savior behind Drew?
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
no one is saying Darko's a savior
he’s not the focal point of the deal. Its to start building for the future with darko as a toss in to balance the salaries out.
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
and most of the time
high draft busts end up serving as productive players off the bench. Thats why those guys are still floating around in the league.
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
With the Lakers' luck, we'd be stuck with him for another 5 years.
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
Why do you care about Darko when he's the most negligible part of the entire deal?
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
So we need another negligible player on our bench? Isn't that what we're trying to get away from?
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
but if we get Love and the 2nd pick somehow
then that really doesnt matter.
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
I cannot understand people wanting to get rid of Pau for Kevin Love.
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
if that pick is included in the deal
its 100% worth it.
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
by shaqfor3 on Jun 20, 2011 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
agreed
something to consider.
Mo' Everything
"Please remember: it's not my fault your team sucks." - DexterFishmore
Stalk, err, Follow me on Twitter: @bluefalcon916
by bluexfalcon on Jun 20, 2011 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions
me neither.
Seems you and I are on an island all alone on this. Oh well, more booze for us that way, I guess.
ok, but,
let me add this — I don’t think the Love for Pau is the ultimate great deal ‘cause I do kinda love Pau and to my mind one of the things that missing from NBA hoops is likable and relate-able players that stay for a long time and I would love to have players to root for year after year, players who are able to set down some sort of roots, players I can get to know really well and get behind and yeah, Pau is kinda that type to me, BUT, (you just knew that damning "but" was coming, didn’t you?) But, if youth is our desire and that’s the direction we are going to go (and really, there are many other smart people who are making these kinds of decisions, my job is just to be fan and with that comes emotions), then I do think that Love is a better option than any other young thing that is coming out in the draft. I do think we need youth; I’m just not on board with using the draft to get. Sue me, I’m a Laker fan and all about instant gratification and unless we sucked bad enough to get the first through 10th picks, we aren’t going to see productivity from the young guns draft wise right away. Sooooo, if young is what we need, and I agree that perhaps we do, and then ok, maybe Love is an ok bet.
Youth is not the end all and be all. Shannon Brown is young. Pau Gasol is a better player than Kevin Love.
And our advantage for the last 3 1/2 years has been our height. This lineup is what the other teams built their teams to fight. Why would we give that up for someone shorter with fewer skills? Doesn’t make sense.
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
fewer skills? kevin is a rebounding best wtihout the multi-colored hair (rodman), and can step out and shoot the the 3. he may be shorter, but has more tenacity than pau in the paint.
im not bashing gasol at all dont get me wrong, but pau isnt getting any younger, and we all witnessed how 1 elbow from a defender, knocks his concentration out as well. kevin likes to bang inside, can shoot from 15-20 feet, and he was an all-star! so cmon, if you actually throw in the #2 pick, as well as another pg in flynn, another sg in webster? pull the damn trigger i say. the lakers wont be losing pau for nothing, trading an all-star for an all-star.
by Mark Jaramillo on Jun 21, 2011 8:36 AM PDT up reply actions
It's too late for youth right now.
That is, as of the moment, skill should be our first priority.
When it comes for time to rebuild, then we can rebuild with youth. But right now, we should maximize players with skill (atheleticism included) to complement kobe.
I'm with you on the love for Pau
I want to keep him. BUT, the only reason to trade him is the same reason Memphis sent him to LA. $17m represents a lot of talent, and if we can move one player to get 3-4 contributing players that include an all-star like Love, I havr to consider it.
Pau is awesome, but look at what moving that kind of salary did to solidify Memphis.
We have stars in Kobe and Drew, so losing Pau could result in a well-rounded, talented exchange. That possibility MUST be considered.
"The Lakers are ninja negotiators. Straight. fuckin. ninjas." -rshinsec
EDIT 2011: "The Lakers were ninja negotiators. Straight. fuckin. ninjas."
I didn't say that he was negligible, I'm saying that you're being ridiculous in tweaking irrelevant parts of the deal rather than looking at the whole thing
Besides, Darko is a solid backup five. Once we get away from where he was drafted, the rampant jokes, and the Kahn factor, he’s good in that specific role. Frankly, the arguments for not doing a deal that brings back Love, the number two overall, and a decent role player or two are very tenuous. It basically solves nearly all of our problems with the exception of our aging backcourt, and if anything, we increase in overall talent (Love + Williams + Pekovic/Milicic > Pau), lower the payroll, and get younger all at the same time.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
Ben, I'm not being ridiculous just because I disagree with you. I think you forget yourself.
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
Not really. Why are jabs at Darko important when he's the least important part of the deal?
You’re turning him into a straw man to dismiss the entire deal when he’s far, far less important than Love and the number two overall pick, which alone, probably justify the deal, even more so with some other pieces that we’d get from Minny in the meantime. Discuss that, not how Darko isn’t the greatest thing in the world, which pretty much everyone accepts here.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
by Ben R on Jun 20, 2011 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think I can discuss any aspect of this I choose. Or did I miss something?
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
Sure, by all means
If all you were trying to argue against was that Darko isn’t that great of a player, not that the overall deal is bad, which you haven’t really gotten to.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
by Ben R on Jun 20, 2011 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Read the rest of my comments, Ben.
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
I did. I haven't seen a convincing argument.
You, however, responded immediately to Marty’s comment about considering a deal for Love, the number two overall, and Darko by pinpointing Darko. I responded to that specific comment by noting that it was an irrelevant concern, which you still haven’t really acknowledged and instead proceeded to argue over Darko specifically despite the fact that he’s irrelevant.
You’ve had one comment addressing the deal by arguing that youth isn’t that important, which is fine, and another that insinuated that people just wanted to give up Pau for Kevin Love, which is also untrue, as other people pointed out. What am I missing?
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
by Ben R on Jun 20, 2011 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Pardon me if I don't feel I need to convince you of anything.
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
Then don't complain when people say that you're bashing something that doesn't matter
It’s not fair to the person whose making the argument, who deserves to have his point debated rather than dismissed using a straw man.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
by Ben R on Jun 20, 2011 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm going to take this offline.
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
Darko won't get any playing time anyways.
If we actually do trade pau or love, then odom, love, and drew all demand 30+ minutes of play. That doesn’t leave much for Darko…and hence he’s not worth the money (esp with the impending cap)
Darko is nothing but filler...not a deal breaker imo.
Proud member of Club FTR. falconPUNCH! for president!
I'd definitely do a deal like that
I know the Lakers would be losing a star, but they’d be getting MUCH younger with Kevin Love (who is already a great player and is improving), another great young player in Kyrie Irving or D. Williams, and a solid backup to Bynum.
The Lakers would get younger, more athletic and also possibly fill many of their needs with a trade like that. I have a hard time believing that this happens.
CALL UP JESUS MONTERO!
ok, so i really need an idiots guide to the whole lockout thing going on this year?
What are the CBA talks?
How does a salary cap work, and how does it affect the Lakers?
What are the players demanding and what do the owners want?
Who’s more to blame, the players or the owners?
He got his name when his parents were in a restaurant. His father was very pleased with a steak he ordered and at the time his mother was pregnant. So his dad asked the waiter what's the name of the steak that he ordered and the waiter, obviously told him. It's called, Kobe.
The CBA
is what we in the business of business call a Collective Bargaining Agreement. This is a contract set out between the owners and the player’s union on basic league operations that outline who gets what, how, and when.
The salary cap is a soft cap currently. There is a limit that a team can spend on player salaries each year, this is referred to as the salary cap. The soft part refers to the fact that teams can pay over the salary cap, but they have to pay a luxury tax for the luxury of being able to pay these players more than another team who has to stay at the salary cap limits.
The players are demanding pretty much more of the same. However, they are willing to listen to shortened contracts and calls for revenue sharing. They do not want a hard cap, nonguaranteed contracts, or a franchise tag. These are some of the things that the owners want and it emulates the NFL’s system of contracts and salary caps.
The owners are pretty easy to blame. They’ve given out horrid contracts for the life of the current CBA. They’ve hired terrible GMs who run franchises into the ground. They’ve also failed to make good teams great when given the tools of a star player, like Orlando, Cleveland, NOH, and etc. However, they’ve also shown what can happen if everyone had to play by the same rules in places like SA and OKC. They’ve also shown what can happen with wrong decisions like Sacramento and LA Clippers, who’ve seen a turnaround.
The players can only be blamed if one thinks that getting paid as much as you want is a really bad idea. Who cares if Kobe is getting 30 million if a team is willing to offer that to him. These players have leverage and they use it. It’s not a bad thing for them to have leverage over the owners. The owners have the final say over what happens and they still get roped into these horrid deals. I think the players are at fault for continually spending their money unwisely, but that’s a private issue and not a league issue.
let me know if I’m missing something people
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
haha I started writing out an explanation
then this popped up. Saved me a lot of time :)
"It ain't Chinese algebra. If you get stops and you execute on offense, normally that team wins." - Tony Allen
"One thing LeBron James has won that Kobe Bryant never has, and never will: A bronze medal."- Josh Tucker
I'll expand a bit on the salary cap though
Currently, the NBA has two levels.
There’s the soft cap, which is I believe around $50 million. When signing free agents, unless you use an exception like the MLE or something else, you cannot exceed the soft cap.
The salary cap (between $60 and $70 million) is the amount you’re allowed to pay to retain your own players without being penalized. This is effectively in place to give teams an advantage in keeping their own players.
Once you pass the salary cap (there are many reasons to do so), you have to pay a luxury tax, one dollar to the league for every additional dollar spent an player salary.
The hard cap that the owners badly want is a limit on the amount teams can spend. For instance, the Lakers this year spent almost $90 million on player salaries, a figure most teams cannot pay. A hard cap would make it impossible to pay that much to players, allowing for more fair ground between big city teams and small market teams.
The reason players oppose the hard cap is it would set a limit on how much they could earn. No way in hell will anyone earn close to Kobe’s salary (mid $20 million and approaching $30 million) under a hard cap, simply because it would literally be impossible to field a competitive team around that sole contract.
As Marty Mart explained, the owners want a strict CBA to make up for their own foolishness. They want a system that prevents them from giving out bad contracts, which is unfair to the countless number of players who deserve those big paydays (although I must admit the difference in lifestyle between making $10 million a year and $18 million a year can’t be that bad).
"It ain't Chinese algebra. If you get stops and you execute on offense, normally that team wins." - Tony Allen
"One thing LeBron James has won that Kobe Bryant never has, and never will: A bronze medal."- Josh Tucker
you got that right mm. look at juwan howard, he swindled that 100 mil contract from the wizards and has been laughing all the way to the bank ever since.
juwan, luke walton,brian grant (remember the lakers had to eat that contract? ouch!), its not only the players fault mm, the gms really have to dig down and reavaluate there players, and not just off of 1 season. thats where the players sucker the owners in. i bet, everytime mitch gos to a mirror, he see’s a reflection of a jack-ass(mule), everytime luke waltons name is mentioned.
by Mark Jaramillo on Jun 20, 2011 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions
the owners easily
cause they think its a good idea to give Joe Johnson a max contract.
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
by shaqfor3 on Jun 20, 2011 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions 7 recs
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
greened
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
This in spades
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
AWESOME! thanks everyone for making me that much more NBA savvy!
He got his name when his parents were in a restaurant. His father was very pleased with a steak he ordered and at the time his mother was pregnant. So his dad asked the waiter what's the name of the steak that he ordered and the waiter, obviously told him. It's called, Kobe.
by lakerdynasty on Jun 20, 2011 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions
no prob good sir
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
Interesting that Kahn is looking for Pau to keep Rubio
The pressure on Kahn to make something of that bizarre PG draft and the promise of Rubio is only growing amid Wolves failures.
Pau for Love, the second pick and Darko?
I’d do that in a heartbeat. Don’t think that will go through though.
CALL UP JESUS MONTERO!
true
Or hope the Cavs don’t take Kyrie Irving and then pick him!
That would be the absolute perfect scenario, wouldn’t it?
CALL UP JESUS MONTERO!
thats highway robbery
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
send klove and odom to the magic for dwight
send the #2 pick, blake and artest + filler to NO for chris paul.
"Thoughts are aplenty. Most of 'em not good." - Derek Fisher
yea we'll have our own big 3
oh wait, i was daydreaming.
Yes please!
but I can’t see NO taking anything less than Odom and the #2.
"The Lakers are ninja negotiators. Straight. fuckin. ninjas." -rshinsec
EDIT 2011: "The Lakers were ninja negotiators. Straight. fuckin. ninjas."
that's also knows as the
Utah -just-got-whiter-meter
"The Lakers are ninja negotiators. Straight. fuckin. ninjas." -rshinsec
EDIT 2011: "The Lakers were ninja negotiators. Straight. fuckin. ninjas."
by deadmuse on Jun 20, 2011 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Love the #2 and Darko for Pau?
Wow!!! That’s a hard deal to turn down if your Kupchak. If it wasn’t for Pau’s playoff debacle I don’t think this deal is even discussed, but now…
Mitch do it!
and it would be nice to throw in flynn and maybe we could give them blake and draft picks
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I've never done anything good for the world, and I'm not about to start now-DF
would be a steal for the lakers
if they pull off a pau for love trade. Love gets a double double every night he plays on teh court and also is younger than pau.
Pau is better than Love
He’s younger, is a great player and is improving but is in no way better than Pau Gasol right now. Gasol is one of the best big men in the league.
That said, I’m willing to part with that if it means getting younger and filling multiple needs on the team, which is what this sort of trade would do.
CALL UP JESUS MONTERO!
I don't understand this "trade Pau" to get younger sentiment
At this point, the purpose of trade is to get “better”, not to get “younger”.
K. Love is a rebounding beast and will develop well in the future, but it’s questionable that he may even get to Pau’s level at his best. He is younger than Pau but even less athletic than Pau. He has a 3 point shot, but his efficiency in the paint is nowhere near Pau’s. Love is an awesome rebounder, but also keep in mind Minny’s lack of ability to put the ball in the basket.
We don’t need Darko. If Drew gets hurt again, we’re screwed whether or not we have Darko. And if Drew is healthy, there’s no playing time for Darko (we’ll be basically paying him 5 mil to sit on the bench).
- pick? It doesn’t guarantee us anything. This is one of the weakest draft classes ever. And even #2 pick doesn’t translate to productive player on court. Evan Turner was last year’s #2 pick and didn’t even play that significant a role in the 76ers (much less the Lakers). Is Pau (guaranteed All-Star level) really worth that risk?
Getting younger is nice, but not at the cost of your #2 option…especially not when the pieces don’t add up to the whole. The most important thing now is to get “better” for Kobe’s wanning years. Guys like Love are great, but they’ll be around in the league. Guys like Kobe come once in a generation. The next 3 years and focusing on squeezing what we can from the Kobe era is what we should concentrate on, not needlessly worrying about the ambiguous “future”. I’d rather have the chance to win 3 titles and then be stuck in 3 years of lottery than spending 6 years as a great team but missing the chance to get titles.
by no stance on Jun 20, 2011 6:06 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Dude, Derrick Williams projects as a way better prospect than Evan Turner
Plus Love is a much more natural fit in a frontcourt with Bynum.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
Projections are still an "if" no matter if it's higher or lower
Otherwise, busts don’t happen. There’s still no guarantee whoever if picked at #2 will be able to make an impact.
K. Love’s best feature is his rebounding, but bynum is already a good rebounder (and Pau is pretty decent, too). If you want someone to fit with bynum for his shooting ability, there are plenty of shooting big men out there at better prices than Love. Plus, we don’t have a problem with offense on the front court. Our problem was overall defense…in which case, Love is even a poorer prospect than Pau.
Sure, there's no guarantee, but the possibility of Williams being a bust is painfully low
Legit size for the four, can face up, shoot from range, drive to the cup, and has a strong frame as well as deceptive speed. That as well as the fact that he can probably play either the three or the four, which is always a welcome bit of versatility. Prospects with that kind of skill level paired with athleticism are rarely busts, and even then, “bust” means an above average player instead of an All-Star player.
And disagree entirely with the rest of your comments. Bynum is a good rebounder but a good chunk of our problems with defensive rebounding were whenever he had to pick up the player on penetration, after which the responsibility fell to the other big and the wings, all of whom failed pretty miserably at that task. Pau in particular forgot how to rebound the moment Bynum emerged as a Howard-lite defensive force. Love acting as the weakside rebounder while Bynum patrols the paint is a solid fit.
And no problems on offense? The Gasol/Bynum pairing has never been a natural fit, barring whatever sets Brown incorporates from his days with the Duncan/Robinson Spurs, and there rarely, if ever, was any big-to-big synergy outside of the rare high-low action. Besides, what stretch fours are easily available, not to mention those capable of bringing Love’s talents? Like Pau, Love is a great set-up man from the high post, but is much better at the pick-and-pop, can spot-up from behind the arc, and is an excellent weakside offensive rebounder.
Naturally, this isn’t to say that Love is better than Pau, which of course is untrue, but that it’s a much, much more natural fit between Love and Bynum than with Pau. Add the fact that we get a solid prospect in Williams to provide some much-needed athleticism along with a backup five in Pekovic or Milicic, and it’s a no-brainer if such an offer is actually available.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
im not quite wit u
Id rather have a great team for 6 years. Great teams always have a chance to win a title. Plus we cud have 3 starters under 25 including tha draft pick. Pau is good but I wud love to have kl and his consistent hustle n heart. Something pau didn’t have during tha playoffs
If ya team aint the Lakers then your team SUCKS!
Maybe they don’t trade Pau for Love but it’s no secret Mitch wants to get a first rounder and a high one at that.There might be some truth to this,and if Mitch wants a top five pick like he has said from what I’ve read from other sites it will cost something in return and no doubt we need to get younger and quicker
by LakersMania on Jun 20, 2011 6:24 PM PDT reply actions
I don't want Kuester :(
Affectionately,
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,
NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer
by afrikabamboodle on Jun 20, 2011 6:32 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Keep Pau...
Boy had some fabulous games ‘09-’10 season! He was awesome. This season, smh? I believe he will get back to playing great, unless there’s something physically wrong with him. Championship teams usually keep the core team together for years, he’s been with the team 3 seasons, 2 ‘ships! Last year except for Kobe, everybody sucked! I say build around Kobe, Pau and Drew, and as someone before said, get all you can out of an incredible player like Kobe, he’ll be 33 this year and when you start hitting 37 or so, body wears down after so many years of pounding.
I wouldn't want Darko. He's just not worth the price for a back-up.
I would rather have Kyrylo Fesenko. Could be had at a cheaper rate during free agency. Kevin Love, Derrick Williams, and a wing player like Webster would be perfect. Crazy depth. Williams could potentially play two positions.
I have faith in Pau, but damn.
If the Lakers could get Love, the two pick and some filler (e.g., Darko to back up Bynum), they’d be very tempted.
I’d be VERY tempted as well. If the only piece we’re giving away is Gasol that is.
"I don't mind being the goat. I don't mind being the villain, hated. I've been that my whole career, so it's not like that's anything new. I don't mind people jumping on the bandwagon or jumping off. I just focus on playing the game." -Ron Artest
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius
i would a pau to the cavs for the #1 & #4 picks and anderson varejo and throw in artest and blake
by illyistic1 on Jun 20, 2011 8:00 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Won't happen, but like this scenario
Pau + Blake for Varejao, #4, & the buyout of Jamison.
Lakers take Kemba to learn behind Fisher. Odom starts. Carriker backs up. Lakers reduce payroll by about $9M on the books. Lakers rebuild…
the trade is a decent one,
but come on, this is super harsh. the guy comes here, does what he’s told, bows to kobe’s wishes, becomes phil’s whipping boy, takes us to the finals three years in a row, and we trade him to minnesota? damn. if pau requested a trade, ok fine but otherwise…. damn.
"Thoughts are aplenty. Most of 'em not good." - Derek Fisher
by _logan_ on Jun 20, 2011 8:08 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
This will probably cause a firestorm
but…
Getting Love = Getting Younger…that’s a good thing if Bynum is your franchise player moving forward, which all indications point to. (At least until there are actual trade offers for Howard, which there aren’t yet.)
Next is getting a young point guard that can grow that aforementioned trio in the next Super Friends scenario. The balancing act is doing it with a already veteran laden team and new coach.
Here is the firestorm….Kobe Bryant is a grind to play with (I’m assuming since he seems to burn out teammates rather than bring out the best in them AND I’ve never actually played ball with him), a grind to watch (Dude – it’s not 2005-07 and you’re not able to drop 81 a game or 62 through 3 Qtrs and Odom is not your best 2nd option). Kobe needs to control going off the grid both offensively and defensively if anything is going to work this upcoming season, or the next depending on the lockout.
Zach Lowe had a great observation today. Lakers ran a movement based offense with the triangle yet were actually an ISO heavy team with Kobe taking 52% of the offensive sets, which grew to 55% in the post season. Given his injuries, lack of practice, and NUMEROUS offensive options you would think someone that is top 15 all-time would recognize how to exploit that better than jack up 30 foot three pointers at the end of a shot clock. Don’t give me lack of movement that forced Kobe in to those shots. If I had to play with that guy for three years, I’d be pissed too and so would you.
So with that, get some new and younger blood, a new coach (check), a new whatever and make Kobe work for that next ring by molding his game according to the personnel and system. If J Kidd can do it so can Kobe.Rather than see him come back with another offensive wrinkle to his game, how about learning how to feed the post. It wasn’t that hard when Shaq was in town and they were winning 3 in a row and Kobe could still run off strings of 30-40 point games.
And as for not saying anything about the new coach or the lack of involvement in said hire, grow up. He just proved my point. Dude is going on 33 and has a million miles on that body, play and act accordingly.
The reason that Coach Brown has the baggage of cow towing to LeBron was because of Cav’s management and owner allowed it. Seeing as how the Lakers management team didn’t consult Kobe, yet Kobe is still apparently happy with the hire, makes me believe he can come around. Jury is still out. Now is the time for him to show how much of a winner he is. No more of the “pecking order” cause it’s way past that time. Do the right thing basketball wise, which he rarely seems to do. Tired of God-Mode. This isn’t NBA 2k11.
Go Lakers!
ps – I’m not a Kobe hater just a Lakers lover.
Andrew Bynum will never be a franchise player.
If being greedy means wanting it all, then yes, I'm greedy.
Yes, I'm smug, withholding, and judgmental, but at least I'm better than you. - Anonymous
Tweetness
Management seems to think so
I think the jury is still out. He hasn’t put together a full season without injury. Still lacks maturity on and off the court. Maybe you’re right but I think he has the potential. Phil was never all that great at bringing up youngsters and Kobe doesn’t really help with pecking order either. I’m down to trade the guy if it means they get Howard in return though.
by smoothaswilkes on Jun 21, 2011 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions
lol
who are these multiple weapons. Gasol scored in isos in the post, until he became too indecisive and kept passing it out when he had an advantage. Bynum scores out of the low post. Odom scores off putbacks and isos of his own. Most of our offense facilitates movement yes, but our 4 main guys all score just as well out of isos because those other guys that are supposed to be weapons all shit the bed from 3 after the first half of the season. There is no bench or role players more overrated than anyone not named Odom on the Lakers
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
Off topic here...
I just noticed that Kobe’s averages this season are 25.3pts/4.7ass./5.3reb. His career averages are 25.3pts/4.7ass./5.1reb.
I am too lazy to research this, but I wonder if there is any player in history (star only, I am sure there are a few nobodies) that has averaged equal to or greater than their career average in their 14th season?
I can’t come up with anyone that is even close. Maybe I am wrong, but that seems quite remarkable.
/rambling
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
spot on
He can still put up the stats but, IMHO, he is a high volume guy that will get his regardless.
He led the league in usage rate at 35.1% and, as I mentioned earlier, ISO’d 52% of the offensive sets. So of course, he’ll get his numbers.
I’d rather see him run the offense and continue to keep teammates involved and engaged. I just get frustrated that Kobe seems to always want to shoulder the burden by taking shots rather that leveraging his immense basketball IQ to get the other guys better shots or shots at all. It’s not like he’s having to pass to Kwame. He’s passing to the best low post duo the league has to offer. Keep them involved and, ostensibly, it’s easier for Kobe to get his own shots. FEED THE BEASTS. It worked earlier this millenium when the Lakers only had one.
by smoothaswilkes on Jun 20, 2011 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions
His minutes went down
Usage rate went up because he shot the same number of shots, but in fewer minutes
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
Karl Malone almost did that in his 15th season
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
Only a few people
have even played as long. I’m thinking that maybe Stockton did or Malone since they were always gym magnets and stayed in excellent shape. Kareem may have been close, but he also was a BEAST when he was younger so the average wouldn’t even be fair
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
It will never happen
but can you imagine if Lakers pulled off Bynum for Howard and Gasol for Love?
No team in the league would ever get a rebound again vs a starting front court of Howard, Love, and Odom.
"The Lakers are ninja negotiators. Straight. fuckin. ninjas." -rshinsec
EDIT 2011: "The Lakers were ninja negotiators. Straight. fuckin. ninjas."
i saw on the ESPN scroll
the Lakers are trying to acquire a first round pick
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 20, 2011 10:21 PM PDT reply actions
you've come to the right article
Mo' Everything
"Please remember: it's not my fault your team sucks." - DexterFishmore
Stalk, err, Follow me on Twitter: @bluefalcon916
by bluexfalcon on Jun 20, 2011 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions
apparently so
though this is the first i’ve heard of this Love for Pau etc. talk. How long has this been buzzing around?
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 20, 2011 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions
like the last 2 weeks
I think.
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
interesting
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 20, 2011 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Pau = or < Love and Derrick Williams or Kyrie Irving
I love Pau and I think we all agree that Pau is better than K-Love. The kicker is one of Williams or Irving, either we get some young depth immediately or we nearly cure the point guard issue.
Do I think that this gives the Lakers any better shot at the title next year? Not really, that’s more up to Irving or Williams as I see it. But does it keep them at least in the play-offs for the next five years or so? I think so. Consider, if Williams develops as a LO sixth man in a year or two then LO might be expendable/trade bait. Its a penny-meh, pound wise move.
The larger question that needs to be addressed is if Kevin Love can play alongside Bynum, or does LO move to the starting line-up?
week of the NBA draft = rumors r us
i still count my blessings that we drafted drew in 05 instead of gerald green like many of us thought
Slava.
http://www.twitter.com/hobojarpen
We apparently are looking at Raymond Felton, although I'm not entirely sure how we get him
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
Nuggets fan here.
Sounding like it would be a deal involving Odom.
"J.R. SMITH! WITH NO REGARD FOR COMMON SENSE!" - Future Kevin Harlan Quote
"They're two-deep at the crazy position!" - Kenny "The Jet" Smith.
We need to think about the future
If we don’t we’ll be screwed when Kobe retires/Pau is done, which is in probably 3 years. If we could get Love for Pau I think you have to pull the trigger.
Sure Pau may be better presently but Love isn’t that far behind. And a tandem of Bynum/Love would be great for years to come. Also, you can’t overlook how Bynum and Love would play together but I think moving Pau would let us see everything that Bynum can offer, granted he stays healthy. When Pau started the season hurt in 2010, Bynum was putting up monster numbers, with Pau gone (and again, a healthy Bynum) we could potentially have a dominant force along side Kobe.
Also keep in mind that Love would love to come to LA. Played at UCLA (think he’s from NW though) and seems to like Holywood with the commercials and what not.
Mat Latos is the real deal...Go Lakers, Pads, and Bolts
by mrbarneydangles on Jun 20, 2011 11:19 PM PDT reply actions
Not a sound deal
It seems outrageous that Gasol may be traded because he had a bad series with Dallas. If Cuban had traded Nowitzki away after the latter choked during the ’06 Finals, they would not have the championship this year. Gasol had proven himself a champion and a great player. He has superior basketball IQ, and unbelievable skills. He has superior offensive skills and is more than a capable defender (remember him shutting down Dwight Howard in ’09 Finals?). I say please give Gasol a chance to redeem himself next year. He will have more than enough motivation, given his lackluster performance last playoffs as well as these disturbing rumors of his trade.
Pau didn't only have a bad series against Dallas
and a trade involving him has as much to do with not winning the title as it does with anything else. His play has dipped before and he wasn’t involved in trade talks
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
So trade key players who game had "dipped"?
Just about every Lakers player, except Odom, had a subpar season, including — and especially — Kobe.
by Kenneth Guda on Jun 22, 2011 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Kobe's numbers were almost exactly the same as his career averages.
The fact that it was his 14th season means you could make the case this was one of his best seasons ever. If you look at scoring alone, per 36 minutes, Kobe lead the entire league.
"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
My point was actually that
the talks of trading Pau aren’t because his play dipped, but because he is an asset that other teams want. If he was that bad, he wouldn’t be able to be traded and we wouldn’t be talking about this.
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
Hard cap's not coming
The NBA is coming off a great season, and the owners will bend over and take the hit knowing they might be in for some windfall in the end…
"Acting is happy agony." -Jean Paul Sartre
Barca Blaugranes- SB Nation's FC Barcelona blog
@shadowking011
If Irving drops to #2 go for it.
I fail to understand how giving away the Lakers biggest advantage for the last 3.5 years for Kevin Love, Derrick Williams, and Darko is a good trade. The Lakers won 2 titles with HEIGHT and LENGTH and destroying people in the paint. Neither does adding Love or Williams address the Lakers most glaring problems; lack of outside shooting, and PG play. If Kyrie Irving were to drop to #2 then this trade becomes much better and far more likely to happen. The Wolves seem determined to roll the dice with Rubio which selecting Kyrie would certainly disrupt whereas the Lakers need a player almost exactly like Kyrie (provided he can develop a consistent 3 point shot.)
The only other reason I could see something like this happening is so the laker’s can stockpile enough resources to be able to make a trade for D12 sometime next year. Giving up Bynum + love or Bynum + #2 for D12 is certainly better then whatever else Orlando is going to be offered for Howard.
The Lakers won two titles
with excellent rebounding and defense, two things no predicated on having height or length although that certainly helps. Our height and length on offense has always been significantly overrated based on potential and not actual results. Pau has been the only consistent guy during those three years on offense. Odom was still floating through games and Bynum was consistently injured. We did not win those titles because we had these Pau/Odom/Bynum. We won because Kobe and Pau are great offensive players who can hide the inconsistencies of the others and can come back down and play good defense as well.
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
agreed! marty, when the lakers won back to back titles with our vaunted "big men"....
it worked out to a tee, but then teams like miami, and dallas (prime example), started building there rosters to counter against the lakers big frontline, with smaller perimeter shooting wingmen. the lakers were too damn slow, to run out to the wings to even put a hand on anybody. thus the record three point day by jason terry in gm 4.
thats why i dont understand some of the backlash the lakers would recieve if they did indeed trade gasol for love. gasol mentally checked out, not only in the post season, but in mid regular season as well. nobody really knows but pau, whats really going with the guy, but his actions, as well as the rest of the lakers, costed the lakers there 3-peat.
maybe a change of scenery would do him good, and maybe the early playoff exit would benefit his health as well, but back to my point, kevin love is an all-star. so trading gasol for love wouldnt be a drop off at all, except for the height issue, which, if anybody noticed in the dallas series, didnt really freakin matter! love is a rebounding machine, who isnt afraid to bang down low, whereas 1 elbow from a defender, and gasol officially checked out for the rest of the gm. bottom line, lakers need youth, gasol, as the rest of the lakers team arent getting any younger, gasol for love is perfect for that aspect.
by Mark Jaramillo on Jun 21, 2011 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
The backlash is because Pau,
not Bynum and not Odom, was that second piece in those Finals runs. He was the key big man. Getting rid of him and latching onto the kid, Bynum, would essentially be like saying thanks for being the stopgap as he got over injury issues. We appreciate your services but we don’t need you anymore because we have another big man. To many that’s how this looks.
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
This trade makes some sense if the Lakers believe that Bynum is ready to assume a bigger role.
There is a reason why Bynum was on the bench at the end of games and Pau was playing. Maybe now is the time the Lakers want Bynum to start earning that money?
I think that if the Lakers get Love & the #2 pick plus some other players like Martial Webster, Johnny Flynn, & Darko Milicic, that they will still need to include a couple of their second round picks and/or a future first round pick.
It makes sense for Minnesota since Pau & Rubio have played together in the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 FIBA World Championships. They would instantly have chemistry.
And Love may not resign with Minnesota so this could be a factor too. The Lakers have to get the #2 pick if they are going to do this deal. They need a PG in the worst way.
But I think the Lakers should keep Pau. Last year the Lakers were just tired. They have played the most games of any team since 2007-08. And Pau played in the games I mentioned above too. I think the Lakers will be well rested and motivated next year. They will still have problems at the point guard spot if they cannot address it this year. But they still have the size.
It is going to be interesting for sure.
i understand that the lakers have championships to win.
BUT getting rid of someone who paved the way for 3 straight finals appearances is harsh.
i hope, they’d give pau a chance to redeem himself…
PS: dr buss & co., pls show the rest of nba that you can make a wise business decision w/o being ungrateful to the player who had made you an elite team.
this is a cold business and one that requires constantly upgrading your roster when you can in order to remain perennial title contenders, something the lakers have done since coming to los angeles. do no get attached to any one player. it’s all a business. trading gasol for love and the 2nd pick is a smart business and basketball decision.
"the man who created a legend; the legend who resurrected a franchise."
How about this....
…….it’s gonna sound crazy… but how about they dont trade Pau and go on another round of ass kicking…? hmm?
"Lebron joins teams with his friends; Kobe’s enemies join teams with him." -Gil Meriken
Twitter @Hensi24
It's always possible.
Standing pat is an option.
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
the movements going to have to be addressed sooner or later, might as well start now, instead of seeing if they do stand pat, and they endure another early rd. exit in the playoffs.
why wait. ill guarantee, if the wheels start to fasll off mid season, the lakers will start scrambling to trade SOMEONE, make the moves now.
by Mark Jaramillo on Jun 21, 2011 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions
most people would say
you’re just being reactionary to Gasol’s playoff run and not to Gasol’s actual abilities displayed the past couple years
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
get Darko Milicic
"If somebody had their life on the line, and they’ve got their options on who they want to save their life — tell me who you’re going to pick? You’re going to look at the stats first?" - Kobe Bryant
Always retool, never rebuild,
Two trades,
1) Pau & Walton + 2nd rnd pick = Love, #2 pick (Williams), Flynn and Darko +2nd rnd pick 2012. (Webster or Beasley instead of Flynn if Irving falls)
2) Bynum, Artest, & Blake + 2 2nd rnd picks = D12 and Bass + 1st rnd pick 2012.
C D12 / Darko
PF Love / Bass
SF Williams / Odom
SG Kobe / Barnes
PG Fisher / Flynn / Brown
Remaing spot(s) : T. Johnson, D. Ebanks, D. Caracter and the last 2nd round pick (best avail. PG??)
Can’t use the 2nd round picks this year in this scenario so trade them for next years. I think the Minn. trade is good for both sides. Orlando does get two starters for one, who will probably be gone after next year anyway. Saw a lot of anti-Darko comments but he’s got to be better than Walton off the bench.
Are you people serious?
Love and #2 for Pau Gasol? Even David Kahn would laugh at that deal. I’m beginning to lose respect for the quality of debate on this interweb. First, a ridiculous proposal, followed by discussion on how much more the ’ Wolves should give up. You stole the Lakers from us. Isn’t that enough?
by Robley on Jun 21, 2011 4:39 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
uhhhhhh
no one here is saying its probable. We are just discussing rumors and ways to retool. Thats what blogs do in the offseason.
"Shaq finished his career 1-22 from 3-point range, which would have made him one of the better shooters on this year’s Laker playoff squad." - D4P
Please Explain
The only thing that Love definitively does better than Pau is shoot threes. Even the rebounding is pretty close when you adjust for teammate’s rebounds. If you start looking at advanced stats, you find Pau’s name right under or sometimes even above guys like Lebron James and Dwight Howard.
The draft is weak and not likely to produce a player to contribute directly to a title run this season.
So tell me why you think this is a bad deal for the Wolves and why they shouldn’t have to give up more to get Pau?
by Derek Fisher Fan on Jun 21, 2011 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL
You stole the Lakers from us. Isn’t that enough?
Always Lurking. Always. Yes.
Tim Duncan wins championships. Vince Carters fills the arenas.
Kobe Bryant does both. -- from some Yahoo! column, I think it was Steve Kerr.
The ideal way to win a championship is step by step.
-Phil Jackson
LMAO!!!!
"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
lmao
Pau Gasol is K. Love with a better post game and better defense. You bet your ass, Kevin Love isn’t the only thing coming back in that deal. That would be the highway robbery.
These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson
The key to championships = SIGN LUTHER HEAD!!!!!!!!
i like our team
dont trade anyone
Kobe: "Listen, if you told me at the beginning of the year that we’ve got two games at home to win a championship, yeah, I’ll take that shit"
I like Kevin Love and understand the youth he brings
not to mention the other incentives along with such a deal, but honestly I feel too many people are raining down on Pau after a rare lack-luster year. Pau has yet to reach his peak and has more to burn, not to mention he’s a very integral piece of the team. I just think we need to see how the new offense suits him and the team, and also see how Pau performs under it before talking big trades. Cmon people, this is the same guy that was an immense piece of the B2B; let’s not let one bad postseason and semi-bad regular season behoove us to pack his ass and ship him out.
"If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail. You know what I mean? Fuck it." -- Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant
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