BREAKING NEWS: GASOL A LAKER
The Memphis Commercial Appeal is reporting the following:
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.
Wow. GREAT move for the Lakers. Now, they can conceivably deal Lamar Odom (and other pieces) for Jason Kidd. And even if they don’t move Odom, you’re looking at a team, come playoff time, that starts Kobe, Odom, Gasol, Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum. That’s a serious squad.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Big Aaron says:
Damn, they lucked out there. Kwame is garbage, Crittendon is a total wildcard and those picks won’t mean anything now.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:58 pm
The Great Yinka says:
whaattttt!
February 1st, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Njagge says:
Not even on Nba.com… I gotta see it on tv to believe it
February 1st, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Prof. TX says:
The picks won’t matter if the Lakers keep doing well, no chance at them being lottery choices when you make the playoffs consistently. Aside from some potential in Crittenton, the Lakers don’t really give anything up here, but get a substantial upgrade. I’m surprised the Lakers pulled this off, seems like some kind of video game where the computer doesn’t understand that dollar value doesn’t equal player value.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Whitey says:
Are they the best team in the West when Bynum comes back?
February 1st, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Logan Light says:
Any doubt the Kwame is NOT in the league next year?
February 1st, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
NIIIIICE!! Oh please oh please get Jason Kidd…Sorry Odom, time to go! Nets wanted Odom, Farmar, and Vuiacic…DOIT DOIT!! Then you got Kobe, Bynum, Gasol, Fisher, Kidd, Ariza, Mihm, Turiaf, Walton…this is shaping up nice…pull the Kidd trigger, instant title-contender.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Myrie says:
That Jerry West connection can work wonders eh?
February 1st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Logan Light says:
Oh, and can Pau and Bynum coexist on the floor at the same time or do they sub them in?? This is going to be interesting…
February 1st, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Alf says:
Still not enough to topple the Spurs, Suns, Mavs or Nuggets in my opinion….
February 1st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
This is the best news ever. Almost makes up for that rediculous Caron Butler trade. Almost.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
…now watch as Kwame Brown suddenly becomes Shaquille O’Neil and ish…
February 1st, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
Yo Alf…the Nuggets? The NUGGETS?? Think about what you said for a second, then RECANT.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Njagge says:
personally, I don’t see the need for kidd. D fish plays good D. and with kobe and lamar they have 1 1/2 play makers. Lamar gives a crazy mismatch for teams in regards to his height and agility. Plus you have to think longer than the 2 years Kidd is going to play.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Myrie says:
STOP THE PRESSES…..STOP THE PRESSES…
Kwame Brown and Darko Milic on the same frontline?!!?
Is this not the most overrated underacheiving early draft choices in history. And now their both on the same squad….
Oh man…my ribs hurt. Too damn funny.
Who is running the show in Memphis? Surely this guy has got get fired!!
February 1st, 2008 at 3:17 pm
smity says:
pau at the 4 and bynum at the 5. this is crazy. where Gee at? he (and me as well) been waiting for some deals.
Memphis wasnt going anywhere anyway and i guess they realized it.
pau is winning a playoff game now. why couldnt my chicago have gotten him for cheap like the lakers did. the bulls couldnt have given memphis ben wallace and jameson curry?
bust, if they get kidd…NOBODY wants to see them…and at the same time that happens, boston will look mighty insignificant in comparison…
maybe the celtics should try to swing for kwame now…
February 1st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Big Aaron says:
!!!MORE BREAKING NEWS!!!
Isiah Thomas took over in Memphis exactly 5 minutes before this trade went through.
It explains it all.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:19 pm
The Ebony Blur says:
Did y’all notice that Henry Abbott suggested this on TrueHoop earlier today? Dude’s on top of his game.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:19 pm
K-Dizzle says:
Alf
did you just throw the nugs in there?
Bust
I’m tellin you, we still don’t need kidd. I’m good with a rotation of fish, farmar and kobe. I’d rather trade for cassell than kidd. Sure, kidd can run a mean fastbreak but that don’t fly in the playoffs. Sam is all halfcourt and all playoffs. I’m not good with kidd’s low shootin numbers. yeah, he rebounds good but his defense don’t mean as much out west where damn near every team got a stud point except houston, seattle and portland
February 1st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
smity says:
thats funny myrie. are those two gon compete now to see who can out-underachieve the other?
February 1st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Prof. TX says:
Currently in the espn chat with J.A., and it looks confirmed. He hasn’t spelled it out specifically, but is referring to Gasol being with the Lakers.
And yeah, Darko and Kwame together, super. Surely a front line of two #1 picks will make that team a threat. And Stromile Swift will be backing them up (though other teams are actually looking to grab him, for some reason). Oh yeah, the all-hype team is building.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Jer Boi says:
grizz traded for jason coollins too which means..
kwame, darko and jason collins on the same team..maybe same backcourt
THATS CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…
February 1st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
The Great Yinka says:
Yea actually… don’t need to go get Kidd – it might thin this team out too much if they lose both Odom, Farmar and Vujacic. With Ariza injured, who else comes in off the bench?
Hypothetical…
JKidd
Kobe
Ariza
Pau
Bynum
- but who comes off the bench? Radmonovic, Luke Walton and Turiaf? That’s a really iffy bench…
February 1st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
True, y’all…I don’t think Kidd is necessary anymore; I think I just want to see the Over-Kill kinda like Boston did it. You gotta have a “big 3″ nowadays. But I guess Kobe, Gas, and Bynum is big enough! Let’s GIT IT!!
February 1st, 2008 at 3:24 pm
dagwaller says:
Wow. Ridiculous. This just goes to show what happens when you wait too long to trade a big player. First Garnett (though Jefferson is quality), now this. Kidd’s going to get traded for some garbage, too. It’s impossible to get equal value for a star.
Memphis is going to be terrible now, although at least they have no choice but to play their young players.
The Lakers don’t have to worry about Bynum and Pau co-existing – I think that they’re different enough that it won’t matter. That plus they both play defense. Not to mention they have a quality coach and neither have big egos. This is hardly Randolph to the Knicks.
I wonder how Juan Carlos Navarro feels about this. Surprised they didn’t get him, too.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Kobeef says:
Holy SH%T
1) HILARIOUS observation that Darko and Kwame are now together on the Memphis front line.
2) I was fairly sure that Memphis would trade Gasol but never thought about the lakers as a destination.
3) the Lakers starting frontcourt is now HUGE as I expect they will start Bynum, Pau and Odom at the same time.
4) Nice move for Memphis…Kwame will not get more than a cup of coffee in memphis before he is bought-out/ the season ends and his salary comes off the books making memphis an instant player for free agents.
5) It will be really interesting to see what happens to Kwame in Memphis – especially if he gets some shots.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
AY says:
breaking news: the grizz just signed olowokandi, as a mentor to darko, kwame, and stromo
i’m 100% sure jerry west is behind this. Isn’t it great to play fantasy gm with two teams? Just put all the guys on one team.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
dagwaller says:
If they got Kidd, it might be over. Walton, Radmanovic and Turiaf are better than Powe, Big Baby, and Tony Allen, in my opinion, and Kidd, Kobe, Pau, and Bynum are…well, they’re probably about as good as Garnett, Allen, and Pierce, right?
Not that the Kidd trade will happen, unless the Nets waited too long to get much good for him.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
K-Dizzle says:
lol @ Myrie’s post 15
Straight comedy, it’s gonna be sweet when they go big with Kwame, Darko, and Stro lol.
Memo to Mike Miller, Lowry, Conley jr and Gay: Stop ballin; we’ve officially given up this season and are makin a serious push for Beasley. Minnesota, Seattle and Miami got comp now
February 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:
How does J.C. Navarro feel right now? He could’ve been playing for the Wizards (playoff team), and probably the only reason he wanted to go to Memphis was because his boy Gasol was there. In fact, Gasol insisted that the Grizzlies sign Navarro. Now JC is by himself on a crap team.
Also, this means the Grizzlies are 100% Rudy Gay’s team now.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
AY says:
guess who else the lakers have? That’s right MARC GASOL.
“no we weren’t planning this the whole time. Just luck of the draw.”
February 1st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
T Ton says:
To the guy that posted about the Jerry West connection. I think West is retired.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Mike C says:
If they can make the Kidd deal go through as well (giving up Odom and Farmar), not only would they be contenders when they get Bynum back, they’d be a lock to be the champions. Period. Really, that’s a team loaded like 80s Lakers/Celtics right there..
February 1st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
smity says:
dagwaller-
good point about navarro. pau was lobbying hard for memphis to get him. they got navarro alright…but now they don’t got pau.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
GEE...from post to post baby? says:
Yea the same Rudy Gay that could have been with the Rockets. Somebody do a random slapping of Rockets GM. Anyway
This trade has to be a set up to get Kidd. Jersey is about to get Lamar and someone else and they are going to attempt to bring Kidd in.
Even if they can’t make that deal they still got serious pieces.
FINALLY A TRADE HAPPENED. I am gone drink on that.
I am drinking something safe though lol.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:34 pm
K-Dizzle says:
Mike C
Did you just compare THIS team (w/ kidd) to Magic, Kareem,AC, Worthy, Scott, Coop???
Dude, you sure you a laker fan? you soundin a lil suspect right now
February 1st, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Myrie says:
T Ton–
It was I (MYRIE), that posted about Jerry West. Yeah, we know he’s retired (un)officially. But you gotta wonder how much input he had (even from afar) in regards to this deal since we all know he has ties to both organizations.
It just made me go “Hmmmmm….”
February 1st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Kobeef says:
Another note – the laker gave up 2 first round picks in this trade
Also the Stro Show is now in New Jersey in a trade for Jason Collins
Looking at the salaries I seriosly think Odom might be the next to go. Pau is a very good passer and probably is as good or better than Odom in all other areas.
Odom addressses the lack of any quality big men in NJ and the lakers would probably give up farmar if they can get Kidd.
Wow…this is crazy stuff…
February 1st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
IGP says:
I am pumped about this trade…
February 1st, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Brown says:
Memphis just cleared some cap room for this year and next, when Collins and Stoudamire come off the books. Navarro’s a free agent at the end of this year too. Maybe he’ll follow Pau to LA.
Memphis needs to rebuild their frontline in a bad way, and they need some bench players who can play. Gay, Miller and Conley/Lowry are good players to build around though.
I’ll bet they wish they hadn’t signed Darko now, then they’d he WAY under the cap.
They’ll be alright, but this year is a wash, maybe next year too.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Njagge says:
Marc Gasol’s rights ironically were traded to the Grizzlies. Swift is now on the Nets and Aaron Mckies apart of the deal (at least his contract). Trading lamar and farmar would not be a good move for the lakers. Farmar is a starting point guard in the league who is deadly from outside. With low post threats like gasol and bynum and the greatest player on earth (who demands double team, at least, respect) you need guys who can consistently hit that outside shot. I can imagine it now as Kidd bricks 3 after 3, and we have another possible Gary Payton situation ( keep in mind I do know Kidd is way better at this point than payton was in his last year with the lakers).
February 1st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
Dag, I really hope Gasol stays healthy…Lakers got the injury bug somethin’ fierce!
February 1st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
you niggas are all crazy! says:
trading a lightly for a darky. darky for a lighty. and you bloggers are some crazy niggas. funny but yall niggas are crazy
February 1st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
sans says:
I’m amazed that no one has asked this yet: Why would Memphis need ANOTHER point guard? Four promising young point guards that aren’t going to blossom if they don’t get any time? WTF?
Great for the Lakers and for the League if KB24 can get out of the first round.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:58 pm
dagwaller says:
Seriously, but Gasol (hopefully for him and the Lakers, at least) got over his injuries last year.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Myrie says:
@ #43 poster–
It is not my duty to police this site nor any of the chat forums, but to poster #43, your choice of language/content is not necessary.
Yes…this is an open forum and yes you are free to post/write at will. But this is also a respectable forum.
Excessive use of the “N” word is uncalled for, unnecessary and unprofessional. In future, please articulate with more respect for: this site, the other posters and yourself.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:15 pm
sonicsaint says:
Wow.. I’m so excited! The Lakers give up nothing.. in return for all-star. I think they should keep Odom though, he’s good for LA. Darko and Kwame, two of the biggest busts on the same team? That’s going to be hilarious…
February 1st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Flo Jo says:
I think the hardest thing to picture in this trade is Gasol in a Lakers uniform.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
TOM JORDAN says:
This is a huge upgrade for the Lakers. I can’t see how they don’t come out of the West now. Look out NBA the Lakers are back
February 1st, 2008 at 4:17 pm
D Mo says:
This might be the kick in the ass Kwame needs to start playing like he wants to stay in the League, Or this might be the kick in the ass that gets Kwame out of the League.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Joey Jo Jo says:
D Mo: ill choose the latter.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:20 pm
TOM JORDAN says:
Hold on to the GM of the year award. Ainge looked to be a lock, but with Mitch not trading Bynum and getting Gasol and Ariza, not to mention dumping the contract of Kwame, this might need to be revisited. Mitch took a lot od heat for letting Shaq go and not pulling the plug on Bynum for Kidd, but maybe he learned better under Jerry West than we gave him credit for. LA is loaded with 3 big time players and a very capable bench. Hurry back Andrew….the FUNSTARTS NOW
February 1st, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Celts Fan says:
WOW! Great move for the Lakers. NOBODY wants to play them now and Kobe will stay in LA where he belongs. Everyone wins (well, except Memphis, but hey, at least they got ANOTHER young PG in Crittendon to play with Navarro, Lowry, and Conley. I guess Navarro can play the 3 and Crittendon is big enough and talented enough to play the 2, but damn, what are they doin in Memphis? Did The Logo take the wrong pill this morning?)
February 1st, 2008 at 4:21 pm
jay c says:
From one laker hater – to the million others out there… this sucks
February 1st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
LOL@ D Mo…exactly! (Probably the latter; Kwame right now is like “YESSS!! I’m so close to living my dream – to finally play in the D-League!”
February 1st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Celts Fan says:
Bring on LA. A retro Celtics Lakers Finals would be AMAZING, and I love that Kobe’s gonna stay in LA and get a new contender (in his image) to work with. Great day for the League.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Celts Fan says:
…not such a great day for other contenders out West though!
February 1st, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
I have a feeling Gasol’s gonna take to the Triangle real nice-like. I was thinking that joint is mad antiquated, but the Triangle is back in full-swing, now! If only Odom could play with more of a chip on his shoulder (instead of just dropping said shoulder into Ray Allen) and MAN UP, it’d be very similar to the Bulls in the day.
February 1st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Mike C says:
K-Dizzle:
All I’m saying is that, if they can somehow land Kidd too, they’ll have three allstar-caliber players (still at or near their prime), along with a transcendent superstar in Kobe Bryant. They also have a solid supporting cast with Fisher, Walton, Ariza, and Vlad. I’m just saying, we will not have seen a roster this loaded since those two teams that dominated the 80s. As amazing as Magic was, I’m liking the backcourt of Kobe and Kidd better than him and Scott/Coop. Also, I don’t think it’ll be sacriligeous to say that the frontline of Bynum, Gasol, and Walton is not that much inferior to the late 80s frontline of an older Kareem, AC Green/Thompson, and Worthy. Anyways, since the Lakers took the first step towards building an invincible team, they have to complete it now. They MUST get Kidd! For the sake of hoopheads everywhere!!
February 1st, 2008 at 5:47 pm
smity says:
i’m surprised that the post was still up there to read being that you guys at dime can and have edited/removed unecessary posts before. lets get to it already.
February 1st, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Chaos says:
They dont need kidd. farmar and d-fisch can handle the point guard duties, not to mention that kobe can bring the ball up court and dish to whoever…..anyway, does anyone realize that rudy gay is about to average like 30 ppg for the rest of the season? And why does memphis need four pgs (unless they move the bigger guards to the 2 and 3 with gay at the 4 for a smaller but extrememly quick line up)? kwame and darko…i dont think anyone would ahve ever saw that coming…lets throw in olowakandi, marcus fizer and Nikoloz Tskitishvili to memphis
February 1st, 2008 at 6:08 pm
K-Dizzle says:
Mike C
Total sacrilige
Kidd is past his prime, Bynum hasn’t reached his prime, Gasol is good but nowhere near Big Game James or Kareem and Kobe is the only one at his peak right now. As Laker fans are tryin to tell you, We don’t need J-Kidd. Maybe you young and never saw the Showtime Lakers but the comparison is ridiculous. A line up of Fish, Kobe, Odom, Pau and Bynum with the bench the way it is has more function in the triangle than if you replace Fish/Farmar with Kidd cuz he can’t shoot. This team isn’t even as good as the team with GP/Fish, Kobe, Mailman, and Shaq so we don’t even need to go back to the 80’s, just 2004. I understand your excitement, but there’s no need to start comparin this team to a team with 4-5 HOF and which won 5 championships
February 1st, 2008 at 6:33 pm
kobeef says:
@smity and Myrie
I totaly agree – and thought post43 would be removed by now.
Totally offensive. WTF. Get that shit out of here. There are courts of law where we can deal with comments like that.
WTF.
February 1st, 2008 at 6:43 pm
firepax says:
The moral of this story: The Bulls suck and John Paxson should be fired!!! How u let pau gasol get away for Kwame fuckin Brown. WOW!!!
February 1st, 2008 at 6:55 pm
T Ton says:
The Showtime Lakers would spank the current Laker squad. So please get off whatever you are smoking if you believe otherwise. Let this Laker squad win several championships first let alone one before you bring up that nonsense.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:36 pm
WM says:
Do you think the Grizzles’ bigs (Kwame and Darko) could beat two D league bigs in a game? I am thinking no.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:17 pm
dh says:
WOOHOO!!!
(i say)
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:38 am
sonicsaint says:
Memphis does get a very good guard with a lot of potential in Javaris Crittenton… however, what I don’t understand is why they what want another young PG when they already have Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry?
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:31 am
dwight and chauncey conversation says:
gasol, vlad and sasha…nooooooo attack of the long hairs!
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Kobe-08_24 says:
Can’t wait to see the full squad on the floor.