LAist: Kwame traded to Grizzlies for Gasol

modernfuturist

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:45:31 -0800

Problem with Lamar starting at the 3 is he'll have trouble guarding some of the quicker small forwards in the league. I don't think a front line of Lamar/Gasol/Bynum is entirely necessary either. I'd rather have Ariza/Walton in the starting line up and having Lamar lead the second unit.

samkim

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:28:37 -0800

although lamar is an undersized powerforward i don't think small forward will utilize him at his best (which we haven't seen post shoulder injury last year..) ...maybe having him come off the bench and starting with radmonavic might be better suited? the lakers don't need a three headed monster in the paint, two is fine and rad is a better 3 ball shooter than odom. vujacic even, but i like vujacic/farmaar/turiaf/ariza coming off the bench, their speed/energy is unmatched although i have a feeling after this season salary will be taken into consideration and several bench players will be put on the trading block (radmanovic, lamar with their huge contracts) luke walton becomes not obsolete but expendable, ronny will not get signed to what he deserves (due to the max contract extension expected for bynum)it would be nice to get rid of some of them maybe for some key role players, or better shooters like or a consistent score from the outside. two things that would make my day would be a lakers/celtics finals or if corey magette/elton brand etc got traded to the lakers for kobe. a reunion of sorts for some, i just thought it would be humorous. but not gonna happen.

Ike Baha

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:00:12 -0800

Yo Josh. Gasol is one of eleven players in the league that averages at least 19 and 9. You might not call him "great" but all we need are those stats and we're set...Sure he isn't the huge match up problem for amare, duncan and howard. Ask amare about how he faired against bynum in their first few meetings and theres their major match up problem. Throw in lamar, gasol and kobe along the development of bynum and I don't think theres a team in the nba that can match up once this team gels. With farmar, ariza, turiaf, sasha coming off the bench...I can't wait to post a photo essay from the parade.

Josh Tate

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:01:13 -0800

Not to pour too much cold water on the party but Memphis has been trying to get out from under Gasol's contract for a couple of years. It's a good deal for the Lakers, but not a great one. Gasol just isn't a great player. Sure, he has decent stats, but he's not a huge match-up problem for the teams I put ahead of the Lakers in the West--namely Duncan for the Spurs, Stoudemire for the Suns and Howard for the Mavs. Any chance of the Lakers truly contending rests squarely on the shoulders of Bynum when he returns. It's his maturation--not Kobe--that's made them a decent club this year. If the injury sets him back this year, the Lakers are just a 50 win club that gets knocked out in the first round.

modernfuturist

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:49:12 -0800

Finally, a time to be excited for LA basketball once again. Also, one of the rare times in NBA or even sports history that brothers are swapped.

sofubi

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:41:21 -0800

Thank you, mr.Kupchak. I was so worried you would sign Chris Webber. And then recently, there was speculation for a Kidd trade, which I don't like because we're solid at point with Fish and Farmar. I think this trade makes it really easy to practically give lamar away, whereas before you could make an argument that the frontline would miss his rebounding. Hooray!!! Fingers crossed.

Adam Rose

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:14:48 -0800

I see zero downside to this trade. The Lakers come away with incredible depth assuming everybody's healthy during the home stretch. For the first time in a couple years I feel really good about this team. Hallelujah! This could put them on top of the West. And just imagine a Lakers-Celtics finals. How great would it be to see that rivalry renewed? Of course, I still wonder about Kupcake. Jerry West has some pull in Memphis -- I wonder how he may have been involved in this deal.

Nikki Bazar

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:09:29 -0800

Lamar might actually make Memphis worse.

Jimmy Bramlett

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:01:34 -0800

Sofubi: seriously! That was one of the first things I was complaining about.

sofubi

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:55:26 -0800

Can we throw lamar in for free?

pinoy

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:52:23 -0800

I'm stoked after my co-worker told me just now. I will definitely need to watch them in Staple's Center this March, when everyone is healthy and playing well.

Jimmy Bramlett

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:14:20 -0800

So the total trade comes down to this: LA gives up Kwame, Crittenton, first round draft picks for 2008 and 2010, draft rights for Marc Gasol and a sign and trade for Aaron McKie (to make the money match). LA gets Pau Gasol and a second round draft pick for 2010.

Andy Sternberg

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:58:52 -0800

Greatest news since the Lakers got Kareem from Milwaukee??? Those 2 first round picks shouldn't be worth all that much -- Gasol is the missing piece that EVERY also-ran has been pining for over the past couple seasons. Now I gotta get me to a game.

samkim

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:27:30 -0800

8 assists? on top of 8.8 rebounds? DANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG ok im a dick im sorry.

Peace_40

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:24:25 -0800

NA NA NA NA, NA NA NA NA, HEY HEY HEY! GOODBYE! (KWAME)!!!!

Ryanicus

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:04:16 -0800

ESPN is reporting that the draft rights for Marc Gasol (Pau's younger brother), was also included in the trade.

jamesey

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:58:19 -0800

Catalanians like to put "caganers" in their Nativity scenes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caganer

Jimmy Bramlett

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:44:13 -0800

This is absolutely wonderful! Gasol is averaging. 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3 assists per game. He's a good stopgap to have until Bynum comes back. And when that happens, Gasol can move to power forward and have Lamar come off the bench. I like this trade a lot.