February 01, 2008

Pau Gasol headed to the Lakers.: The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a trade that will send the disgruntled Spaniard to LA for Kwame Brown, rookie point guard Javaris Crittenton, a couple of first round draft picks, and the rotting corpse of Aaron McKie's career.

posted by Ufez Jones to basketball at 02:56 PM - 31 comments

Wow. Nice of The Logo to help out the Lakers like that. It is almost as he still works for them but just in the Memphis office.

posted by geekyguy at 03:45 PM on February 01, 2008

I lived in Spain for a while, and every evening I would watch the news on TV. They would get to sports, which consisted mostly of soccer, but they would always come around to basketball. They didn't do a run down of the days scores in the NBA or Eurobasket. Instead, they would show a few clips of Pau, and tell you how many points and rebounds he had. Most of the time, they didn't even mention how the Grizz fared that night. I imagine this won't change much over there!

posted by Chargdres at 03:55 PM on February 01, 2008

Wow. Nice of The Logo to help out the Lakers like that. It is almost as he still works for them but just in the Memphis office. If you're gonna go there, you had better start with McHale's trade of Garnett from the Celtics satellite office in Minneapolis. By the way, has one brother ever been traded for another (NBA or otherwise)?

posted by cjets at 04:06 PM on February 01, 2008

I hope all you Laker haters enjoyed the last 3 years...

posted by docshredder at 05:11 PM on February 01, 2008

I imagine this won't change much over there! Caveat: I've never been to Spain. That said, I'd think the fact that Pau is now playing for the team that could arguably be called the best well-known internationally and he actually has a good chance of winning a playoff game*, they may show a bit more than Gasol's line on the news now. I hope all you Laker haters enjoyed the last 3 years... I wouldn't classify myself as a Laker Hater™ per se - that's a designation I leave for the that horrid, horrid team that lives four and half hours down 35 from here - but I'm actually kind of glad to see this trade. I don't think by any stretch it makes the Lakers the odds-on favorite going into the Western Conference Playoffs this year, though. Do you, doc? *Two years ago, I guess it was, I had a layover at the Memphis airport during the first round of NBA Playoffs, when Dallas was well on it's way to sweeping the Grizz. I hadn't realized I was wearing a Mavs t-shirt until the guy at the sandwich stand looked at me and said "Seriously, man. We just want one playoff win, and you roll through our town with that shit on?" We both laughed and I said "Sorry, man, we're on a mission here". If nothing else, hopefully he recalled that and got a lil' gut laugh at my expense when the Mavs choked it up in the Finals that year.

posted by Ufez Jones at 05:40 PM on February 01, 2008

Wow. Nice of The Logo to help out the Lakers like that. It is almost as he still works for them but just in the Memphis office. Chris Wallace is the Memphis GM this year; he hurt the Celtics while he was their GM, and now he's hurting Memphis.

posted by Bryant at 05:51 PM on February 01, 2008

I don't think by any stretch it makes the Lakers the odds-on favorite going into the Western Conference Playoffs this year, though. Do you, doc? No. And I should never have made that left turn by the NBDL franchise in Albuerquerque.

posted by yerfatma at 06:06 PM on February 01, 2008

No. And I should never have made that left turn by the NBDL franchise in Albuerquerque. F.U. Don't take it personal.

posted by Ufez Jones at 06:33 PM on February 01, 2008

Damn, I was hoping he'd end up on the Bulls. When Bynum comes back and is paired with Gasol the Lakers are going to be very tough. My happiness for Pau is offset by my dislike for Kobe.

posted by sic at 06:49 PM on February 01, 2008

I've never been to Spain I thought you were going to launch into a Three Dog Night song there for a minute! Does this deal really hurt Memphis that bad? They're 13-33 and getting a decent hodge podge of players. So Brown sucked in LA...its a cesspool of dysfunction and backstabbery. Maybe he'll regain his confidence in the smaller market and with a less talented team.

posted by curlyelk at 07:31 PM on February 01, 2008

As a Griz fan and huge Pau fan, I'd say it will definitely hurt the Griz. But, apparently a lot of knowledgeable folks disagree since Wallace basically gave him away. McKie's retired, so he's a throwaway. I don't know enough about the guy from Georgia Tech to know what kind of contribution he could make. Including Mark must be some kind of sick joke. I'd think that would just make Pau mad. Finally, on Brown...from my understanding he's a throwaway, too. The only reason Wallace wanted him was because his contract expires at the end of this season. We're about to get rid of one head case (Swift), but apparently we'll have one to replace him for the rest of the season. I don't think the Griz will be able to get anyone comparable to Pau in the off season (even with a max contract). I suppose we'll see. Oh, and the draft picks? Adding Pau to the Lakers should ensure that the draft picks will be very close to the end of the first round...big whoop. Who have the Griz drafted since Battier that was ever any good anyway? I suppose Conley may be one day, but again we'll see.

posted by skifan at 07:53 PM on February 01, 2008

Who have the Griz drafted since Battier that was ever any good anyway? They did get Rudy for Shane though in '06! This was not a basketball trade for Memphis this was a money trade...the current owner will probably have an easier time selling the team without the burden of a huge salary of a mediocre Power Forward. The new owner will be able to put his stamp on this team easier without that.

posted by hoytie at 08:31 PM on February 01, 2008

Laker fans: Free at Last! (of Kwame Brown.)

posted by Newbie Walker at 12:06 AM on February 02, 2008

To repeat what one person said on here....hope all you laker haters enjoyed the past 3 years, because we are now back. Let's see how many shots at a ring Kobe gets now compared to Shaq, and the Heat's overpriced, under achieving roster. Looks like the Lakers knew what they were doing afterall. Had they kept Shaq, and Kobe walked, this team would be terrible for years to come.

posted by Tom5467 at 02:03 AM on February 02, 2008

This was indeed a genius Laker plot to steal Pau out of Memphis. They knew the only way they could do that would be to trade away Shaq and just lay in wait for their moment. It took years, but nobody saw it coming. Now they have a dynasty unlike any other ever built. If they don't win the championship this year the world will be shocked!! Sure hope they can make the playoffs.

posted by Familyman at 07:26 AM on February 02, 2008

Man, lot of bitterness toward Shaq who immediately won another championship with the Heat after he was traded. That is what most teams are in this for, championships, right? Immediate dividends for the Heat. Obviously he's done now, but Kobe's Lakers haven't won anything since Shaq left. Pau, with a healthy Bynum, might get them over the top (actually there's a really good shot, because I'm a big fan of Pau's scoring, intelligence and willingness to do what is needed to win; PJ just got a talented player who can be coached) but the West is very tough. I also don't trust Kobe's megalomania - if he starts freezing his teammates out with selfish play, they might quit on him in the playoffs.

posted by sic at 08:56 AM on February 02, 2008

John Paxson- GM Bulls. The clock starts ticking for your dismissal.

posted by whodat at 09:54 AM on February 02, 2008

Don't take it personal. The reminder that my youth was a long time ago? Gonna have to. During a break in the 4th quarter of the Celtics/ Mavs, my wife observed, "They really haven't come up with any original ideas for pumping up the crowd in a while, huh? 'Welcome to the Jungle' is twenty years old." When I realized she wasn't exaggerating, I got sad. And promptly switched to Matlock and fell asleep.

posted by yerfatma at 10:24 AM on February 02, 2008

If they don't win the championship this year the world will be shocked!! You won't see the real effect of this trade until next year. It's going to take a while for these guys to gel. The Celtics had the whole off-season. These guys are going to have to learn on the fly (plus Bynum is gone until mid-March). They will only have 20 or so games to play together before the playoffs. I also don't trust Kobe's megalomania That's original...

posted by docshredder at 10:40 AM on February 02, 2008

If they don't win the championship this year the world will be shocked! I wouldn't be shocked at all. The Celtics are still my favorite to win, especially if everyone's healthy. I don't think the Lakers will win it all and I'm not convinced Gasol is the great savior of the Lakers. Time my show me wrong and that's the beauty of sports.

posted by jmd82 at 11:12 AM on February 02, 2008

Have you two met Sarcasm?

posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:19 AM on February 02, 2008

I also don't trust Kobe's megalomania That's original... Originality has never been a condition for something being true or accurate. Being bored with the truth isn't a reason to discard it.

posted by brainofdtrain at 11:36 AM on February 02, 2008

Man, lot of bitterness toward Shaq who immediately won another championship with the Heat after he was traded. That is what most teams are in this for, championships, right? The bitterness that exists in L.A. (some Laker fans anyway) is directed at Shaq, not the Heat. After he was traded, this was described (mostly by the media) as Shaq v. Kobe. The real reason Shaq was traded was that he wanted the NBA maximum contract extension and Jerry Buss didn't think Shaq's body would last that long(and he was right). He screamed "Pay me or trade me" to Buss at training camp in Hawaii (something ignored by most of the media after the trade). Buss didn't want to pay him and had the additional benefit of keeping Kobe happy. Back to the Heat, they did win their championship and now they're stuck with paying the Big Benchwarmer something like 30 million a year for the next 2 years. I also don't trust Kobe's megalomania I don't think he's a megalomaniac. He's had some unfortunate moments but how frustrated would you be if your options for passing the ball were Kwame Brown, Smush Parker and Lamar Odom. He did have that screaming tirade against Bynum, but he has recanted. Megalomaniacs don't recant. Does he want to be "the man" to lead his team to an NBA title? So what? Isn't that the type of ultra competitive drive you want in your star player? He also won three rings. He doesn't win them without Shaq but Shaq doesn't win them without him either. He's got plenty of faults but megalomania seems a but much.

posted by cjets at 12:15 PM on February 02, 2008

You won't see the real effect of this trade until next year. It's going to take a while for these guys to gel. The Celtics had the whole off-season. These guys are going to have to learn on the fly (plus Bynum is gone until mid-March). They will only have 20 or so games to play together before the playoffs. And your comment is teeming with insight. Into your unoriginality.

posted by sic at 01:30 PM on February 02, 2008

Cjets, you raise an interesting question: just how much is a championship worth? Shaq delivered the championship to Miami, but was that one championship worth all the money they will have to pay him, now that he is essentially a bench warmer? Is it worth it to their fans? To their owners? On a not entirely related tip, Shaq, and Kobe, but mostly Shaq, got the Lakers and Buss a fistful of championships - should that be taken into consideration when deciding whether to give Shaq an "over-valued" last contract , so that he could retire a Laker? Sometimes smart business moves clash with sentiment/nostalgia/respect earned. As far as Kobe is concerned, ugh, I can't discuss him rationally; I just don't like him as a human being.

posted by sic at 01:38 PM on February 02, 2008

Cjets, you raise an interesting question: just how much is a championship worth? Shaq delivered the championship to Miami, but was that one championship worth all the money they will have to pay him, now that he is essentially a bench warmer? Is it worth it to their fans? To their owners? I don't know, Sic. In Miami's case, there were many other factors besides Shaq's decline that led to their collapse. But I'd much rather be a perennial contender (like the Spurs or Pistons) than a team built for one championship run that would be one of the team's worst a few years later. should that be taken into consideration when deciding whether to give Shaq an "over-valued" last contract , so that he could retire a Laker? In a word? No. I'm not sure of Shaq's salary with the Lakers when they won but I'm assuming it was at least 15 million per. That, and the opportunity for all those endorsements being in a major media market, really should be payment enough. Also, in Shaq's case, you're not just talking about a guy being over valued for one year. You're talking about being way overvalued for three or four years and taking up major cap room. It's not fair to the fans or the team itself.

posted by cjets at 02:47 PM on February 02, 2008

Have you two met Sarcasm? On SpoFi, my sarcasm hat tends to be broken. Can never tell with the presence of homers what's honest and sarcasm.

posted by jmd82 at 02:57 PM on February 02, 2008

jmd82, if you saw my post as me being a homer and all you commented on was the part in bold, then you missed comments in the post that were far more outrageous than that.

posted by Familyman at 04:19 PM on February 02, 2008

In a word? No. I'm not sure of Shaq's salary with the Lakers when they won but I'm assuming it was at least 15 million per. That, and the opportunity for all those endorsements being in a major media market, really should be payment enough. Well, like I said it was the right business decision, but I like to think (in my more idealistic moments) that professional sports sometimes still transcend the business end of it. Especially when we are talking about iconic figures like Larry Bird (who was way overpaid in his final seasons with that aching back) or Michael Jordan (who was never ever overpaid!) or Shaq. Even more so when lots of championships are involved - fans, cities, get emotional and tend to want to deify their sports heroes if they are able to give them something special like a sports dynasty; even if they are no longer as great as they once were. That's why it wouldn't have been at all surprising for Buss to overpay Shaq at the end and why it was somewhat surprising that he let him go win a championship in Miami, overpriced or not. I mean could you imagine if he would have won that last championship with the Lakers instead of Miami? He would have surpassed Magic Johnson in the pantheon of all time Laker greats. Wow, from reading this you would think I like Shaq, but he is one of my least favorite players... Still a champion is a champion.

posted by sic at 05:45 PM on February 02, 2008

That's why it wouldn't have been at all surprising for Buss to overpay Shaq at the end and why it was somewhat surprising that he let him go win a championship in Miami, overpriced or not. I do understand the sentiment. I was crushed when Namath was traded by the Jets to finish out his career in L.A. But Shaq wanted too much, especially for a guy who was notorious for blowing off his off season conditioning and using the regular season to get healthy. Buss made a decision that cost him dearly short term but may still end up being the right decision in the long term.

posted by cjets at 06:44 PM on February 02, 2008

jmd82, if you saw my post as me being a homer and all you commented on was the part in bold, then you missed comments in the post that were far more outrageous than that. Fair enough. Alas, that's also the problem with my sarcasm detector on SpoFi. Some of the comments are so outrageous that my first thought is they must be shitting me, but then I realize that this is how some sports fans really talk. I'm not saying that about your in particular, but just something I've seen around here in general. And honestly, even for not being a homer, your statement isn't that extreme compared to some things I've heard. Take ESPN- one announcer was talking about how they're now the favorite and anything else short of making the finals would be a failure. Then again, ESPN (and especially a few people. I'm looking at you Stephan A Smith) tends to live on the sensationalism aspect of sports sometimes.

posted by jmd82 at 10:22 AM on February 03, 2008

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