FoldedLaundry

Magic Advises Buss To Break Up Lakers - RealGM Wiretap

Very interesting take and it does make sense kinda.

Kirby

I wouldn't know who to keep. Gasol is getting older, and Bynum has injury issues. I think Bynum would be the better choice.

Don Vito

I say trade Gasol and keep Bynum. They should go after a guy like Blake Griffin or Kevin Love... someone who is young and brings energy to that old roster.

RaptorsandBuckeye FaN

Yeah only one problem. Why would LAC trade Griffin? One way LAL get Griffin. Way till he becomes a FA.

The Howard deals are more likely. Then in a few years when Kobe is done they will go after Griffin or some other young star to be the next Laker great.

Ball Don't Lie

LAC and MIN wont trade their star player for Gasol when theyre rebuilding.

And I dont see how you can trade Pau when Bynum could be out for long stretches during the year. Unless theyre getting a really good big + a swingman or starting pg back, ie a package they cant refuse.

I doubt ORL deals with LA either. Makes no sense for them to trade for Gasol, and again, Bynums too big of an injury risk to trade a top 5 player for.

Bill Haverchuck

It depends on what the new CBA allows in terms of the salary cap and trades. Orlando is in a tricky situation. Although Otis Smith did a decent job of making the Magic a genuine title contender in 2009 and 2010, he gambled this season by giving away one of Orlando's best trade assets (Gortat) and taking on two of the league's ugliest contracts. Jason Richardson didn't come through for them like they needed. As a result, Orlando has little chance to improve the roster over the next 2 seasons. The Magic are so far into the luxury tax, I'm not even sure they would use the MLE to add to the current roster, if the MLE is still available. Their payroll is so bloated. Without any prospects for improving their roster, Orlando is unlikely to be more than a 1st or 2nd round playoff team over the next 2 years. That probably won't be enough to re-sign D12 who has made a shit load of money already.

It might be in Orlando's best interest to use a D-12 trade as a means to dump other salary, especially Gilbert. A trade that gives Orlando assets to use to rebuild, while also providing financial relief and flexibility, could be the best course of action. But to dump a huge salary, you need to trade with a team that can send back salary, assuming the new CBA operates in a similar manner. No team will have the cap space to outright absorb Gilbert.

Consider this type of trade, just as an example. It could be slightly different. The point is to include Arenas.

To Orlando:

Bynum
Odom
Walton
Cash

To L.A.

Dwight
Arenas

Orlando ditches Arenas and starts rebuilding. Bynum is a core asset for the rebuild. Orlando could trade Odom to another team for a talented prospect or picks, which further helps with the rebuild.

This deal might look kind of shitty for L.A., but they have a limited window to win with Kobe. A big 3 of Kobe, D-12 and Gasol would make them legit contenders again. Also, by the time Kobe's current deal is over, and his window as L.A's leader will be closing, Gilbert's deal will expire, which means L.A. won't be prevented from reloading when their new era begins.

I think this could work for both teams, all things considered.

Bynum probably isn't the best or most reliable single asset Orlando could get for Dwight, but any team that could give something better probably wouldn't be in position to also take Arenas, and thus it wouldn't necessarily put Orlando in a better situation overall. It's debatable.

Windex

1 bad series and Magic is trippin

LX

Magic made this point not once but twice yesterday, and given his involvement with the team, doesn't it smell like big-time tampering? I suppose that having sold his interests in the team lets him off the hook as far as the letter of the law goes, but he's only one year removed from that. To me it looks a little shifty.

Windex

DDUnreal

lmao!

LX

rhymes with sphincter? What's that about?

Torontosaurus

So thats the reason he's playing like shit then?

Bill Haverchuck

Are you being serious? In case you are, I'll try to answer it.

I think they were implying this: Pau "asshole" Gasol

Gasol rhymes with asshole.

LX

how does asshole rhyme with sphincter?

I guess I won't be doing the TMZ crossword puzzles. I swear - nothing rhymes with sphincter.

Why do they give Pau the middle name of asshole? Because he got dumped by his girlfriend? I guess maybe I'm showing my age here - but I don't get any of this shit.

LX

I'd say the Lakeshow need a lot more than just Dwight. And how long before that turns into a worse situation than Orlando?

Anyway - Magic made the case again today. It's really quite remarkable.

Bill Haverchuck

It doesn't. I assumed they couldn't say "asshole", so they said "rhymes with sphincter". If my assessment is right, they should have wrote "Pau 'synonym of sphincter' Gasol."


No, I figured it was because it rhymes with his last name. Asshole sounds like Gasol.

I could be wrong about this. I stated that I was just trying to provide an answer. I was sort of surprised you care. It's a dumb article.

LX

It depresses me that I've been exposed to this garbage. No it scares me actually. I mean I suspect the world is becoming more stupid with every passing second, but fuck.

Thank you for assuring me it's just a dumb article. At least we can share that assessment. That helps me move on.

LX

Getting back to the subject of this thread - it really bugs me that all year the Lakers were easily the favorite. And now they are too old and not athletic enough and they need to blow the team up.

Now I wonder - does Magic really buy that - or is he covering for some really fucked-up shit that went down with this team. I think there's a little of both. That's what you get when Kobe is your de facto coach.

TORaptor4Ever

I don't know the whole story but I wouldn't be surprised if Pau is gone this off-season.... there's something fishy that went on there between him and Kobe (and their wives/gfs).

DonMughal

The Lakers whole starting lineup with the exception of Kobe isn't very valuable to trade with other teams.

C- Bynum: Fantastic when healthy, but really, that's a lot of the time only half a season and 3/4 of the playoffs.

PF- Gasol: Still very skilled, but is already in his thirties and has a lot of time and money on his contract. Hard for him to shed the "soft" label also.

SF- Artest: Not as good as a defender as he used to be. Not even close as good on offence as he used to be. Basically useless on offence by chucking threes with an occasional drive. Also in his thirties.

PG- Fisher: Not usefull at all on the offensive end besides a few clutch shots here and there. Probably wouldn't start on any other team. Really getting up there in age aswell.

Odom- Same thing as Gasol. However, his contract will expire soon. Somewhat valuable.


Really, the only valuable players they have as trade bait are Shannon Brown and arguably Bynum.