Lakers talking Gasol for Josh Smith, testing trade waters

[Big Bid'Ness]

Fromrobasketballtalk

We said it before, the Lakers need to make a move if they want to get past the second round next year.

And while no move seems imminent, the Lakers are testing all kinds of trade scenarios out there, according to multiple reports.

Maybe the most interesting is with the Hawks, via the twitter of Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.

The Atlanta Hawks have been pursuing Pau Gasol, The Times has learned. Nothing imminent, but Josh Smith would be key piece going to Lakers.

Separately, Lakers interested in Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, would be open to trading Pau for Top-5 pick and right package o’ players

A Gasol for Smith swap (there would need to be other players to make it work) is interesting, but does it make either team significantly better? The Hawks would get the better player but the Lakers would get the shorter contract (Smith has just one year left).

I don’t see the Lakers jumping into the draft’s top 5 — which is where they would need to be to get Kidd-Gilchrist, or even the top 10. It may be the Lakers pipe dream, but no team is in the top 10 is going to give them a pick and an established, quality player for Gasol. Doesn’t work for the other teams.

Unless… What if the Rockets are able to parlay their three picks (numbers 12, 16 and 18) into a top 10 pick, then they could trade the Lakers Kyle Lowry plus the top 10 pick for Gasol? Rockets GM Daryl Morey has had his eye on Gasol for a while (remember the scuttled Chris Paul trade?). However, ESPN sources deny this trade scenario is in play.

But Gasol is not the only guy the Lakers are shopping, but it might not work. From ESPN.

The Lakers might have an even tougher sell with Metta World Peace, who also has been shopped in order to gauge his trade value. While the Lakers would be looking for considerably less, such as a late first-round pick or perhaps some cap relief, World Peace’s contract obligations (two years, $15 million remaining on his deal) — combined with a 15 percent trade kicker — might prove too much for another team to bear.

My guess is still the Lakers don’t make a move until this summer, but they will make a move.

 

[bosoxlover12]

lol at Lowry+Top 10 pick for Pau



Lakers be raping that

 

[elcheato]

Lowry is just an above-average PG.

 

[Pugz]

Lowry is just an above-average PG.

:TYRONE:

 

[bosoxlover12]

Doesn't mean that Lowry's PER for next year + a top ten pick's PER will be better than Pau's

 

[elcheato]

Luke Ridnour and Wes Johnson's PER combined were higher than Pau's. Gonna have a hard time selling that one in a trade to the Lakers.

 

[bosoxlover12]

I'm just saying Lowry + Henson/Drummond for an aging Gasol is rape

 

[elcheato]

I'd rather have Pau than Lowry and Henson. Drummond, sure, but he's not making it to any of those Rockets picks, unless they trade up again.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

At this point I'd keep Smith and not move him for Gasol.

 

[BwareDWare94]

Lowry plus a first round pick for Gasol is too much, IMO. Lowry's only now getting into his prime and Gasol will be 33 at the start of the season and is coming off his worst season in several years. He's quite obviously on the decline.

Only Daryl Morey would still make this trade . Please God, no!

 

[Pugz]

pau gasol in a different offense where he can play downlow would show why hes still a top 5 big man. lowry isnt even a top 10 point guard.

 

[BwareDWare94]

pau gasol in a different offense where he can play downlow would show why hes still a top 5 big man. lowry isnt even a top 10 point guard.

I don't want a soft Spaniard with only 2-3 decent years left. I'll take my young up and coming point guard with the clutch gene.

 

[Pugz]

up and coming? hes not going to get much better.

 

[BwareDWare94]

up and coming? hes not going to get much better.

Explain. The dude gets better by the year and there's no indication that he's approaching his ceiling. I think you're being too down on him because I talked him up so much.

 

[Pugz]

no, im a fan of his. i just dont ever see him being a top 10 point guard.

 

[BwareDWare94]

no, im a fan of his. i just dont ever see him being a top 10 point guard.

He arguably is already, and had he not gotten his bacterial infection, I think we'd be referring to him as somewhere between 7-10.