UPDATE: Suns Leave Trade Talks for Gasol

[Mexi]

UPDATE:

The Phoenix Suns have stopped talks to acquire Pau Gasol because they feel the Lakers want too much for the veteran post player, according to a person familiar with the situation.


Phoenix could own four picks in the June draft, and the Lakers coveted one of the more valuable two -- the pick the Suns could potentially get from Minnesota or the one they might receive from Washington.


http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-lakers-suns-stop-trade-talks-for-gasol-20140204,0,7192491.story#ixzz2sPQwtLaT

The Phoenix Suns have emerged as a potential trade suitor for Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol, according to sources close to the process.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Suns, among the options being weighed as part of their well-chronicled desire to acquire an established player as they make an unexpected playoff push this season, have been exploring the feasibility of trading for the Lakers' four-time All-Star.

One option for the Suns, by virtue of their $5.6 million in available salary-cap space, is swapping the expiring contract of injured big man Emeka Okafor for Gasol, even though Okafor's $14.5 million salary this season falls well shy of Gasol's $19.3 million.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10392533/phoenix-suns-explore-deal-los-angeles-lakers-pau-gasol

Meka and a pick should be sufficient
Suns have a lot of picks. 4 this year and 2 next year including the lakers pick

 

[Pugz]

they really wanna push for the playoffs, from what ive read, i can see something along those lines happening.

 

[elcheato]

Lakers want the world for him still, so it ain't happening

 

[Mexi]

Lakers want the world for him still, so it ain't happening

they just wanted an asset alongside bynum
Dion or a pick

Emeka and bynum is a wash and if they can get one draft pick they will do it no doubt in my mind

 

[jonathanlambert33]

why?

 

[Mexi]

Pau still has game

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Hate that this might mean Miles Plumlee losing his spot when he's been playing well. But obviously Pau is an upgrade.

 

[BwareDWare94]

yeah, and it's not like the Suns would pull a Mike Brown and ask Pau not to post up that much. JH would kick Plumlee to the bench and let Frye spot up. 

 

[BwareDWare94]

Granted, I think Frye would make a nice bench piece and that Markieff or Marcus should start at the 4. Probably Marcus because he's got more defensive versatility, though Kieff's a more consistent scorer right now. 

 

[playmaker7]

Might as well deal him since the roster is gonna get a massive upheaval.
 
As long as they get a pick, I don't see why they don't pull the trigger on it.
 
Phoenix doesn't need all those picks anyways.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers continue to discuss a trade involving Pau Gasol.

But the Suns want to evaluate how Gasol recovers from a strained groin before deciding whether to advance talks to the next level.

Gasol averaged 20.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game in January.

The Suns would trade Emeka Okafor's expiring deal, which would offer $4.8 million in savings to the Lakers. The Lakers would then be less than $3 million away from the luxury tax threshold.

Via Ramona Shelburne, Marc Stein/ESPN

 

[elcheato]

Why give up a draft pick? The rental is worth it if you're just giving the Lakers a tax saving, but id much rather have a first instead of half a year of Pau.

 

[Pugz]

theyre aiming for the playoffs. probably looking to resign pau, too. use him as a mentor to the young bigs they have. hes more valuable then you may be inclined to believe.

but, i understand more of your side.

 

[elcheato]

Looking to re-up Pau is probably a bad idea, which would make the deal worse

 

[Pugz]

i doubt at this point hes getting anything other than a pay decrease

 

[playmaker7]

i doubt at this point hes getting anything other than a pay decrease

True.
 
People try and act like Pau is worthless. He's still a skilled big man, he just can't play in D'Antoni's offense so if Phoenix can get him and actually utilize him, then you can see how there's possibility they trade for and re-up him.

 

[Mexi]

Cheato, they have 4 picks and want to make the playoffs
Calculated risk and worth it especially if they re-sign him
You forget the reputation that training staff has

Pau still has game

Mid to late first for pau while still having 3 picks isnt bad

 

[Pugz]

pau being there for len would be huge too

 

[Mexi]

He's averaging 22/11 his past 10 games and playing really well
His injury is minor, he dropped 20 hurt the other day

Scored 20 in 13 of his last 15

He can still ball

 

[elcheato]

Their only competition for a playoff spot is Memphis.
 
Not to mention this is the Robert Sarver Suns we're talking about. Bledsoe is a RFA, they'd be foolish not to match offers, and Dragic is expiring after next year.
 
Sarver is not dipping into the luxury tax, Pau is a rental.