College Wolf wrote:roundhouse wrote:Wow you guys are on drugs if you think the Gasol trade was "ok"
1. The Lakers definitely do not win a championship without that trade. Not even close.
2. Marc Gasol will never be more than a 3rd or 4th big man on a good team, so essentially he's way overrated.
3. The Grizzlies are now paying Zach Randolph more money than Pau Gasol to do exactly what Pau Gasol did for them: get them the 8th seed in the playoffs and get swept. Isn't that exactly the reason they got rid of Pau Gasol?
Worst. trade. ever. I still think it was set up by Stern.
No way. I can't agree with #2. Marc Gasol is not a bad player. He's improved exponentially since last season, it's honestly like someone flipped a light switch. He's been great this year. Personally, I am not one that likes to cite and quote "advanced stats" all the time, but Gasol is near the top of a lot of that new age mumbo-jumbo.
Plus he's young and has a nice salary. He's the 2nd big man on any good team, maybe the third at the very, very, very WORST.
Can we agree that Marc Gasol is a 4th scoring option at best on a contending team? I'd think if he was any higher than that, your team probably isn't very good. Hell, he's only the 4th scoring option on the Grizzlies who are clearly not a contender.
His biggest strength is his ability to score. He's a good rebounder, his defense is okay. So you have a big man, who's strength is his scoring, but is no higher than the 4th option on your team. Does it not make more sense for a player like this to come off the bench? I mean he's pretty much a super elite version of Craig Smith. But because Marc Gasol gets lots of points and rebounds, he will get lots of $$$, because that's how the NBA conducts it's business.
I'd agree with you that he's a great asset if the NBA didn't have a salary cap. I'd also agree if he were paired in the starting lineup with a defensive center who can shoot from midrange ala Marcus Camby but 10 years younger. Good luck finding one of those.
I would take the money used to pay Marc Gasol and get a big man that can rebound nearly as well as Gasol and play better defense but has little offensive value (dime-a-dozen) and get a lesser version of Gasol (Craig Smith-esque player), have both these guys come off the bench and sign these guys for a fraction of the price it would cost to pay Gasol when he re-signs, and get a defensive center for the starting lineup (assuming the team has a scoring PF like Z-Bo). Then I would use all that leftover dinero to spend money on other positions that actually are important (backup PG, defensive wing, etc).
That is why Marc Gasol is essentially worthless to a contending team IMO. Counter arguments are welcomed because I may be crazy.
