Bass doesn't have to be included to make the numbers work. Pau makes only $2.2 mil more than Pierce and we have $2.7 mil of room under the apron. I know Pau has a 15% trade kicker, but due to various CBA regulations it amounts to something like a 4% kick and the cap burden for paying it falls to the team trading him I believe.
I think Bass for Clark is too much of a poison pill in this deal - the Lakers are already giving up the younger star. That's compensation enough for the cost savings and flexibility of Pierce's deal. Getting Ebanks thrown in is probably the best we could hope for in terms of Laker sweeteners.
+1 for the first paragraph, didn't realize that, thanks
Don't agree with thesecond paragraph, though, I guess that depends on 1. how bad the Fakers want to get rid of Pau (I am concerned about that now with Howard being hurt)and 2. obviously, what the market will bare (bear?), i.e. who wants him and how bad
An article in the Miami Sun Sentinel the other day suggested two trades for Gasol. One was for Bosh. The other involved a lot of spare parts and useless draft picks. That's a pretty broad spectrum.
Again, my feeling is that given that he hasn't been starting, is in D'Antoni's doghouse and thinks that he is going to be traded all lower his value, and make that huge contract, especially for next year pretty weighty.
If that is the case, I think that they might be persuaded to part with Clark.