Rumor: Rondo/O'Neal for Gasol

[revcummings]

If it is a two for one we could sign someone else. Probably agent zero, ai, or eddie house. At this point our biggest need is a big man and it is easier to pick up a decent point or two guard from the scrapes than it is to find a decent big. If we are in it to win it now, I think we have to do this move.

[Vermont Green]

Also, I recall that Mitch K. was very obtuse the other day when he maid a statement about the possibility of trading Gasol.  It seems realistic that something is going down.

It is hard to believe that the Lakers want Rondo (at least for themselves).  They know better than anyone that he doesn't need to be defended.  That is why I predicted above that the Lakers are going to package Rondo with Bynum to get Howard and Hego.

I guy that scores 15 points a game and averages 10 assist doesn't need to be defended?  

When the Lakers play the Celtics, they have Kobe "cover" Rondo.  What Kobe does is play off Rondo 6-10 feet so he can more easily double other players and, well, rest.  The Lakers were successful with this strategy and now other teams have copied it.  So yeah, I believe that the Lakers have calculated that they don't need to cover Rondo.

reason celtics lose is because paul is 34 and kg is 35 and can't rebound like they use to, which would be soon true of gasol also. when the celtics beat the lakers in 2007 it was the same rondo even a poorer version and the celtics and the lakers were using the exact same game plan and the celtics won? why because they had a younger kg and paul rebounding as well as perk, powe and pj brown. If the celtics board they win.

So the reason that the Lakers don't cover Rondo is because KG and PP are old?  The point was why would the Lakers want to trade Gasol for a player they don't even bother to cover when they play the Celtics.  There were lots of things going on when we lost our game 7 lead but all I am saying is that the Lakers were not covering Rondo.

[BballTim]

Also, I recall that Mitch K. was very obtuse the other day when he maid a statement about the possibility of trading Gasol.  It seems realistic that something is going down.

It is hard to believe that the Lakers want Rondo (at least for themselves).  They know better than anyone that he doesn't need to be defended.  That is why I predicted above that the Lakers are going to package Rondo with Bynum to get Howard and Hego.

I guy that scores 15 points a game and averages 10 assist doesn't need to be defended? 

When the Lakers play the Celtics, they have Kobe "cover" Rondo.  What Kobe does is play off Rondo 6-10 feet so he can more easily double other players and, well, rest.  The Lakers were successful with this strategy and now other teams have copied it.  So yeah, I believe that the Lakers have calculated that they don't need to cover Rondo.

  The Lakers lost to the Celts in 2008 and probably would have lost again in 2010 if Artest hadn't kneed Ray in the thigh in game 3. It's not like they really have our number.

[Inside-Out]

I think the team is a star big man away from contending with the current roster, and with JGreen, Paul, and KG plus a star big man next year, too.

Paul/KG/Gasol would instantly be among the best front lines in the league, and a great passing big man in Gasol, too.

Would we be solid enough at the guard spots?  Bradley can surely defend like crazy, and seems to get the ball over half court and makes the first pass at around 19-20 seconds left on the shot clock...starting to hit the 20 footer...but I dunno.  And I don't care much for Dooling.

Bass and Dooling for someone like Ramon Sessions or some MLE-level veteran PG?  Easier than getting a big man!

[cman88]

to me, it just makes us the pistons in 2008-09...desperate to 'win now" and not rebuild so they invested all their money in Rip, vilanueva, ben gordon...which ate up all their cap...and in reality they were not true contenders...all they did was just prolong the rebuild...and they are facing the consequences now because they are stuck with the albatross contracts of Ben wallace/vilanueva(and previously Hamilton if not for the amnesty clause)

I think thise "core" has run its course. they are still "names" like the Pistons were. but they have declined the point where they arent true contendors...we are moer than "one piece" away and all trying to "win now" will do is just keep us mediocre and prolong the inevitable "rebuild"

and with Pau/pierce...theres NO way we can afford Green, KG, ray, bass(who would be going to the lakers in this trade anyway)

[Jeff]

I almost talked myself into (see front page) but I'm still a "no" on this one.

The thing is, this is just the kind of thing that Danny is famous for.  Trades that we wouldn't even consider that are bold and creative and come out of nowhere.

Oh, and if it actually happens, we'll have to give Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld some credit for floating it first.

[Evantime34]

I almost talked myself into (see front page) but I'm still a "no" on this one.

The thing is, this is just the kind of thing that Danny is famous for.  Trades that we wouldn't even consider that are bold and creative and come out of nowhere.

Oh, and if it actually happens, we'll have to give Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld some credit for floating it first.

I feel like deals that are rumored for weeks rarely happen. I think there will be a deal but I doubt it's gasol for rondo

[gpap]

I think the team is a star big man away from contending with the current roster, and with JGreen, Paul, and KG plus a star big man next year, too.

Paul/KG/Gasol would instantly be among the best front lines in the league, and a great passing big man in Gasol, too.

Would we be solid enough at the guard spots?  Bradley can surely defend like crazy, and seems to get the ball over half court and makes the first pass at around 19-20 seconds left on the shot clock...starting to hit the 20 footer...but I dunno.  And I don't care much for Dooling.

Bass and Dooling for someone like Ramon Sessions or some MLE-level veteran PG?  Easier than getting a big man!

Agreed!! I think this trade goes far beyond love for Rondo, thinking Gasol is too old (which he isn't.) It's about what's best for the team. The truth is, right now Rondo is the most talented guy on the team. But I just don't think he's the right man for KG, Ray and PP (and vice versa for that matter.)

So, you can either keep Rondo and trade (or give away) PP, KG and Ray OR you can keep the big 3 and trade Rondo. If Danny goes with the later, then the Rondo/Gasol trade makes all the sense in the world. I just don't think Rondo, Pierce, KG and Ray are going to compete for squat, let alone a title.

Plus, it's definitely tougher to acquire a quality big than it is an effective point guard. For those that say every team NEEDS a top 5 point guard, I say rubbish. Bigs are alot more useful than point guards. Talented point guards are great to have, but a luxury rather than a necessity.

[Roy H.]

to me, it just makes us the pistons in 2008-09...desperate to 'win now" and not rebuild so they invested all their money in Rip, vilanueva, ben gordon...which ate up all their cap...and in reality they were not true contenders...all they did was just prolong the rebuild...and they are facing the consequences now because they are stuck with the albatross contracts of Ben wallace/vilanueva(and previously Hamilton if not for the amnesty clause)

I think thise "core" has run its course. they are still "names" like the Pistons were. but they have declined the point where they arent true contendors...we are moer than "one piece" away and all trying to "win now" will do is just keep us mediocre and prolong the inevitable "rebuild"

There's no comparison between Pau Gasol and Ben Gordon / Charlie Villanueva.

and with Pau/pierce...theres NO way we can afford Green, KG, ray, bass(who would be going to the lakers in this trade anyway)

Why not?  We'd just use Bird rights, rather than cap space.

[thenotoriousjts]

If it is a two for one we could sign someone else. Probably agent zero, ai, or eddie house. At this point our biggest need is a big man and it is easier to pick up a decent point or two guard from the scrapes than it is to find a decent big. If we are in it to win it now, I think we have to do this move.

Agreed 10000%. It would be a tough pick but between the three AI would be best, then Arenas, then House. I know most people here would probably like House more but it wouldn't hurt to grab a skilled ball handler with the open slot. I'll be AI is still lightning fast.

[PosImpos]

to me, it just makes us the pistons in 2008-09...

are you sure we aren't there already?  i'm confident danny won't make the same mistakes in free agency after this season that dumars did after that season.

[esel1000]

not gonna lie if this goes through I see something bigger in the works... DA could easily be using Gasol as bait...but for what?

[PosImpos]

not gonna lie if this goes through I see something bigger in the works... DA could easily be using Gasol as bait...but for what?

luring Deron Williams in the off-season, probably.

Try to convince him that playing with Gasol / Pierce / Ray / KG is better than joining the Mavs to play with Dirk and Brendan Haywood.

[LarBrd33]

i get why Boston would do it.  Pau Gasol has been the best player on two champions.  Revisionist history will claim it was Kobe, but Pau was the dominant player on both those title teams in the same way Shaq was the dominant player on Kobe's first 3 title teams.  

Pau's a top 8 player.  Rondo is a top 30 player.  Boston has no center and pau is a top 2 center.  You always go big over small.  If they were the same age it would be a no brainer but la would never consider it if they were the same age. 

[goCeltics]

Also, I recall that Mitch K. was very obtuse the other day when he maid a statement about the possibility of trading Gasol.  It seems realistic that something is going down.

It is hard to believe that the Lakers want Rondo (at least for themselves).  They know better than anyone that he doesn't need to be defended.  That is why I predicted above that the Lakers are going to package Rondo with Bynum to get Howard and Hego.

I guy that scores 15 points a game and averages 10 assist doesn't need to be defended?  

When the Lakers play the Celtics, they have Kobe "cover" Rondo.  What Kobe does is play off Rondo 6-10 feet so he can more easily double other players and, well, rest.  The Lakers were successful with this strategy and now other teams have copied it.  So yeah, I believe that the Lakers have calculated that they don't need to cover Rondo.

reason celtics lose is because paul is 34 and kg is 35 and can't rebound like they use to, which would be soon true of gasol also. when the celtics beat the lakers in 2007 it was the same rondo even a poorer version and the celtics and the lakers were using the exact same game plan and the celtics won? why because they had a younger kg and paul rebounding as well as perk, powe and pj brown. If the celtics board they win.

So the reason that the Lakers don't cover Rondo is because KG and PP are old?  The point was why would the Lakers want to trade Gasol for a player they don't even bother to cover when they play the Celtics.  There were lots of things going on when we lost our game 7 lead but all I am saying is that the Lakers were not covering Rondo.

The reason the celtics lost was cos KG and Paul are old. They they used the same coverage in game 6 of the 2008 nba finals how did it turn out? were the celtics able to win with rondo. If they have better rebounders they would have won in 2010 also with rondo playing the point.