Rumor: Rondo/O'Neal for Gasol

[Roy H.]

The Cs would be paying ~$8M a year more for the next two years after this deal.  It eats into the cap, but doesn't kill it.  It still leaves enough room to sign one max free agent this summer.

Yeah, our cap would be around $43.8 million without Bass, or $47.8 million if Bass picked up his option (which is unlikely).

With around a $62 million cap, that basically allows for one max guy after renouncing all of our free agents.  In the alternative, we might be better off bringing back our own free agents (Bass, Green, KG, Ray, etc.) and using the MLE to bring somebody else in, unless Deron or Howard would sign here.

[GreenEnvy]

I don't want to ever deal with the Lakers, and I don't know if Gasol can help this team, AND I can't envision actually rooting for the guy, but if we could somehow parlay him into something better (he may have more trade value than Rondo), than I'm for this.

I don't think Rondo helps a team like the Lakers that much. He should help Bynum but him and Kobe won't work that well together. A wash at best.

But if Danny wants to stand put with just Pierce and Gasol and role players moving forward, that is a bad idea.

[GrandTheftRondo]

This trade would make the Lakers pass the C's 17 championships...

I would agree with this.  Bynum will simply expand his game and be more dominant.  Meanwhile, Rondo will orchestrate.  Rondo is a top playoff performer, and that's what it's all about.

would that be the best backcourt in the nba?  it would certainly extend kobe's career, 3 very good defenders on team with bynum & rondo both young for the future
be a great trade for lakers

Which is pretty much why if this trade goes through I'm done with this franchise for a while. I'm so sick and tired of these trades that help our trade partners and hurt us. It is PAINFUL to see OKC flourishing the way they are and us floundering. And now Danny wants to do it again?

You're gonna trade a 25 year old All Star point guard under a great contract to the LAKERS??  Of all franchises?? Who's biggest weakness is the point guard position?? For a 32 year old Pau Gasol??

Yeah...I've had enough.

I think you're overstating Rondo's value.

Swapping an inconsistant PG who barely cracks the top 6 at a position that is literally STACKED with talent throughout the league for a top 3-4 PF/C is a steal value wise.

I think people are forgetting that even if we don't win this year with Gasol he is a piece that any contending team would be clamoring for. As apposed to Rondo's very limited interest across the league.

This way even if we do decide to completely blow it up we could dump Gasol for a combination of young talent and picks during the offseason if we so choose.

To me Gasol still has 3-4 dominant seasons left though...thats enough time to build a team around him and whatever combination of Ray/PP/KG sticks around.

I don't think I'm overstating anything. Take a look at any of the Lakers forums. They are currently salivating at the mouths at the thought of getting Rondo. He fixes their BIGGEST weakness. Say we trade Rondo. Who are you going to get that's better than him? I know you don't think we're also going to get Dwight Howard and Deron Williams? LOL!

Pau Gasol? Really? If we were talking about a Roy Hibbert, Deandre Jordan, Javale McGee type of guy then I wouldn't be so against it. We're an old team so it just makes sense for us to continue getting older  On another note. You seriously think Pau Gasol wants to play in Boston? Just like when we acquired Jeff Green, the dude was miserable here and it showed. Its going to be the second half of last season ALL over again. We don't learn from mistakes, we just continue to make the same ones.

[birdbrady]

If I'm reading Danny's mind correctly:

If he feels that Dwight and Deron are going to reach free agency, he wants Gasol in place to attract them and form a new Big 3.  Kind of like how Dallas wants to go with Dirk-Dwight-Deron.   (Let's pray that no one takes Marion's contract.  That's the precursor to them getting those three together.  Once that happens, as long as Dwight and Deron both reach free agency, I feel that it becomes a lock they go to Dallas if they get rid of Marion and then amnesty Haywood.)

then, if he can't get that dream scenario, he can easily spin around and trade Gasol to Houston for some pieces, say Martin, Budinger, Patterson, Dragic, a draft pick.  Oh and another thing, don't mention Lowry because the Rockets have said 1000 times they aren't trading him.  He wasn't even in the FIRST Gasol trade.  Then he'd start the rebuilding process.

All this while fielding a more competitive team this year.

Make sense?

[birdbrady]

Pau Gasol? Really? If we were talking about a Roy Hibbert, Deandre Jordan, Javale McGee type of guy then I wouldn't be so against it. We're an old team so it just makes sense for us to continue getting older  On another note. You seriously think Pau Gasol wants to play in Boston? Just like when we acquired Jeff Green, the dude was miserable here and it showed. Its going to be the second half of last season ALL over again. We don't learn from mistakes, we just continue to make the same ones.

If you want those guys so badly, I think you could trade Gasol a year from now for any of the three you named *maybe* besides Hibbert.

[Eddie20]

Peter Vecsey and Hoopsworld are the only two sources. I'm sorry, but neither one of them qualifies as legitimate in my mind. Vecsey is probably just stirring things up with the old Hoopsworld inspired rumors.

Actually, I also did hear the Raptors announcers talk about the Gasol/Rondo during a telecast, but I can't recall if it was during a C's/Raptors or Lakers/Raptors game. Perhaps they were just citing the same sources, or maybe they too have heard something.

Then there is also Donny Marshall who said, "They're still talking about this, about maybe moving Rondo somewhere out west... in a warm spot.  I think a lot of people would be surprised."

Take it all for what it's worth, but just wanted to add fuel to the rumor fire . 

[GrandTheftRondo]

Pau Gasol? Really? If we were talking about a Roy Hibbert, Deandre Jordan, Javale McGee type of guy then I wouldn't be so against it. We're an old team so it just makes sense for us to continue getting older  On another note. You seriously think Pau Gasol wants to play in Boston? Just like when we acquired Jeff Green, the dude was miserable here and it showed. Its going to be the second half of last season ALL over again. We don't learn from mistakes, we just continue to make the same ones.

If you want those guys so badly, I think you could trade Gasol a year from now for any of the three you named *maybe* besides Hibbert.

We're not winning a championship this year with this trade so what's the point of renting Gasol, when it would be better to have one of those guys WITH Rondo in a year?

[MBunge]

I don't think I'm overstating anything. Take a look at any of the Lakers forums. They are currently salivating at the mouths at the thought of getting Rondo. He fixes their BIGGEST weakness.

Laker fans should be salivating, but not because they'd be better this year.  The Kobe jock-riders don't want to hear it, but the only thing that makes the Lakers elite anymore is the size of Bynum and Gasol playing together.  Take that advantage away and the Lakers are probably a worse team than they are right now.  But pair Bynum with Rondo and then trade Kobe?  You could put together a team to contend out west for another 5-6 years.

And Gasol fixes the biggest weaknesses of this Celtics team.  Even losing Rondo, I think we'd be amazed at how much better the Boston offense looks with a legitimate low post scorer like Gasol and how much better the defense looks when the team isn't getting killed on the boards.  Of course, trading for Gasol really puts the Celtics long-term rebuilding plans up in the air.

Mike

[WeMadeIt17]

If Danny knows we could have Deron and Dwight next year then do it.. But if we end up trading rondo for Pau and noting comes of it and next year were left with Paul Pau Bradley johnson and moore, things wont be looking to good. But if we somehow turn it into

Deron
Pierce
Green
Pau
Dwight


Wow what a team that would be.. I dont think KG and ray would want to sign anywhere else. That would be such a scary team! i know i'm dreaming cause we don't have the money to do that.. I still see Rondo for Deron williams heating up around the trade deadline.

[GrandTheftRondo]

People really think Dwight Howard is gonna make it to free agency?

Deron and Dwight will be together on March 1st in either NJ or LA and to a lesser extent maybe NY.

[BostonArizona]

This trade would make the Lakers pass the C's 17 championships...

I would agree with this.  Bynum will simply expand his game and be more dominant.  Meanwhile, Rondo will orchestrate.  Rondo is a top playoff performer, and that's what it's all about.

would that be the best backcourt in the nba?  it would certainly extend kobe's career, 3 very good defenders on team with bynum & rondo both young for the future
be a great trade for lakers

Which is pretty much why if this trade goes through I'm done with this franchise for a while. I'm so sick and tired of these trades that help our trade partners and hurt us. It is PAINFUL to see OKC flourishing the way they are and us floundering. And now Danny wants to do it again?

You're gonna trade a 25 year old All Star point guard under a great contract to the LAKERS??  Of all franchises?? Who's biggest weakness is the point guard position?? For a 32 year old Pau Gasol??

Yeah...I've had enough.

I think you're overstating Rondo's value.

Swapping an inconsistant PG who barely cracks the top 6 at a position that is literally STACKED with talent throughout the league for a top 3-4 PF/C is a steal value wise.

I think people are forgetting that even if we don't win this year with Gasol he is a piece that any contending team would be clamoring for. As apposed to Rondo's very limited interest across the league.

This way even if we do decide to completely blow it up we could dump Gasol for a combination of young talent and picks during the offseason if we so choose.

To me Gasol still has 3-4 dominant seasons left though...thats enough time to build a team around him and whatever combination of Ray/PP/KG sticks around.

I don't think I'm overstating anything. Take a look at any of the Lakers forums. They are currently salivating at the mouths at the thought of getting Rondo. He fixes their BIGGEST weakness. Say we trade Rondo. Who are you going to get that's better than him? I know you don't think we're also going to get Dwight Howard and Deron Williams? LOL!

Pau Gasol? Really? If we were talking about a Roy Hibbert, Deandre Jordan, Javale McGee type of guy then I wouldn't be so against it. We're an old team so it just makes sense for us to continue getting older  On another note. You seriously think Pau Gasol wants to play in Boston? Just like when we acquired Jeff Green, the dude was miserable here and it showed. Its going to be the second half of last season ALL over again. We don't learn from mistakes, we just continue to make the same ones.

First of all, who cares if we don't upgrade at the PG spot? Rondo is an all star(inconsistant, but still an allstar) and he's hurting our team in several ways. It's a matter of fit not talent.

Second, I don't understand the enfatuation with these young athletic guys. Yes they would be nice to have but wouldn't you rather have a proven commodity that still has at least 5 years left in the tank AND also has higher trade value?

Third, Pau Gasol is a professional. He strikes me as the guy that will play hard no matter where he is. Hell he stuck it out on some REALLY bad memphis teams and was producing exceptionally well.

Who cares how it affects the Lakers? You trade for one reason and thats to improve your team. Whether its for the short term or the long term(or BOTH).

[JOMVP]

If Danny knows we could have Deron and Dwight next year then do it.. But if we end up trading rondo for Pau and noting comes of it and next year were left with Paul Pau Bradley johnson and moore, things wont be looking to good. But if we somehow turn it into

Deron
Pierce
Green
Pau
Dwight


Wow what a team that would be.. I dont think KG and ray would want to sign anywhere else. That would be such a scary team! i know i'm dreaming cause we don't have the money to do that.. I still see Rondo for Deron williams heating up around the trade deadline.

How are you gonna pay Dwight, Deron, Paul, and Pau? If this was baseball, sure.

[WeMadeIt17]

If Danny knows we could have Deron and Dwight next year then do it.. But if we end up trading rondo for Pau and noting comes of it and next year were left with Paul Pau Bradley johnson and moore, things wont be looking to good. But if we somehow turn it into

Deron
Pierce
Green
Pau
Dwight


Wow what a team that would be.. I dont think KG and ray would want to sign anywhere else. That would be such a scary team! i know i'm dreaming cause we don't have the money to do that.. I still see Rondo for Deron williams heating up around the trade deadline.

How are you gonna pay Dwight, Deron, Paul, and Pau? If this was baseball, sure.

thats why i put i know i am dreaming cause we don't have the money for that...

[ManUp]

People really think Dwight Howard is gonna make it to free agency?

Deron and Dwight will be together on March 1st in either NJ or LA and to a lesser extent maybe NY.

And what team has the assets to get both of them through trade by the deadline? NJ is the only team capable of getting them together by March 1st. If Howard doesn't go to New Jersey and they don't trade D.Williams he's heading to free agency so not a bad consolation prize.

[the_Bird]

In the alternative, we might be better off bringing back our own free agents (Bass, Green, KG, Ray, etc.) and using the MLE to bring somebody else in, unless Deron or Howard would sign here.

This is what I think happens.  Keep the band together for another two years, i.e. don't renounce the Bird rights to Ray and KG.  Re-sign them to two-year deals.  I'm assuming we'd be able to re-sign Bass as well?  Then, use the MLE to go hard after Steve Nash - just hope that Linsanity is still going wild, so New York doesn't need him.

That would be an OLD team, but an extremely well-balanced squad.  Nash and Ray on the outside, Pau on the inside, KG playing D and hitting jumpers, Pierce playing his all-around game.  Bass stays the super-sub big man, probably playing starter's minutes.  Bradley is the new Tony Allen.  Hope that Green is healthy to play behind Paul. 

Still need another backup 5, maybe another backup PG, but that's a team that would be interesting to watch.  Much better team-construction than what we're seeing right now.