Bucher: Lakers may amnesty Pau Gasol this summer

[celtsfan84]

This is reminiscent of the Elton Brand and Luis Scola amnesty situations in terms of impact on the Celtics franchise.

If the Lakers amnesty Gasol, there is virtually no chance that all teams with cap room pass on bidding to sign him.  Scola went for $4 million, Brand went for $2 million.

Gasol only has one year left on his contract.  There is absolutely zero chance everyone with cap room passes on him.

The only way we end up with Gasol is if 1) KG and Pierce retire to give us cap room and 2) we win the bidding.  That is hardly an ideal scenario.  I'd take KG and Pierce over Gasol.

[Who]

No.


Let him get amnesty and then sign him on the cheap to play next to KG.

I'm worried that if he gets amnestied he signs with the Heat and we are all screwed.

Don't all the teams under the cap have first crack at him?  He could refuse to report but I have a hard time believing no one would claim him.

Houston would bid on him, Dallas probably too. Other than those two I'm sure there are other team's with cap space that would be attracted to landing Gasol.

Oh yeah, completely forgot about that amnesty waiver wire.

No way Pau Gasol makes it to free agency. Celtics have no shot at him if he is amnestied.

[pearljammer10]

I don't see how in the world a 2 time NBA champion gets amnestied. Somebody will give up something for a skilled 7 footer who is still very productive when healthy.

I think Bucher is just pulling our leg here. No way this happens

Because the Lakers needs a team with cap room that can absorb most of the contract (if not all of it)


That the only way they can get the monster cap tax hit down.

so, they'll still take the cap hit even if they amnesty him?  I thought that was the point of the amnesty option.  just looking for some clarity on the rule

I believe it works as in they still have to pay his salary but that salary isnt counted against the cap...Correct me if I am wrong.

[clover]

Any chance a Paul P./Pau G. swap happens instead?

[celtsfan84]

I don't see how in the world a 2 time NBA champion gets amnestied. Somebody will give up something for a skilled 7 footer who is still very productive when healthy.

I think Bucher is just pulling our leg here. No way this happens

Because the Lakers needs a team with cap room that can absorb most of the contract (if not all of it)


That the only way they can get the monster cap tax hit down.

so, they'll still take the cap hit even if they amnesty him?  I thought that was the point of the amnesty option.  just looking for some clarity on the rule

I believe it works as in they still have to pay his salary but that salary isnt counted against the cap...Correct me if I am wrong.

That's how I recall it.  His contract would be wiped off their cap and luxury tax but he would be paid his contract in full (the Lakers would pay the difference between his contract and the winning bid from what I recall).

[pearljammer10]

This is reminiscent of the Elton Brand and Luis Scola amnesty situations in terms of impact on the Celtics franchise.

If the Lakers amnesty Gasol, there is virtually no chance that all teams with cap room pass on bidding to sign him.  Scola went for $4 million, Brand went for $2 million.

Gasol only has one year left on his contract.  There is absolutely zero chance everyone with cap room passes on him.

The only way we end up with Gasol is if 1) KG and Pierce retire to give us cap room and 2) we win the bidding.  That is hardly an ideal scenario.  I'd take KG and Pierce over Gasol.

Not ideal by any means, but, in a hypothetical world, if KG and Pierce to happen to retire, I say we have to make a bid on Gasol. Even if we nab him for around MLE money that would be a steal. Again not ideal, but something we definitely have to look at I would say.

[pearljammer10]

Any chance a Paul P./Pau G. swap happens instead?

I sure hope not.

[wdleehi]

No.


Let him get amnesty and then sign him on the cheap to play next to KG.

I'm worried that if he gets amnestied he signs with the Heat and we are all screwed.

Don't all the teams under the cap have first crack at him?  He could refuse to report but I have a hard time believing no one would claim him.

Houston would bid on him, Dallas probably too. Other than those two I'm sure there are other team's with cap space that would be attracted to landing Gasol.

Oh yeah, completely forgot about that amnesty waiver wire.

No way Pau Gasol makes it to free agency. Celtics have no shot at him if he is amnestied.

Very true unless the Celtics can move some contracts as well.  I don't think the Celtics can pull that off unless they move one of the three players they would most want to keep to play with Gasol (Pierce, KG and Rondo)


If KG and/or Pierce retire (and I think if one goes, the other might just follow) the Celtics should still try to sign him if nothing else for a one year cheap rental. 

[fairweatherfan]

I don't see how in the world a 2 time NBA champion gets amnestied. Somebody will give up something for a skilled 7 footer who is still very productive when healthy.

I think Bucher is just pulling our leg here. No way this happens

Because the Lakers needs a team with cap room that can absorb most of the contract (if not all of it)


That the only way they can get the monster cap tax hit down.

so, they'll still take the cap hit even if they amnesty him?  I thought that was the point of the amnesty option.  just looking for some clarity on the rule

I believe it works as in they still have to pay his salary but that salary isnt counted against the cap...Correct me if I am wrong.

Basically, except they pay Pau's salary minus whatever the winning bid on the amnesty waiver wire is.  But it doesn't count for cap/luxury tax purposes. 

Luxury tax is the big motivator as the Lakers will be paying boatloads of it next year if they resign Howard or trade him for comparable salary.  Amnestying Pau saves them far more than his actual salary.

[hpantazo]

No.


Let him get amnesty and then sign him on the cheap to play next to KG.

I'm worried that if he gets amnestied he signs with the Heat and we are all screwed.

Don't all the teams under the cap have first crack at him?  He could refuse to report but I have a hard time believing no one would claim him.

Houston would bid on him, Dallas probably too. Other than those two I'm sure there are other team's with cap space that would be attracted to landing Gasol.

Oh yeah, completely forgot about that amnesty waiver wire.

No way Pau Gasol makes it to free agency. Celtics have no shot at him if he is amnestied.

That's why I think it's worth exploring a trade for him.

[BleedGreen1989]

My point is yes his contract is massive, but it's also expiring so it's not even a big deal for another team to take on his salary for one year.

New Orleans, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Philadelphia (if they decide to let Bynum walk) could all have significant cap space and if the Lakers are really looking to dump Gasol and get rid of him for pennies on the dollar I imagine these types of teams would have no problem paying Gasol for a year.

[LooseCannon]

No.


Let him get amnesty and then sign him on the cheap to play next to KG.

I'm worried that if he gets amnestied he signs with the Heat and we are all screwed.

Don't all the teams under the cap have first crack at him?  He could refuse to report but I have a hard time believing no one would claim him.

Houston would bid on him, Dallas probably too. Other than those two I'm sure there are other team's with cap space that would be attracted to landing Gasol.

Oh yeah, completely forgot about that amnesty waiver wire.

No way Pau Gasol makes it to free agency. Celtics have no shot at him if he is amnestied.

That's why I think it's worth exploring a trade for him.

The Lakers are looking for luxury tax relief, if they are really seeking to trade Gasol.  The Celtics can't offer that.

If the Lakers are really that desperate to shed salary that they would amnesty Gasol rather than trade him, then they would likely be willing to trade Gasol and a first round pick for practically nothing to a team with cap space that can absorb the salary without taking anything back.

If the Lakers can dump enough salary, do they even have enough draft picks left to do a sign-and-trade of Gasol for Josh Smith?

[nickagneta]

He will end up in Dallas if amnestied. Teams with cap space have first crack at bidding for him and Dallas will have a bunch of money. Dallas is going to be very active this offseason attempting to get quality free agents to surround Dirk with to make a last run at a ring with Dirk. I could see them easily bidding $7-8 million for the right of a one year rental of Gasol to put alongside Dirk, Mayo and Collison. Especially if Dallas amnesties Marion.

[Moranis]

I don't see how in the world a 2 time NBA champion gets amnestied. Somebody will give up something for a skilled 7 footer who is still very productive when healthy.

I think Bucher is just pulling our leg here. No way this happens

Because the Lakers needs a team with cap room that can absorb most of the contract (if not all of it)


That the only way they can get the monster cap tax hit down.

Or they trade him before the new season turns over for a player that has only a partially guaranteed contract like say Paul Pierce.

[Evantime34]

He will end up in Dallas if amnestied. Teams with cap space have first crack at bidding for him and Dallas will have a bunch of money. Dallas is going to be very active this offseason attempting to get quality free agents to surround Dirk with to make a last run at a ring with Dirk. I could see them easily bidding $7-8 million for the right of a one year rental of Gasol to put alongside Dirk, Mayo and Collison. Especially if Dallas amnesties Marion.

I think it goes by record of teams that have cap space. Meaning he could find himself in Phoenix, or Charlotte next year.