Bucher: Lakers may amnesty Pau Gasol this summer

[wdleehi]

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.

Unless Pierce is going to retire, the Celtics would be better off keeping Pierce. 

[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.

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

I don't think this is like claiming players off waivers in baseball or football where the team with the worst record can claim the amnestied player. I was pretty sure that all clubs with room under the cap could put in a bid up to as high as the number they have under the cap. The team that puts in the highest bid gets the player and pays them the amount bid. The rest of the original contract is picked up by the amnestying club.

I also think there was some rule about the size of the minimum bid based on the player's contract. Not sure about that.

But if no one puts in a bid then the clubs without cap room can decide to offer a minimum contract with the team with the worst record of those remaining teams being the order the player is offered. If no one at all puts in a bid, then the player becomes a free agent.

I think.

[Lucky17]

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.

I don't think this is like claiming players off waivers in baseball or football where the team with the worst record can claim the amnestied player. I was pretty sure that all clubs with room under the cap could put in a bid up to as high as the number they have under the cap. The team that puts in the highest bid gets the player and pays them the amount bid. The rest of the original contract is picked up by the amnestying club.

I also think there was some rule about the size of the minimum bid based on the player's contract. Not sure about that.

But if no one puts in a bid then the clubs without cap room can decide to offer a minimum contract with the team with the worst record of those remaining teams being the order the player is offered. If no one at all puts in a bid, then the player becomes a free agent.

I think.

Actually, both of you are kind of right.

Full waiver claims have precedence over partial waiver claims -- if one team makes a full waiver claim and another makes a partial waiver claim, the team making the full waiver claim is awarded the player. If multiple teams make full waiver claims, the player is awarded to the team with the worst record.

A partial waiver claim is a bid for a single dollar amount. If no team makes a full waiver claim, the player is awarded to the team submitting the highest bid in a partial waiver claim. If multiple teams bid the same amount, the player is awarded to the team with the worst record.

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q67

[Lucky17]

Meanwhile, when did we start taking Ric Bucher seriously as a journalist?

[Fafnir]

Meanwhile, when did we start taking Ric Bucher seriously as a journalist?

He's always been connected to Kobe's camp and therefore the LA organization in the past.

[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.

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

I don't think this is like claiming players off waivers in baseball or football where the team with the worst record can claim the amnestied player. I was pretty sure that all clubs with room under the cap could put in a bid up to as high as the number they have under the cap. The team that puts in the highest bid gets the player and pays them the amount bid. The rest of the original contract is picked up by the amnestying club.

I also think there was some rule about the size of the minimum bid based on the player's contract. Not sure about that.

But if no one puts in a bid then the clubs without cap room can decide to offer a minimum contract with the team with the worst record of those remaining teams being the order the player is offered. If no one at all puts in a bid, then the player becomes a free agent.

I think.

Actually, both of you are kind of right.

Full waiver claims have precedence over partial waiver claims -- if one team makes a full waiver claim and another makes a partial waiver claim, the team making the full waiver claim is awarded the player. If multiple teams make full waiver claims, the player is awarded to the team with the worst record.

A partial waiver claim is a bid for a single dollar amount. If no team makes a full waiver claim, the player is awarded to the team submitting the highest bid in a partial waiver claim. If multiple teams bid the same amount, the player is awarded to the team with the worst record.

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q67

Absolutely but the chances of anyone putting in a full waiver claim are extremely remote in this case as the team doing it has to have $19 million in cap space and be willing to assume the whole $19 million

[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.

Unless Pierce is going to retire, the Celtics would be better off keeping Pierce.

Oh I agree, I was just saying they might be able to find a trading partner like that with partially guaranteed contracts where they can shave a ton of cash by buying out the player they traded for.

[wdleehi]

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.

Unless Pierce is going to retire, the Celtics would be better off keeping Pierce.

Oh I agree, I was just saying they might be able to find a trading partner like that with partially guaranteed contracts where they can shave a ton of cash by buying out the player they traded for.

Does that really help though?  What saves them more money?  Amnesty Gasol or trading him and taking back a 5 million buyout? 


This new tax is complicated.   

[LarBrd33]

If I was guaranteed that Pau Gasol would play as well as he did in 2009 and 2010, I'd absolutely consider moving Rondo + Bass for him and a 1st. 

I'm totally comfortable in Avery Bradley as a role playing starting PG if it means pairing 2009/10 Pau with KG and Pierce at their current levels.   It would make us a serious contender next season (more so than Rondo + Pierce and KG could make us)... and then the next season, Pierce and KG would likely retire and Pau would expire... cap space for a rebuild. 

And as others have said, Pierce for Pau makes too much sense for both teams.  We already have a starting SF on our bench in Jeff Green.... but the idea of Pierce as a Laker makes me throw up in my mouth. 

EDIT:  Lakers unfortunately don't have a 1st rounder in this draft.  Still... it's worth considering. 

[KGs Knee]

If I was guaranteed that Pau Gasol would play as well as he did in 2009 and 2010, I'd absolutely consider moving Rondo + Bass for him and a 1st. 

I'm totally comfortable in Avery Bradley as a role playing starting PG if it means pairing 2009/10 Pau with KG and Pierce at their current levels.   It would make us a serious contender next season (more so than Rondo + Pierce and KG could make us)... and then the next season, Pierce and KG would likely retire and Pau would expire... cap space for a rebuild. 

And as others have said, Pierce for Pau makes too much sense for both teams.  We already have a starting SF on our bench in Jeff Green.... but the idea of Pierce as a Laker makes me throw up in my mouth. 

EDIT:  Lakers unfortunately don't have a 1st rounder in this draft.  Still... it's worth considering.

Even if we could somehow be guaranteed we'd get 2009/10 Pau, I can't see that being a good deal.

We're basically giving away the next 10 years of Rondo for 1 season of Pau.  Yeesh, that is risky.  Even if gets you a title that one season, you've now setup LA for titles for years to come.

As much a seeing Pierce in a Laker uni makes me nauseous, the thought of Rondo winning titles next to Dwight in LA makes me infinitely more nauseous.

[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.

Unless Pierce is going to retire, the Celtics would be better off keeping Pierce.

Oh I agree, I was just saying they might be able to find a trading partner like that with partially guaranteed contracts where they can shave a ton of cash by buying out the player they traded for.

Does that really help though?  What saves them more money?  Amnesty Gasol or trading him and taking back a 5 million buyout? 


This new tax is complicated.   

That I don't know, but I suspect it will depend on just what the tax payer limit is and how much over it LA is.  I also think they might be able to get something worthwhile from a team.  I mean if Team A is going to buy out player A anyway, they might be willing to trade for Gasol (who they may want), give up something that the Lakers may want, and everybody wins so to speak.

[CoachBo]

If I was guaranteed that Pau Gasol would play as well as he did in 2009 and 2010, I'd absolutely consider moving Rondo + Bass for him and a 1st. 

I'm totally comfortable in Avery Bradley as a role playing starting PG if it means pairing 2009/10 Pau with KG and Pierce at their current levels.   It would make us a serious contender next season (more so than Rondo + Pierce and KG could make us)... and then the next season, Pierce and KG would likely retire and Pau would expire... cap space for a rebuild. 

And as others have said, Pierce for Pau makes too much sense for both teams.  We already have a starting SF on our bench in Jeff Green.... but the idea of Pierce as a Laker makes me throw up in my mouth. 

EDIT:  Lakers unfortunately don't have a 1st rounder in this draft.  Still... it's worth considering.

Risky, but I'd co-sign.

Rather get Cousins and Evans for Rondo, frankly ... but I'm skeptical Sactown will go that high for Rondo.

[nickagneta]

If I was guaranteed that Pau Gasol would play as well as he did in 2009 and 2010, I'd absolutely consider moving Rondo + Bass for him and a 1st. 

I'm totally comfortable in Avery Bradley as a role playing starting PG if it means pairing 2009/10 Pau with KG and Pierce at their current levels.   It would make us a serious contender next season (more so than Rondo + Pierce and KG could make us)... and then the next season, Pierce and KG would likely retire and Pau would expire... cap space for a rebuild. 

And as others have said, Pierce for Pau makes too much sense for both teams.  We already have a starting SF on our bench in Jeff Green.... but the idea of Pierce as a Laker makes me throw up in my mouth. 

EDIT:  Lakers unfortunately don't have a 1st rounder in this draft.  Still... it's worth considering.

Risky, but I'd co-sign.

Rather get Cousins and Evans for Rondo, frankly ... but I'm skeptical Sactown will go that high for Rondo.

I would never have guessed that you were a Cousins and Evans type of guy Coach. We see a lot of things very similar and I have got to say, along with Monta Ellis, there isn't anyone out of the young players available out there that I would want less on this team than Cousins or Evans. If we are trading Rondo I want a Utah big or Gortat or someone like that.

[LarBrd33]

If I was guaranteed that Pau Gasol would play as well as he did in 2009 and 2010, I'd absolutely consider moving Rondo + Bass for him and a 1st. 

I'm totally comfortable in Avery Bradley as a role playing starting PG if it means pairing 2009/10 Pau with KG and Pierce at their current levels.   It would make us a serious contender next season (more so than Rondo + Pierce and KG could make us)... and then the next season, Pierce and KG would likely retire and Pau would expire... cap space for a rebuild. 

And as others have said, Pierce for Pau makes too much sense for both teams.  We already have a starting SF on our bench in Jeff Green.... but the idea of Pierce as a Laker makes me throw up in my mouth. 

EDIT:  Lakers unfortunately don't have a 1st rounder in this draft.  Still... it's worth considering.

Risky, but I'd co-sign.

Rather get Cousins and Evans for Rondo, frankly ... but I'm skeptical Sactown will go that high for Rondo.

I would never have guessed that you were a Cousins and Evans type of guy Coach. We see a lot of things very similar and I have got to say, along with Monta Ellis, there isn't anyone out of the young players available out there that I would want less on this team than Cousins or Evans. If we are trading Rondo I want a Utah big or Gortat or someone like that.

I'd actually prefer Cousins + Evans as well.  Cousins is a nut, but he's talented... and Evans is underrated and could flourish in the right system.  I wouldn't mind Evans at SG with Brady at PG at all.. that'd be solid.

Another point on Pau... I know his stock is at an all-time low (hence why we can even discuss this), but the dude is 4 years younger than KG and KG has remained pretty darn capable.  I am in the camp that believes Pau is still an elite big man in this league and has actually been held back in LA the last couple years due to Bynum/Howard.  He's one of the best post players in the league and a very capable inside defender.  I'd really enjoy seeing him and KG play together.   

I have said for a while that I think big men and scoring win titles.  I understand Rondo is younger than Pau, but healthy Pau is FAR more of an impact player.  He's the type of guy who can get you 50 wins with a weak supporting cast (note that Memphis was a 55 win team with Pau and Kobe failed to even play .500 ball until big men were gifted to the Lakers) ... I'd love to see Pau, KG and Pierce play together next year.. .the year after that when Pau expired, we could always bring him back on a significantly cheaper deal.

[Celtics18]

If I was guaranteed that Pau Gasol would play as well as he did in 2009 and 2010, I'd absolutely consider moving Rondo + Bass for him and a 1st. 

I'm totally comfortable in Avery Bradley as a role playing starting PG if it means pairing 2009/10 Pau with KG and Pierce at their current levels.   It would make us a serious contender next season (more so than Rondo + Pierce and KG could make us)... and then the next season, Pierce and KG would likely retire and Pau would expire... cap space for a rebuild. 

And as others have said, Pierce for Pau makes too much sense for both teams.  We already have a starting SF on our bench in Jeff Green.... but the idea of Pierce as a Laker makes me throw up in my mouth. 

EDIT:  Lakers unfortunately don't have a 1st rounder in this draft.  Still... it's worth considering.

To be honest, even with him recovering from knee surgery, I think we have a better chance of seeing 2009/2010 Rondo than we do of seeing 2009/2010 Gasol next season.