Gasol to Cavs close. Good news for our lottery chances.

[chambers]

Lakers are asking for Dion Waiters or a pick.
Cavs won't relinquish a pick and feel Lakers getting salary relief is enough.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have refused to include Dion Waiters into Andrew Bynum-Pau Gasol trade talks and remain reluctant on sending a future first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Yahoo! Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers have refused to include Dion Waiters into Andrew Bynum-Pau Gasol trade talks and remain reluctant on sending a future first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Gotta love Kupchak.

Amico reckons that another team has offered a first for Waiters.
Clippers pick anyone?

Sam Amico: Also, sources tell @FOXSportsOH another team (not #Lakers) has offered #Cavs first-round draft pick for Dion Waiters. No further info yet. Twitter @SamAmicoFSO -h

Lakers have gotta do this deal either way right?

[Lucky17]

Seems like Gasol to Cavs is NOT close, in other words.

[indeedproceed]

The Lakers like the Rockets probably feel Gasol is worth more than a salary dump. The issue is that after tonight, it's extremely unlikely any team had a deal for them that gets them out of the lux tax and helps them potentially avoid the repeater tax.

[LarBrd33]

It's good for our lotto chances in that it helps the Cavs become better (in theory) and means (potentially) one less team to compete with for lotto spots in the east.

It's bad for our lotto chances, because the Lakers are in full-blown tank mode and pulling off this trade likely means they'll have Kobe, Parker and LeBron on their team next year.

[Neurotic Guy]

So is it close or not?

I HATE this deal.  I can't see this being a big difference maker FA-wise as Pau's 19M comes of the books anyway.  I guess those who understand luxury implications will know how the short-term savings helps their financial future.   

However, this just cements the Lakers in the race to the bottom that I thought they'd have no chance for earlier in the year.  I hoped LAL would find themselves in mediocre-land, but now they'll be players for a top pick -- even with Kobe back.  I still doubt LBJ goes there, but I do hate the  Lakers being in line for one of the franchise-player possibilities out of this draft.  Always works out for them.

[Neurotic Guy]

It's good for our lotto chances in that it helps the Cavs become better (in theory) and means (potentially) one less team to compete with for lotto spots in the east.

It's bad for our lotto chances, because the Lakers are in full-blown tank mode and pulling off this trade likely means they'll have Kobe, Parker and LeBron on their team next year.

I am as much of a Laker cynic as there is, but "they'll have Kobe, Parker and Lebron" is 66.7% unlikely.

[LarBrd33]

It's good for our lotto chances in that it helps the Cavs become better (in theory) and means (potentially) one less team to compete with for lotto spots in the east.

It's bad for our lotto chances, because the Lakers are in full-blown tank mode and pulling off this trade likely means they'll have Kobe, Parker and LeBron on their team next year.

I am as much of a Laker cynic as there is, but "they'll have Kobe, Parker and Lebron" is 66.7% unlikely.

The fact that you think it's 33.3% likely just made me pee my pants.

[barefacedmonk]

So is it close or not?

Doesn't seem close.

Cavs understand Gasol could simply be half-season rental. Lakers want value in return -- not just financial savings. There's a gap to close.

Y! Sources, (w/ @SpearsNBAYahoo) Cavs resisting the sweetening of a Bynum package to Lakers for Gasol.

Doors closing on cross country flight for me, and time running short on Cavs completing a Bynum deal for Gasol. LA wants Sunday resolution.

Both Lakers and Jazz want the 48 hours to make sure players pass physicals in Cleveland. Bynum will be waived regardless.

Adrian Wojnarowski via Twitter.

[Jailan34]

Would Cleveland really give up on Waiters so fast and trade him for a late first rounder? I don't see that happening.

[chambers]

Seems like Gasol to Cavs is NOT close, in other words.

I'd call it close if their self imposed deadline is tonight. They need 48 hours for it to process. They won't give up the pick, and Lakers need the cap relief and tax relief.
Doubt they give all that up for a first round pick or Waiters. Just trying to put as much pressure on Cavs as possible hoping the owners get worried and force Cavs GM to include a pick.

[crownontherocks]

With all involved wanting to make move today, #Cavs trade talks have just taken considerably more serious turn, sources tell @FOXSportsOH.

[Neurotic Guy]

With all involved wanting to make move today, #Cavs trade talks have just taken considerably more serious turn, sources tell @FOXSportsOH.

Is that supposed to imply Cavs-Lakers talks, or Cavs talks in general?

[byennie]

If I'm the C's, I offer Crawford + Clippers pick for Waiters.

Cleveland gets comparable production that can play PG, plus a pick, and the C's get a cheap look at Waiters for a couple of seasons. Rondo + Bradley + Waiters is certainly interesting.

[LarBrd33]

If I'm the C's, I offer Crawford + Clippers pick for Waiters.

Cleveland gets comparable production that can play PG, plus a pick, and the C's get a cheap look at Waiters for a couple of seasons. Rondo + Bradley + Waiters is certainly interesting.

If I'm the C's,

I offer Bradley, Crawford, Bass, Bogans (expiring) for Bynum and Waiters.   Gets our cap to 40 mil next season.  We could be a player in free agency.

Cavs laugh.

Then I offer Bradley, Green and Bogans for Bynum, Waiters and a future first (Miami's 2015 they own)

Then if they laugh that off too, I just offer Bradley, Green and Bass for Bynum and Waiters. 

Eventually I give up.

[byennie]

If I'm the C's, I offer Crawford + Clippers pick for Waiters.

Cleveland gets comparable production that can play PG, plus a pick, and the C's get a cheap look at Waiters for a couple of seasons. Rondo + Bradley + Waiters is certainly interesting.

If I'm the C's,

I offer Bradley, Crawford, Bass, Bogans (expiring) for Bynum and Waiters.   Gets our cap to 40 mil next season.  We could be a player in free agency.

Cavs laugh.

Then I offer Bradley, Green and Bogans for Bynum, Waiters and a future first (Miami's 2015 they own)

Then if they laugh that off too, I just offer Bradley, Green and Bass for Bynum and Waiters. 

Eventually I give up.

I'd be pretty disappointed if all we got for Bradley, Green and Bass was cap relief and Waiters. They all have decent value and a grand total of 2 guaranteed years after this one between them. Green has an option year after that. Patience.