Could Pau Gasol be on option this offseason? (Trade Exception)

[mmmmm]

Okay, thought about this a bit more.

The OP's idea couldn't be implemented until the small window between the end of the season and the expiration of the TPE.

By then we will not only know the lottery order, but also the actual draft night will be over.

So whether the idea makes any sense at that time may depend on a lot of things that can change between now and then.

Obviously, if we get the #1 and take Embiid, the idea becomes moot.

Suppose we end up with the #3 pick and take Andew Wiggins?   Because of that, we likely will not resign Bradley (freeing up that cash).   Bogans' contract will also be gone and I'll assume we only resign Hump & Bayless if the total cost is less than their current 15M.

After thinking about it, it may actually make sense to do something like this because it would create a starting 5 of Rondo + Wiggins + Green + Sully + Gasol.

Depending on how fast Wiggins matured, that is actually a pretty solid lineup.    It gives Rondo multiple scoring options both inside and outside to work with.  You have three veterans who have been deep in the playoffs (including two who have rings) and two promising youngsters (sound familiar?).   That lineup has a lot of complementary skills and has length, athleticism and brute strength.

Gasol is probably a great prototype for Olynyk to learn from too.

The 2015 draft will (reportedly) be much stronger in Centers.  You can then look in that draft for a longer term replacement for Gasol -- or trade for someone else's 'young veteran' C if they take one in the draft since I think the above lineup will not make the lottery.

So ... put me down in the, "depending on how the lottery/draft shape up, sure - this might work".

(Obviously, I would not want to give Pau a super-long contract.  Max of 2 years guaranteed, with maybe a team option on a third.)

[mmmmm]

I think this would be very interesting IF the C's can find a way to get a star (like Melo).

Of course, I also am not sure you could actually get Pau to fit in the TPE.  Yeah, he isn't the player he used to be, but he is still averaging 18 and 10 in a system that doesn't really feature his strengths.  While he won't get a 4 or 5 year max deal, I think he will be in line to get something like 3 years/$45 million.

Yeah, that may be the factor that kills the idea.

But IF he could be signed for 10M per, then it's interesting.

[saltlover]

I think this would be very interesting IF the C's can find a way to get a star (like Melo).

Of course, I also am not sure you could actually get Pau to fit in the TPE.  Yeah, he isn't the player he used to be, but he is still averaging 18 and 10 in a system that doesn't really feature his strengths.  While he won't get a 4 or 5 year max deal, I think he will be in line to get something like 3 years/$45 million.

Yeah, that may be the factor that kills the idea.

But IF he could be signed for 10M per, then it's interesting.

If you're willing to pay Pau more than $10.3M (but still have it be for two guaranteed years plus a third non-guaranteed year), you can probably get it done pretty easily.

For example, suppose Hump plans to sign elsewhere, for $4-6 million.  You could go to Hump's new team and offer some small compensation (cash or a protected second-round pick, maybe nothing if they were already using some exception to sign him which they can now preserve) to participate in a larger deal with LA.  Then you can send Bogans' non-guaranteed deal to the Lakers, as well as some not unreasonable 2nd-round draft pick compensation.  This allows you to take back up to Hump+Bogans+$5 million (since presumably this trade will keep the C's under the luxury tax, but otherwise Hump+Bogans+125%+$100k) in salary going to Gasol.

The same thing could work with Bradley, if the Celtics are willing to let him sign elsewhere.

[arctic 3.0]

If we end up with Parker in the draft and can some how swap a combo of green, bass, Bradley for an upgrade at the two then Gassol might make sense if we are aiming at a playoff push next year.
However a younger more mobile d oriented center is my top priority.
If we can't land Embiid I hope the bucks do. They might be inclined to trade us Sanders or Harrison to make room for Embiid.

[jade88]

If we can finally land Asik, i would be all over adding Pau.

My thought process is much different than most of yours though.


I would Use Pau frontcourt of Asik Pau, offense/defense. Very similar to Indy's frontcourt. Not saying it's better, but it's similar. A healthy Asik is a monster, believe that. Pau can still stroke it and offers much needed low post play. Sign me up.


Most of you are like what about Sully? I'm using him as a trade chip, straight up. We can use him and our 2014 to some land a big piece. Someone like Carmelo!

I'd also give Orlando whatever they wanted for Arron Afflalo which i'm thinking has to be somewhat reasonable considering his age.


My dream team

Rondo/Afflalo/Melo/Pau/Asik

Bring on the Heat and Pacers, i like our chances.

[ddb]

only makes sense to sign Pau if the goal is to sign his brother Marc via free agency in 2015.  Pau could help recruit Marc to Boston.  What is working against this happening is 2 things. 

#1-Pau can simply sign with Marc in Memphis this offseason.  Plus, he knows Memphis and has already played there

#2-Pau has been a Laker for a long time. Friends with Kobe.  Lakers might want to keep Pau and then either trade their lottery pick (once signed) for an established star OR simply wait for 2015 when they can also sign Marc outright.

[jade88]

Why would the Lakers make Pau available all year only to keep him this summer?

[SparzWizard]

Why would the Lakers make Pau available all year only to keep him this summer?

Ya never know...I mean their GM is Mitch Kupchak after all!

[Moranis]

Why would the Lakers make Pau available all year only to keep him this summer?

They wanted to get a first round pick.  They could have easily moved Pau, on two different occasions in fact, but they didn't get enough value for him.  If they don't land a free agent, I could easily see the Lakers re-signing Pau to a large 1 year contract.  They might even put a no trade clause in it and then have Pau come off the books in the summer of 2015 where they can try again in free agency.

[saltlover]

Why would the Lakers make Pau available all year only to keep him this summer?

They wanted to get a first round pick.  They could have easily moved Pau, on two different occasions in fact, but they didn't get enough value for him.  If they don't land a free agent, I could easily see the Lakers re-signing Pau to a large 1 year contract.  They might even put a no trade clause in it and then have Pau come off the books in the summer of 2015 where they can try again in free agency.

A one-year deal would automatically include a no-trade clause, since the Lakers would have his Bird rights, per the CBA.  This is why the Celtics were unable to trade Chris Wilcox in the 2012-2013 season.

[vjcsmoke]

But we could still make a trade for younger guys. It's a matter of using the trade exception before it expires. Trades for younger guys, like a greg monroe, will come with a price of draft picks or young pieces.

The cost for Gasol would be minimal.

The cap space is NOT minimal.  The 1st round pick from this year's draft is NOT minimal.  I don't trade any gold for aging over the hill player.  Gasol is a veteran piece you add if you're making a championship run.

We're not even CLOSE to being in that situation now.  A couple years ago, I would have loved to add that guy to the KG/PP/Rondo/Ray team.  Now.  No way in hell does that make sense.

If you trade for a center you try to get a younger one that can help not just now but 3 years or more down the road as well.  This is a rebuild people, and you don't choke your cap and future for a 34 year old center.

[beantownboy171]

I disagree that the team won't be able to compete for a championship next year. I think a top 5 pick + a top 18 pick + adding a true center will give us a team to compete with.

We have an opportunity to build this team on a model that hasn't been seen before. We have multiple draft picks every single year through 2018, except for 2017 where we can take the Nets pick if its worse. We will have the flexibility to go in different directions with our roster, and have a team that is exceptionally deep. I think we have no choice but to compete next year, to develop the young guys we have now, and to satisfy Rondo's competitive spirit.

I really like Gasol's game. I think many of you underestimate how big a difference having a true center will make for this team. I also think Rondo and Gasol would play really well together. I also this it's encouraging that Gasol and Kobe have had such a good relationship, because Kobe and Rondo have very similar personalities and attitudes towards the game of basketball.


I agree though that cap flexibility in 2015 should be a priority, and that may squash this possibility from ever happening.

In conclusion:

- I disagree! I think this team can and should try to compete next year, and I think the clippers pick is an o.k. cost to get gasol.

- I think it's really important we get sully away from playing center. He can never live up to his potential at that spot. Unless we make a move, he'll be back there next season.

- But I think that multiple years for gasol is probably a bad idea, and in the end, kills this idea. A one year deal would be great, but he will have much better offers elsewhere.

[LarBrd33]

if you trade a trade exception a day before it expires, does the new team get a new trade exception with a new expiration?  Lol.  How does that work?

[LooseCannon]

if you trade a trade exception a day before it expires, does the new team get a new trade exception with a new expiration?  Lol.  How does that work?

You don't "trade" a trade exception.  A new one could get created by a trade and it would expire after a year.