http://www.nypost.com/seven/01212007/sports/pau_er_brokers_sports_peter_vecsey.htm


PAU-ER BROKERS

By PETER VECSEY

January 21, 2007 -- EARLIER this season, I revealed Boston had offered Memphis its choice of any combination of Celtics for Pau Gasol. Michael Heisley, a lame-duck owner at the time whose pending sale of the team recently ruptured, responded by anointing the franchise forward "untouchable."

Well, guess what, Heisley's uncompromising stance has been rewritten on dust in the wind.

Sources throughout the NBA disclose the 7-foot Gasol, an elite post-up performer, as tough a cover as there is within 15 feet of the rim, suddenly is eminently obtainable. Distressed at management's rebuilding-with-adolescence mood, the 27 1/2-year-old has asked to be traded to a playoff-positioned ensemble that, of course, would be instantly transformed into a legit title contender.

The offended Grizzlies aim to oblige.

I put this out there with utter certainty. Infallible informers report Grizzlies president Jerry West has explored prospective trade arrangements with at least three teams regarding Gasol. In order to protect my sources, the only one I'm willing to identify for the time being is the Bulls.

That may be enough. Obviously, Gasol's low-dock dealing (averaged 18.5 points on 50.5 field-goal accuracy his first five seasons as a pro before missing most of this season due to foot surgery) is what Chicago's off-shore drilling outfit needs.

The Bulls also own what Memphis wants, namely Luol Deng ($2.6 million) and Ben Gordon ($3.86M). In order to satisfy salary/transaction specs, Chicago would have to include P.J. Brown ($8.56M). I'm told the Grizzlies are prepared to add Hakim Warrick ($1.2M) to a pot that so far does not include draft picks; Gasol currently is on the books for $12.8M and is owed $63M over the next four seasons.

That's as far as the exchange of ideas has progressed, so I'm told. As enthralled as Bulls vice president John Paxson surely must be by the opportunity to fill his team's lone conspicuous cavity, people in the organization claim he won't pull that particular trigger.

"Giving up Gordon and Deng would be very difficult," a Bulls insider insisted. "John will never go there. Not even if Scott Skiles and the rest of the coaching staff is beating on him to make that swap, which isn't the case."

As rapper DMX woofs, "Bad decisions lead to last decisions." Parting with the pair might prove to be just that bad, the same Bulls insider feels.

"Does Pau get you to the promised land minus both those players? We doubt it. He's an All-Star-caliber player, no question. But we're not sure he can be the best player on a playoff team expected to accomplish something significant," the insider said.

If the Bulls go strictly by what the Grizzlies failed to accomplish (0-12) in three straight playoff trips with Gasol as their leading scorer (20 ppg), I suppose that answers that. Rather than surrender both Gordon and Deng, I suspect Paxson prefers to roll the dice and hope inside force Tyrus Thomas matures faster than your average NBA toddler.

But don't misunderstand; this negotiation is only in its infancy. What's more, now that Gasol's availability is public, the bidding for his services figures to take a quantum leap.

I would love to see the Bulls give up Deng and Gordon for Gasol.

Did that article just quote DMX? I guess he's a quality source.


I agree with Glenn. That would ruin what they already have going. Deng continues to improve - he has a very high ceiling.

Did that article just quote DMX? I guess he's a quality source.


I agree with Glenn. That would ruin what they already have going. Deng continues to improve - he has a very high ceiling.

Deng and Gordon are the only two established players who are true athletes, losing those guys would make Chicago fairly stiff. Ben is an athlete but he is one dimensional, Gasol, Nocioni, Hinrich, Duhon, and Sweetney are stiff not exacly slashers or guys that are going to be huge factors outside of where they catch the ball. Which helps teams who are an't as great defensively.

I don't like the sound of this, I definately don't want Chicago getting Gasol at alll. And I think Deng + Gordon is just the first aim-high salvo and the offer will be one of them plus other players/picks. The Bulls have plenty of worthwhile assets.

I would love to see the Bulls give up Deng and Gordon for Gasol.


Um, I wouldn't

I don't want to see that SOB anywhere in the East.

Um, I wouldn't

I don't want to see that SOB anywhere in the East.
I want to see him somewhere in the east, WITH THE PISTONS! Never going to happen :(

the bulls wont have to give up deng and gordon. maybe neither. pj brown's expiring and the knick pick already puts them at the front of the pack.

i wouldnt move deng, thats for sure. people have been mentioning his numbers are the best for a bull since jordan. he was going 26 at like 60% shooting for a while. dude always takes wide open jumpers or point blank shots. he's a definite keeper.

Damn you Peter Vecsey.

PJ Brown, Deng, and Thomas for Gasol?:mccosky:

Unfortunately we'll never be able to convince them to trade us Gasol. I wonder if Sheed and Orlando's pick would draw any attention.

Would you guys do that trade? Gasol for Sheed and a first rounder? I'm not saying whether it would hold up against the cap or if the actual teams would ever agree on that deal, just if you would do it or not. I would have to think about it but in the end Gasol is still a young guy and I'd do it.

Would you guys do that trade? Gasol for Sheed and a first rounder? I'm not saying whether it would hold up against the cap or if the actual teams would ever agree on that deal, just if you would do it or not. I would have to think about it but in the end Gasol is still a young guy and I'd do it.

Uh yeah.

They both make about 12 mil so it works under the cap. I don't know if they'd do it...but I would. You'd have to be really lucky to get a player like Gasol outside the lottery, especially a big man. I can't think of one solid post player taken outside the lottery, can you?

I think the Grizz would take Vince Carter from NJ before they would take Sheed from us.

But the inclusion of the draft pick makes it interesting.

I sorta think PHI or NYK are the only real possible destinations for Sheed, maybe this offseason.

What does VC do for the Grizz besides sell tickets? They'd be stupid to move Gasol for VC I think. Then they have a bunch of wing scorers that don't play any defense (besides EJ, but he is old) and athletic forwards but not great scorers. They need a PG and Center the most (C being a need if they move Gasol of course). The pick would allow them to address one of those needs. They could grab a top PG with the pick and replace Sheed in a couple years hopefully.

I'm not saying that's the best deal for them, but I don't see how another wing player helps memphis.

And I agree Sheed to NYK or Philly is probably our only chance.

I think if you are the new owner of the Grizzlies, selling tickets is a good start.

I assume that Collins would go to Memphis too to play C.

Maybe D.Stoudamire, Cardinal and Gasol for Vince, Collins and Marcus Williams?

I wouldnt do that Gasol deal unless I thought the team as is wasnt capable of winning a title or if we got ousted in the playoffs before the EFC or NBA finals.

I don't think this works under the cap, but Nazr and maybe a 2nd rounder to the Nets, Collins, Sheed and a 1st to the Grizz, Gasol and filler to us? The filler could be Jake Tsakalidis or Chucky Atkins or a combination of one of Dahntay Jones/Kyle Lowry and one of Alexander Johnson/Tarance Kinsey/Lawrence Roberts split between us and the Nets.


Edit: Had Flip Murray instead of Nazr

What about this one:

Philly gets:
Sheed
Flip Murray

Memphis gets:
S. Dalembert
Andre Miller

Detroit gets:
Gasol

This needs to be balenced with picks, but I think it's solid player wise. What picks would you include from the teams to make it work?

If you couldn't tell, I had a lot of free time to mess with the trade machine.

What about this one:

Philly gets:
Sheed
Flip Murray

Memphis gets:
S. Dalembert
Andre Miller

Detroit gets:
Gasol

This needs to be balenced with picks, but I think it's solid player wise. What picks would you include from the teams to make it work?
Can Andre Miller be traded in a multiple player trade right now?

No, I guess it's too late now. Good point. I'm not sure if they could do seperate deals. Philly might not work because it's been too long since the AI trade.

Maybe take Philly out and throw NY in there. They could move Crawford and a big to Memphis.

Detroit gets:
Gasol
Mile Ilic (7'2" project for the NBDL)
Kyle Lowry (backup PG)

Memphis gets:
Sheed
Collins

Nets get:
Nazr
Lawrence Roberts

Plus the necessary picks.

I love this idea. We may lose a first round pick, but we pick up our backup PG, a young big for the future that doesn't need playing time in the big leagues, and GASOL! We've got young power forwards in Amir and Max, but no young center, unless Amir develops into one which I doubt.

It seems that as fans we think that players are worth far more than they really are. I would not be surprised if Memphis trades Gasol for average players.

It seems that as fans we think that players are worth far more than they really are. I would not be surprised if Memphis trades Gasol for average players.
Collins is a very average player and Sheed isn't playing all that well, or all that hard for that matter. I think they'd be getting an "average" return on Gasol. Maybe we toss them a second rounder and the Nets toss them a second rounder instead of us giving up a first, or we trade them our first from next season instead of one from this year.

I'd have no problem trading sheed and a first for gasol, regardless of whether a third team is in there or not. When players demand trades, the team will get less. but, Gasol is a 20 and 10 big man, and still young. If you have a chance at one of those, you trade ANY pick for him. Remember Curry, Chandler, Darko, etc all commanded top picks and they hadn't proven anything.

Sheed could be a 20-10 big man :'( I just added in the second team because it brings us a pg, gets rid of Nazr, and brings some youth. Plus the Grizz may ask less of us in the draft pick department because they're getting more and just losing some extra second round guys.

It seems that as fans we think that players are worth far more than they really are. I would not be surprised if Memphis trades Gasol for average players.

Jerry West wanted a player(s) who could help in the future for example Tyrus Thomas, Jason Maxiell, Randy Foye type of players and also THIS year's picks

I don't see Thorn helping out the Pistons at all in that 3-way scenario. The dude literally hates Detroit, and damn near violated many rules by his outburst when we landed Sheed a few years ago. Now you expect him to comply in a trade that lands us Gasol? I don't see it happening, but I would certainly jump all over that trade. Memphis can get more with Chicago. I don't think they will have to part with Deng to get him either. I think NY's pick with Thomas, and Gordan would do. That is a helluva lot to give up, but with that the Bulls are legitimate contenders, and would be my pick to win it all.

I think Chi town is the favorites to land them.

They got YOUNg talent and picks.

I would say the Nets would be a close second but they dont have the picks nor tha young talent outside RJ(that's not very young compared to Gordon etc).

I don't think we have a chance at Gasol but who knows, Joe likes to work quietly

I'm crossing my fingers even though I know as well as you do that it's never going down. If the three captains are willing to stick up for McDyess to keep him here, I'm damn sure they'd do the exact same for Sheed.

:mccosky:


About Pau
I understand why a lot of fans are fantasizing about the Pistons make a run at Pau Gasol. But you are wasting your time. For Memphis president Jerry West to trade him, he's going to want a couple of starters and a lottery pick. Gasol makes more than $12 million this year and will make pretty close to maximum money for the next five years.

The Grizzlies wouldn't take 32-year-old Rasheed Wallace for 20-something Gasol, you are clear on that, right? They won't take a collection of guys off the Pistons' bench either. The Pistons would have to trade a chunk of their core group -- Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, or Chauncey Billups and Prince. Why would Joe Dumars do that? Why would he break up a championship-caliber core to bring in Gasol? What have the Grizzlies won with him? Nothing. What would the Pistons win with him if they subtract two of their current starters? Nothing. Seriously, do you want to turn the Pistons into the Grizzlies?