NBA - Sports Rumors

Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:32 am EST

Lakers were the only team made aware of Gasol's availability

By Joe Zedalis

Pau Gasol

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New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey called the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers "the Memphis Grizzlies' tax-deductible donation to the Lakers.''

Vecsey reported that other than the Lakers not a single team was approached regarding Gasol's manifest availability. Had they been, there's every reason to believe the Grizzlies could've gleaned more. At the very least, there's no way Gasol should've been traded for next to nothing except promises of something to come unless Brian Cardinal's contract ($6.3M/$6.7M after this year) was part of the outgoing package.

Guaranteed, Pat Riley would've said "yes" to that in a heartbeat, as evidenced by the Shaq deal. Phoenix insisted Miami assume Marcus Banks' remaining three ($4.2M/$4.55M/$4.847M) years after this one. I assure you, that would've been a Steve Kerr stipulation no matter where Shawn Marion wound up.

Source: New York PostNew Window

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243 Comments

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  1. Scott S
    1. Posted by Scott S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Crazy! First!
  2. steven g
    2. Posted by steven g Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    I hate the lakers
  3. simplyleland
    3. Posted by simplyleland Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:23 pm EDT

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    1st Maybe it was Jerry West and his Laker connection had something to do with it
  4. kobefan4life
    4. Posted by kobefan4life Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    jerry west probably had alot to do with it. thank you jerry and the grizzlies.
  5. vfelix1961
    5. Posted by vfelix1961 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:34 pm EDT

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    go lakers
  6. vfelix1961
    6. Posted by vfelix1961 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:34 pm EDT

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    go lakers
  7. isateenough
    7. Posted by isateenough Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

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    Thanks Memphis. You'll be alot better when you dump the Brown contract.
  8. tim
    8. Posted by tim Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    well #6 i do believe you are correct with that statment the nba isnt about basketball at all might as well go watch at the play ground any more there isnt any team work left
  9. Elli24
    9. Posted by Elli24 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    Boston alumni conspired against LA in the Garnet deal. The Gasol deal shows LA alumni can cooperate too. Go Lakers!
  10. WeBbLy
    10. Posted by WeBbLy Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    Wow what a steal Browm LOL ANd jerry west was involved But investigate wut. There is no point to it Just wait till andrew comes back Wow. There is already some hate oon the lakers and even more after our big man comes back.. COme on hate on the lakers i love it loool
  11. branflakes
    11. Posted by branflakes Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:01 pm EDT

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    GO LAKERS!! Are people seriously complaining that Gasol went to LA? So the Lakers got a steal. Get over it. Sounds like some pretty silly sour grapes. Wow, supergirl, you need to relax. Keep the corporate conspiracies and the nba in different arenas. This is basketball. David Stern has no connections with 9/11, Halliburton, pharmaceutical companies, or the Federal Reserve Bank. And American corporations aren't the only crooked ones. As far as the trade goes, ummm, GO LAKERS!!
  12. Kelvin J
    12. Posted by Kelvin J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    Ya sorry this absolutely disgusts me to no ends. Makes me wonder about the Garnett deal as well considering both he and PHX wanted to make a deal for him to go there. He was coerced into going to Boston and management didn't deal with anyone else.
  13. ffffffffffranz
    13. Posted by ffffffffffranz Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:25 pm EDT

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    um Jerry West doesnt even work for the Grizzlies anymore
  14. Kelvin J
    14. Posted by Kelvin J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    Branflakes, it has to do with being hypocritical. There are all these trade clauses, rules, red tape etc to allow for ALL teams to have an even shot at getting good players. This deal just violated all the rules by not even telling people the guy was up for trade negotiations.
  15. Jeffrey B
    15. Posted by Jeffrey B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Peter Vecsey may really be on to something even though he works for a "garbage" newspaper company. The acquisition of Gasol on the Lakers made them not only playoff contenders, but a "Finals" contender once Bynum comes back this season and beyond. Making those first round picks to the Grizzlies a mere facade
  16. tres_equis_69
    16. Posted by tres_equis_69 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:22 pm EDT

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    There's no ethics in business no matter you put it, the trade was within the rules so get over it. The Garnett trade had ex-Celtics involved in it and no one seemed to be too suspicious of that. So what if the grizzlies only contacted one team? It's their prerogative. They own Gasol's rights and can do anything with it. Everybody's just sourgraping cause the lakers became powerhouses overnight without unloading any real talent. It's gonna be Celtics-Lakers in the Finals and everyone knows it. I'm sure that's the way David Stern wants it to be as well so good luck with any appeals.
  17. Elli24
    17. Posted by Elli24 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    #6 Supergirl is probably a Minnesota or New York fan. Get a life! Bitter. Your team probably has no future.
  18. rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier)
    18. Posted by rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier) Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:54 pm EDT

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    Shady to say the least..............
  19. VikingGolfer
    19. Posted by VikingGolfer Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    Cry some more Laker Haters!!! The Celtics wouldn't trade Garnette to us and we offer alot to Minn Wolves...
    Why because Mchale wanted his Celtics to have them. Why can't West let the Lakers have Gasol..
    GO LAKERS!!!!
  20. NupeWD93
    20. Posted by NupeWD93 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    THANK YOU #23! You took the words right out of my mouth! McHale and Ainge hooked up and made the move to rebuild their beloved Jolly Green Giants with KG for only Al Jefferson and et. al. and so maybe Logo gave his former player and Assistant GM Kupchak a call and decided to setup his beloved Lakers with Pau....What's good for one is good for the other!!
    Lakers defeat Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals 4-2 and Jax passed Red with his 10th championship!
  21. Jeffrey B
    21. Posted by Jeffrey B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    There is no point comparing the Celtics trade to this Grizzlies giveaway. The Timberwolves probably would have had the same record if Garnett was still on there. Al Jefferson is the future of that franchise now. You can't compare Kwame "underachieving" Brown with the greatness of Gasol, even with the implementation of first round future picks. It's a great year for Laker fans.
  22. john b
    22. Posted by john b Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    if its good for boston,why not la? who cares about shack anymore,oh and didnt he claim dwade should have sided with him more about his injuries or something?
  23. biggheadboy2003
    23. Posted by biggheadboy2003 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    You guys need to stop crying like a bunch of B!tches..GO LAKERS
  24. Jaybro
    24. Posted by Jaybro Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

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    this is in reference to comment 6 from supergirl... you have no freakin clue what you're talking about... on paper this trade looks better than what toronto received when they traded vince carter... at least the grizzlies got 2 1st round picks and javaris who i think will be a star one day and cap relief... so quit your whining... and as for you shot at corporations, that's the nature of capitalism baby, highly individualistic, so love it or leave it...

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