Gasol is no athlete? WTF? This is a guy that got done playing basketball all year long, complicated by foot injury and the fact he's a 7 foot tall player, not a guard like Dwade or Arenas. He's extremeley gifted in any tempo, I'd think, but his bread and butter is the isolation plays which send him to the foul line. But he can score with either hand, pass, dunk it, lay it up, shoot it some, rebound pretty well, and block shots. He's one of the most extremely difficult players to block sort of like Rasheed Wallace. The only thing Pau isn't is a go-to guy. But he's a valuable player to win strength or quickness matchups to get the game started. He's like having the offensive version of Biedrins. Just like any other big man, you gotta throw him the ball, not make him beg for scraps. Throw the big dog the bone if you want him to protect the yard. That's Shaq's motto. It's true.
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> The only thing Pau isn't is a go-to guy.</div> If that's the case -- I slightly disagree -- then why do you think they want him out of Memphis (or is it the other way around per the thread title?)? If he comes to the W's, he SHOULD be a go-to guy. Why would we want to pay some foreign tweener with skills all that money to just get the game started? Screw that.
<div class="quote_poster">Kensaku Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If that's the case -- I slightly disagree -- then why do you think they want him out of Memphis (or is it the other way around per the thread title?)? If he comes to the W's, he SHOULD be a go-to guy. Why would we want to pay some foreign tweener with skills all that money to just get the game started? Screw that.</div> I'm slightly for and against Pau Gasol trade. I just think he was being rated unfairly about his possible role in a Nelson offense. He could be a make or break type player for us, but I have questions like everyone else about his contract, his total impact, endurance, and his role. I really don't think he's a go-to player based on what I've seen in 4th quarters from him over the course of 4 years. He's like a Jrich. He'll get you there to the 4th, but he's not a visible difference maker down the stretch like Kobe, Ginobilli, Cassell, or whoever singlehandedly puts the team on his back. He's go-to enough if he has help, I guess. He's another weapon to have if the payroll can afford it. He'd be like having another Biedrins if people feel positive or negative about that type of player. It really depends on the matchup, though. Mid-level talent or lightweight centers he'll wipe out, but anything 250 lbs or heavier with star power he'll get destroyed if he's not thinking.
<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Anyone remember the buzzer beating lay-up Gasol had on the Warriors last year?</div> I don't think we can evaluate other players' clutchness against our own team with the way we play defense, especially in regular season games (not playoffs). Let's also try against team defenses that contain at least 3rd nba all-defensive team players. But I see where you're getting at. He's clutch enough for what we need, plus he exhibits terrific fundamentals for his size and is a decent rebounder with scoring ambidexterity, quickness, and unselfishness. We can't really measure Gasol's clutchness, but I'm sure Memphis fans could see that he disappears in big games where he is the team's biggest star and they want him to dominate more. In a way, measuring Gasol against our team is like the Clippers making a fuss over Tim Thomas when they were getting killed by him when he was with the Suns. I think to evaluate Gasol's clutchness we have to review the games where he was facing a top 7 team in the West Coast Conference in a very important game. I think there's a few defensive players or team defenses that wouldn't give him anything for free in the 4th. And when he had the opportunity for a pretty good look, he didn't finish that well, or being the normally unselfish guy he is, decides to pass it rather than dominate and finish. Maybe Gasol's scoring presence won't be that bad if he disappears for a few, as long as he's rebounding, blocking shots, making good passes. Maybe his mere size presence makes teams still worry about him. It's very different from how teams would view let's say, Dunleavy, Murphy, or heck even Harrington. Defensively, maybe Pau is only as good as Dirk Nowitzki, but that's a lot better than Harrington, Dunleavy, or Murphy IMO. You know, guys viewed at one time to be SF, PF, and C. Pau is obviously the all-star here so I admire the guy.
He's one unselfish dude. I love those players that can score, pass, and basically play like their position is supposed to. How about Eddie Jones though? Clutch!
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He's one unselfish dude. I love those players that can score, pass, and basically play like their position is supposed to. How about Eddie Jones though? Clutch!</div> LOL. That certainly changed your slightly for and against position on Pau. For the record, it's called being on the fence. Most nights Eddie's is a huge expiring contract.
<div class="quote_poster">jason voorhees Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">LOL. That certainly changed your slightly for and against position on Pau. For the record, it's called being on the fence. Most nights Eddie's is a huge expiring contract.</div> Nah I like him, but it doesn't mean I want him as a Warrior. Because if we do get him, we have to give up something and things will change chemistry wise if we do. Will it be better or for worse? You guys decide. He could fit in nicely or he could be the real deal that puts us over the luxury tax line. The guy is no KG, but he's a nice player for mainly PF type role that can play some lightweight center. It's like if we ever got Shawn Marion. If we settled on a max big man and a max paid guard, somebody's got to go if we're trying to accomplish a deep team + starters that will support the two max paid players. Either that or we play the money game that the Detroit Pistons were using and use lots of defense and underrated consistent offense players. Most teams don't have room for three max paid players or all-stars with big guaranteed deals.
Gasol's a stud, no doubt about it. But for the salary, what it will cost to get him, and the area's where he would help the Warriors, I think I'd rather take a chance on Kirilenko. He'd be significantly cheaper, give much needed defensive help, and doesn't need plays called for him to score. Let Baron/Ellis/JRich be our 4th quarter, go-to scorers.
<div class="quote_poster">ryanfish Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Gasol's a stud, no doubt about it. But for the salary, what it will cost to get him, and the area's where he would help the Warriors, I think I'd rather take a chance on Kirilenko. He'd be significantly cheaper, give much needed defensive help, and doesn't need plays called for him to score. Let Baron/Ellis/JRich be our 4th quarter, go-to scorers.</div> I agree, because I don't think it's possible to get Pau without giving up JRich, Ellis, or Beans, and I don't wanna do dat. However, Utah may just be willing to take a lesser package for the man AK-47. That would be awesome. How about: Pietrus + Foyle + Picks for AK-47 or Pietrus + Barnes + Foyle for AK-47 or Pietrus + Barnes + POB + Picks for AK-47 Too bad we can't include any of the ex-Pacers in a multi-player deal.
<div class="quote_poster">AlleyOop Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">How about: Pietrus + Foyle + Picks for AK-47 or Pietrus + Barnes + Foyle for AK-47 or Pietrus + Barnes + POB + Picks for AK-47</div>On the good side you have Pietrus who we can't afford and have to move soon anyway, Foyle who is addition by subtraction, POB who just doesn't seem to be anything special, and Barnes who has a greatly diminished role with the new players we have. On the down side you're talking about giving a 5-year deal with a salary that matches Barons (if you shift their contracts so the ends match up) to an injury-prone player who is not looking like a very good player right now. That scares me. Couldn't that undo a lot of the good work they've done shedding bad contracts? Not only that but he's yet another 6'-9" tweener forward...do they really need another one of those?
<div class="quote_poster">ryanfish Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Gasol's a stud, no doubt about it. But for the salary, what it will cost to get him, and the area's where he would help the Warriors, I think I'd rather take a chance on Kirilenko. He'd be significantly cheaper, give much needed defensive help, and doesn't need plays called for him to score. Let Baron/Ellis/JRich be our 4th quarter, go-to scorers.</div> AK and Pau's contracts are nearly identical but like Alley Oop said ideally we don't want to trade Monta or Biedrins and JR if we don't have to. AK would probably be easier to acquire that way, though I still think you'd have to give JR because the Jazz desperately need SG help. I think a package of JR/Pietrus along with second round picks or POB or a little something else could get it done for AK and CJ Miles. Mullin should definitely try to get Kirilenko while hie value is low, he'd be a great fit in our system.
Even though Gasol is not the ultimate answer we are looking for, I would love to have 20/10 26 years old player who can score from inside. We need to repair our inside from somewhere, and Gasol may be one heck of answer for now. That has been said, I just don't think we have right chips to pull this trade off. Other than young talents, Memphis is looking to slim their payrolls down, in other word, big expiring contracts. And, we really don't have anything remotely close to that. For AK47... I kinda want our PF to be bulky big man, who can take some pounding, because we have Biedrins. And, because of AK's 4+ remaining max contract, we better be sure that he is an absolutely sure thing. At this point, I am not too sure he is a slam dunk for us...
Pau had DNP today, he is injured again. AK-47 played like crap again. Come to think about it maybe it's better to keep thing as it is, because warriors realy have only 2 players who they should move ( Pietrus and Foyle ). AK-47 is no way near good as he was, and he will not have impact as big as healthy J-Rich. I'd hate to see Ellis or J-Rich traded for any of those guys... You know Mullin did prety good job drafting as GM, but now he will have help of Nellie and they might find some real impact player in next draft, that is a chance I rather take then trade real for max contract of player who is injured all time or plays like crap with no reason.
Looking at this roster, one thing seems clear to me: The Warriors need a legit rebounding/shot-blocking PF. While Harrington presents match-up problems for some teams, those match-ups will be nullified by the fact that the Warriors will be manhandled in the paint defensively and rebounding-wise if they reach the playoffs. Harrington needs to be a SF, IMO, or perhaps a 6th man super-sub. At times, the small line-up will work. and we've seen Harrington have some terrific scoring games playing the PF so far. But long-term, it just feels a bit faulty to me. Unless we had a HUGE center like Yao or Shaq to clog the paint.
I agree on rebounding/shot-blocking PF, but I doubt that warriors will get that in Pau or Ak-47. Warriors will make some stupid trade give up J-Rich or Ellis, in Pau you get injury prone with max contract, and ak-47 is enigma, I don't understand why he is regresing so badly. Imagine J-Rich sudnely starting to get 2 rebs for game and some 5-6 points. I think Pau and AK trades are to risky, and it's not worth give up Ellis or J-Rich for them. Give Nelson some time, let's see how Harington will do, let's see what Powel will do, and if it's gona be that bad, then force a trade right before trade deadline.
I took a look at our schedule before the All-Star break to figure our wins and losses. We have a relatively easy schedule, so we may make a small or no trade instead of a major one. If we start losing, then it may be a different story. Mullin has said he won't trade JRich, so it's highly unlikely unless another team approaches him. I think Foyle, Zarko (expiring), POB, Barnes, Azubuike and/or MP are the likely trade bait: January Sat 27 vs Charlotte - W at home Tue 30 @ Cleveland - W, payback time Wed 31 @ Atlanta - W, even though it's back to back, they're still the Hawks February Fri 02 @ Philadelphia - W, another win on the road Sat 03 @ Charlotte - W, ditto even though it's back to back Mon 05 @ Indiana - W, we gotta be Murfleavy Wed 07 @ Minnesota - L, road finally gets to Warriors Fri 09 vs Chicago - W at home Sun 11 vs Atlanta - W, yet another win. Are these guys the next Phoenix Suns Mon 12 @ Denver - L, AI and Carmelo too much Wed 14 vs New York - W, it's the Knicks That's 9 - 2 and we'll have climbed back into the 8th spot, so do you think Mullin and Higgins will make a major deal? Doubtful.
I don't know, there's 7 road games in there, and the Warriors are just terrible on the road no matter how bad the opposing team is. I say they'll be lucky to go 3-4 in those.
