Lakers Rumors: Lake Show Would Be Nuts to Swap Pau Gasol for Carlos Boozer
Someone should have Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak committed if they complete this deal straight up, or without a third team involved.
ESPN's Marc Stein reports:
"The Bulls have long hoped to wedge themselves into the trade running for Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard, but sources told ESPN.com that Howard's well-chronicled lack of interest in a trade to Chicago has prompted the Bulls to switch their focus to Gasol in advance of Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline.
Sources say that the Lakers, however, have limited interest in the players Chicago would be offering, starting with Bulls forward Carlos Boozer.
So the Bulls would have to recruit at least one more team to the discussions to have any shot at Gasol, sources said, with the Lakers known to be insistent on getting back at least one certifiable star if they consent to the trade the Spaniard. Sources say that the Lakers, furthermore, continue to talk to other teams about Gasol in advance.
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Kobe Bryant and every Lakers fan will cringe if Boozer is brought in as Gasol's replacement at the 4 spot. Why would the Lakers want an undersized power forward with limited finishing ability?
They shouldn't, and apparently they don't.
The Bulls do have one player the Lakers should be interested in, though no rumors have mentioned him. C.J. Watson would satisfy the Lakers' point guard needs, but he isn't solid enough to make acquiring Boozer acceptable.
Gasol averages more points, rebounds and blocks more shots (16.6, 10.5 and 1.4) than Boozer (15.6, 8 and 0.4), and he doesn't have to be substituted for defense at crunch time.
The one point and 2.5 rebound per game edge Gasol holds doesn't even tell the entire story. Gasol is a much better defender, and bigger, which lends itself well on offense and defense.
Gasol's superiority over Boozer is even bigger than the numbers convey.
Boozer is cheaper and louder.
He makes just over $15 million per year, and Gasol is at over $18 million. So if the Lakers are just looking to cut costs, then that would be the only benefit. Also, there is no player as loud on the court as Boozer. After every play he's yelling something:
"Ohh!!!"
"Gimme that!!"
"Oh, hell naw!!" None of his outbursts ever have anything to do with defense, though.
Somehow, I don't think that's worth much.
A deal like this would symbolize the Lakers have thrown in the towel on the Bryant era. You can bet the following things would take place after this trade was announced:
1. Angry Bryant press conference.
2. Bryant goes on a scoring tear and passing drought.
3. Lakers eliminated from first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
4. Bryant asks to be traded.
5. Lakers oblige him.
Lakers fans, do you want to see any of that take place?
I didn't think so.
Unless the Bulls find a third team with assets the Lakers can actually use, then it's best Los Angeles lets this offer blow by them—much like Boozer allows players he's supposed to be defending to blow by him for easy scores.
