NBA Rumors: Latest on Pau Gasol and More Whispers from Around the League
The NBA rumor mill won’t start fully churning until later on in the season, but that hasn’t stopped a bit of buzz from leaking out just a few games into the 2012-13 campaign.
Let’s take a look at some of the rumors being thrown about and try to make some sense of these early whispers of trades, other potential transactions and more.
Magic Suggests Gasol Trade
While Magic Johnson doesn’t have much pull within the Lakers front office these days, he does think that the team should flip PF Pau Gasol.
According to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio, the NBA legend and current owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers believes the Lakers should offer Gasol to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Josh Smith.
While most fans of the Lake Show would certainly jump at the opportunity, it’s highly unlikely that the Hawks would even consider it, as per Amico’s source.
“That’s why Magic isn’t a GM,” the source said. “The Hawks would never do that.”
While this deal is quite intriguing, the odds of it happening are slim to none.
Speaking of the Lakers and Hawks…
Mike Brown in ATL?
With the Lakers off to an 0-2 start to the 2012-13 season, there has already been a rumbling to sack coach Mike Brown.
If that happens at some point during the season, Peter Vecsey of the New York Post believes that his former GM in Cleveland, Atlanta’s Danny Ferry, would jump at the chance to hire him for 2013-14.
"Should Mike Brown not make it through the season it's safe to assume Danny Ferry will hire him 2 coach Hawks (Drew lame duck) next season.
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) November 4, 2012"
Current Hawks coach Larry Drew is in the last year of his contract and likely on his way out after the season in order to bring in some new blood.
Brown is certainly an option and Ferry has a lot of respect for the 42-year-old coach. He may be a much better fit with the Hawks, rather than dealing with appeasing Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and the rest of the Lakers under the bright lights in L.A.
