SteveM's Blog
The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling this season. They managed to snap a six-game skid with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday and followed it up with an authoritative win over the Milwaukee Bucks last night, but they're not out of the woods yet. The Miami Heat await on Thursday, and they currently sit in 11th place in the Western Conference, 3 games back from the Portland Trailblazers for the last spot in the playoffs.
The reasons for the Lakers difficulties are complex and multi-layered, but a lot of blame has been laid at the feet of Pau Gasol. Plenty of Lakers fans don't see it as a coincidence that the Lakers recent two-game winning streak has happened with Gasol on the sidelines recovering from a concussion.
Since at last season there have been grumblings about moving Pau Gasol, so I thought I'd fire up NBA 2K13, drop in on a Lakers Association starting the season today and see what I could get back if I offered up Gasol in the Trade Finder. About half the teams in the NBA brought offers (likely a lot more than they'd get in real life) for Gasol and of those, only four come close to delivering what the Lakers are most likely looking for: a true PF, ideally with shooting range (Gasol's more of a center), and help at the point guard position backing up Nash.
The Grizzlies offered Zach Randolph for a package of Gasol and Antawn Jamison. This isn't ideal since the Lakers have a general depth problem, but Jamison has been a sieve on defense, plus Randolph offers them a genuine PF with rebounding skills and the ability to knock down mid-range jumpers to play alongside Howard. But Randolph is 31 (only a year younger than Gasol) and his contract is a year longer. This doesn't seem like the answer.
The Timberwolves offer J.J. Barea and Andrei Kirilenko, and the Lakers should be intrigued. Barea can be a loose cannon, but he's also the kind of offensive catalyst plenty of teams could use off the bench and the Lakers have a history of molding great role players. And while Kirilenko is more SF than PF, he'd make a fascinating frontcourt companion for Dwight Howard with his Russian army knife of tricks. I'd listen, but what else is out there?
The Hornets put up rookie Austin Rivers and stretch PF Ryan Anderson. This is just about a perfect package in terms of what the Lakers are looking for in theory, but it's doubtful whether Rivers will ever be a capable point guard in the NBA in real life. But since you're controlling him in 2K13, this deal looks a lot better. Anderson gives the Lakers a solid deep threat that will spread the floor and let Dwight Howard operate around the hoop with more freedom. I'm tempted.
Fresh from turning over Howard, the Magic are now eager to move Jameer Nelson and Al Harrington for Gasol, and this looks like the best deal out there. Neither player is a spring chicken (Nelson is 30, Harrington is 32) and their contracts are probably longer than the Lakers would like, but Nelson is a capable back up to Nash and Harrington can stretch the floor. Plus getting two for one helps the Lakers' depth. This is the deal I would take.
Who would you move Gasol for, either in real life or in an NBA 2K13 Association?
# 2
tril @ Jan 17
I would have done the Rivers, Andersion for Gasol trade.
witnh this trade you gain a youthful combo guard who can play, but also can learn from Nash and Kobe.
with Rivers you are talking about a future potential star, and teamed up with Howard with Kobe winding down his career is a good thing.
Anderson stretches the Floor, in addition this gives you the option of moving Jamison into the starting rotation.
witnh this trade you gain a youthful combo guard who can play, but also can learn from Nash and Kobe.
with Rivers you are talking about a future potential star, and teamed up with Howard with Kobe winding down his career is a good thing.
Anderson stretches the Floor, in addition this gives you the option of moving Jamison into the starting rotation.
# 3
threattonature @ Jan 17
When considering any Lakers trades remember that they have positioned themselves to make a huge free agency splash during the summer of 2014 so they likely won't take on any contracts that run longer than 2 years.
That's also the reason I do not see them trading Gasol in real life. They are too perfectly set up for the summer of 2014 currently.
That's also the reason I do not see them trading Gasol in real life. They are too perfectly set up for the summer of 2014 currently.
# 4
SteveM @ Jan 17
threattonature: I agree with you that in real life the Lakers are probably not moving Gasol at all and that taking on Harrington and Nelson's contracts doesn't make sense for their long-term plans. But this is NBA 2K! I would much prefer to have Nelson come off the bench and Harrington start if I'm playing the game myself, plus you can always trade them for younger, better players later.
trill: It's pretty close between the two trade in 2K13. I've found Rivers hard to use well in the game, but if you're good with him, he could actually make a reasonable replacement for Kobe a couple years down the line.
trill: It's pretty close between the two trade in 2K13. I've found Rivers hard to use well in the game, but if you're good with him, he could actually make a reasonable replacement for Kobe a couple years down the line.
# 5
RapboY @ Jan 17
Definitely the best deal was the one with the Hornets, the others don't even come close. Both in-game and in real life.
In 2K13, Anderson is a crazy 3 point shooter so definitely that's a good pick up. And then you'll also get Rivers who should be a decent player, and possibly a star player in the future. Magic trade could be decent in-game, maybe a little better right now than the Hornets deal but not in a year or two.
In real life, I doubt Lakers will choose the old guys over the younger ones. Sure, Jameer and Al are veterans, but not necessarily successful ones so it's not that much of a gain. Plus Anderson was Dwight's teammate in Orlando so that should also be a huge factor.
In 2K13, Anderson is a crazy 3 point shooter so definitely that's a good pick up. And then you'll also get Rivers who should be a decent player, and possibly a star player in the future. Magic trade could be decent in-game, maybe a little better right now than the Hornets deal but not in a year or two.
In real life, I doubt Lakers will choose the old guys over the younger ones. Sure, Jameer and Al are veterans, but not necessarily successful ones so it's not that much of a gain. Plus Anderson was Dwight's teammate in Orlando so that should also be a huge factor.
# 6
tarek @ Jan 18
Pity you can't trade D'Antoni. That imbecile is the real problem with the Lakers. Not the 7ft versatile big man who recently played great at the Olympics; but the idiot coach making him shoot 3 pointers like Dirk.
# 7
SteveM @ Jan 18
RapboY: My only quibble with preferring the Hornets deal to the Magic deal in real life is that Rivers is a trainwreck this season. Anderson might be the best player not named Gasol in this deal for the Lakers, but he's never going to be a primary offensive option—he can really only score off of spot-ups on the perimeter and sometimes inside. If the Lakers are desperate to scrabble their way into the playoffs, I think they'd prefer the vets on shorter deals.
But in the game, I've definitely come around to the Hornets deal.
But in the game, I've definitely come around to the Hornets deal.
SteveM
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