Atlanta Hawks: Danny Ferry looking to trade but avoid the tax
Danny Ferry didn’t make the decisions that led to the Hawks owing $61 million in salaries next season to six veteran players on a team that’s topped out in the second round of the playoffs.
But now that’s he’s Hawks GM, Ferry will have to build a roster for next season without much financial flexibility. And he will have to start doing it pretty much on the fly because the free-agent negotiating period opens Sunday, less than a week after he took the job.
“It’s a crash course, for sure,” Ferry said. “I think we want to make the best decisions possible in the short term. We want to make right decisions, whether it’s a trade, whether it’s free agency. But especially trades.”
The trade market remains the best way for the Hawks to make significant additions to the roster (which of course means they’d also have to make significant subtractions).
They continue to get a lot of calls about Josh Smith but the impetus for pursuing Pau Gasol came from Rick Sund and Ferry so far hasn’t taken that baton. Ferry hasn’t even had a chance to fully assess the roster or meet the players.
Smith has a lot of value as a talented and productive player on a reasonable contract that expires after next season. Al Horford is an attractive piece, too, because he’s an All-Star big man locked up for four years and $48 million. Good luck dealing Joe Johnson with four years and $90 million remaining on his contract.
(Aside: I’ve heard some of my blog people wonder if Ferry will be “allowed” to trade Marvin Williams. Please accept that the Hawks have tried to trade Williams for at least two years and no one is biting. That shouldn’t be hard to do since you don’t want him on your team at his salary, either.)
If the Hawks don’t make a trade, then they’ll have to find some value on the free-agent market and perhaps get some contributions from unheralded rookies.
After signing first-round draft pick John Jenkins, Atlanta will have roughly $62 million in salaries committed to seven players. If second-round pick Mike Scott makes the roster and sticks for the year, that’s another $473,604. Ferry said he hasn’t decided if he will extend a qualifying offer to Ivan Johnson; if the Hawks do so and Johnson ends up playing on that deal, add about $1 million.
That’s about $63.5 million dollars for nine players. The roster minimum is 13 and the maximum is 15. The salary cap next season will be no less than $58 million. The luxury-tax threshold last season was $70.3 million and won’t rise significantly unless the players and league agree on a big increase in projected BRI for next season.
So, basically, the Hawks likely will have somewhere in the neighborhood of $6.5 to $9 million of room below the tax line to sign four to six players. Ferry said he’s authorized to spend into the tax but would like to avoid doing so.
“I want to build a roster that has some flexibility to it,” Ferry said. “Ownership has told me when appropriate, that when going over the tax makes sense as far as making us a better team, that is something we would be allowed to do. I want to use that judiciously, though, when you are given that opportunity to do so.
“In this new CBA, some of the challenges when being over the tax as far as trade restrictions as far as exceptions available to you going forward have changed the spending habits in the NBA. Would I think over the next few years we would go over the tax? I think there is a good chance but, again, I want to do that in a judicious manner.”
Ferry is talking about the more-punitive tax penalties that begin in 2012-13. Teams over the threshold will pay a higher tax; will have a smaller mid-level exception and no bi-annual exception; can’t take as much salary back in trades; and won’t be able to receive a player in a sign-and-trade if they are $4 million or more above the tax level.
Translation for the Hawks: Ferry can use the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions and make the Hawks tax-payers again but he’d better be sure he’s signing players that put the Hawks over the top.
“If the belief was it was going to make us a lot better, those things are on the table whether now or later in the year,” Ferry said. “The dollar amount certainly is a parameter as it relates to the tax. You’d prefer not to go over it. But right time, right trade, right thing [then] ownership, Bruce Levenson, has told me that if it’s appropriate and right and it would really make a difference we would have the ability to do so.
“I want to say with that I don’t think it’s always the right thing to go over the tax because of the rule and because of the way things operate. Most teams are never one player away. I think that’s a mistake sometimes teams make. We are going to look at opportunities and make a decision.”
The opportunities will be there for the Hawks on the trade market. There’s a sense of urgency because free agency opens in a couple days but Ferry said he plans to stay patient.
“Every player we may like, [the process] will take its own pace,” he said. “We will have some control over that but the players will have some control over that, as well. So we are going to make our calls on July 1, we are going to explore every option and hopefully we can make good decisions.
“Honestly, last year–I know I keep crediting Rick–but I thought they did a pretty nice job filling out their roster from where they were. Hopefully we can find avenues to do as well, [and] hopefully even better.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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363 comments Add your comment
[TRADE] Rumor: Pau For Josh Smith - Page 6
June 30th, 2012
4:31 am
[...] [...]
Mitch
June 30th, 2012
7:54 am
Like it or not, this was Larry Drew’s draft. Danny Ferry had nothing to do with it, unless he too wants to be the at best the Utah of the East.
Drew drafted two players who can knock down jump shots—and neither one of them will be rim attackers in a set offense.
Now we hear that Ferry isn’t sure whether to re-sign Ivan Johnson. Too bad we didn’t hire Charles Barkley as the GM, because Sir Charles would not only have re-signed Ivan by now, he would have made some deals to toughen these Hawks up.
The tough teams in the NBA attack the rim and they defend the rim. In ATL right now we have the Princeton offense—which has ensured that Josh Smith will get his fair share of 17-22 foot hoists.
Ray
June 30th, 2012
8:31 am
@ Mitch
A lot of people knew this was Larry Drew and Rick Sund’s draft
Danny Ferry hasn’t even been here long enough to scope things out I say give him 2 more weeks or even 3 max before he starts doing anything at all.
My thing is who will he weed out as the cancer on the team.
Hopefully he doesn’t make the same mistake I forget if it was Sund or Billy Knight made when it came to Josh Smith making him go find a contract or team willing to take him.
Disgusted
June 30th, 2012
8:55 am
I have no problem with Pau Gasol but do not like the salary comming back.
Its not bad business to avoid the luxury tax, my thinking is they might have to move Josh but take a lesser cheaper player in return.
When Josh is moved, we might hate what is comming back but hey, that’s business.
Wish we could move Marvin too. No one wants Marvin.
Disgusted
June 30th, 2012
8:57 am
If Ferry is not interested in re-signing Ivan Johnson, that is not going to be popular.
I will wish Ivan well if he leaves. Will root for him as long as he does not play us.
Disgusted
June 30th, 2012
8:59 am
“Well duh, how about renegotiating Joe Johnsons contract for the good of the team, and free up money to get new talent. Oh, I forgot, Johnson doesn’t give a rats a$$ about the good of the team. Get out of town losers”
Also note that Joe Johnson does not care if the fans show up –. Joe’s got his $$$$$$$ so its second and to H with everyone else.
No star athlete in this city has been disliked more than Joe, and its not as if he is a bad guy who gets in trouble, he is just not a likeble guy who is not a leader.
Disgusted
June 30th, 2012
9:02 am
“I want to build a roster that has some flexibility to it,” Ferry said. “Ownership has told me when appropriate, that when going over the tax makes sense as far as making us a better team, that is something we would be allowed to do. I want to use that judiciously, though, when you are given that opportunity to do so.
My first impressions of Ferry are good based on that comment. Smart plan even if we have to sacrifice a little of 2012-13. In a salary capped sport you have to practice good busniess.
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
9:25 am
Trade Joe is the most logical decision 2 do.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
9:27 am
Somebody said that Joe no way could be traded, there is some one that would take on the final 4years of his contract trust me.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
9:30 am
I like this trade the most.
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6tkgn8o
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
Ray
June 30th, 2012
9:33 am
So who gets traded right now is the question.
If we want really flexibility it’s got to be Joe, Marvin or Horford or a combo of the 3. I can see a Horford/Marvin combo to Memphis for a few pieces.
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
9:37 am
STARTERS TEAGUE, GERALD GREEN, JOSH, HORFORD, GASOL
BENCH PARGO, JENKINS, MARVIN, IVAN, ZAZA
RESERVE SCOTT, GREEN, COLLINS
This team would best team for Hawks.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
9:40 am
Teague, Josh, Horford, are the Hawks future
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
9:43 am
Teague, Gerald Green, Josh, out in transition woah!!!!!!!!!!
This team would be scary.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
9:47 am
http://youtu.be/4U0u7akXkJk
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
9:50 am
http://youtu.be/9I5aOJV0pMA
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ray
June 30th, 2012
9:55 am
it’s a “(conservative) culture change thing”/approach. With the “Danny boy” (Ferry) at the helm, you can expect the Atlanta Hawks (franchise) to become the “Duke Blue Devils” of the NBA. The Atlanta Hawks will look to add players who are supposedly clean cut, upright, wholesome, have a positive image, have very little to no tattoos, have no checkered (chequered) past(s), “good guy” types.”
Is that what Ferry did in Cleveland? I think not. Invalid point.
Big Ray
June 30th, 2012
10:00 am
So based on your logic, James Harden is not good.
That sort of analogy is almost as retarded as harping on the fact that Marvin is nowhere close to his draft status long after the fact has been known….
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
10:15 am
What up Big Brother Ray ?
Falcons Season right around corner and clock is ticking fast lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sautee
June 30th, 2012
10:16 am
“You should know (by now) I have no problems mentioning or discussing race (on this blog).” – High-Sider
Excellent! Maybe now you’ll answer my question:
So I ask again about this quote:
“GM Ferry will move a good player with some attitude issues like Josh Smith but will look to keep an overrated, mediocre player like Kirk Hinrich.” – High-Sider
What are you basing this accusation on? If you have no problems discussing race, then this should be easy.
Big Ray
June 30th, 2012
10:22 am
High Sider
Getting (Winning) the Sixth Man of the Year Award is what you get when you’re the best reserve in the NBA for a particular regular season. James Harden, Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Manu Ginobili, Leandro Barbosa, Mike Miller, Ben Gordon, etc. may or may not have taken the second most shots on their respective teams but those players were voted by basketball writers, analysts, experts, etc. as the best reserves in the NBA for a particular season.
I agree with the first statement, and I also am reasonably certain that NONE of those players took the second most shots on their team.
If Marvin should get some credit for Jamal’s SMOY Award, then Marvin should get credit for Horford’s two All-Star appearances and one All-NBA accolade, J. Johnson’s multiple All-Star appearances and Josh Smith DPOY runner-up and 2nd team All-NBA defensive team membership because JJ, AH, and JS had to cover up for Marvin’s lack of scoring, rebounding, defense, etc.
LOL….you really made me laugh here, but you missed the point. I’ll explain later, but I will say this – it’s not a wonder you and Rod get along. Rod would love the idea of Marvin being the reason for all of those other guys and their accolades. Rod has a blue-veined throbber for Marvin of epic pornographic proportions, which is uncanny, but it is what it is….
The argument, which you were not a part of, is about Jamal Crawford and his former role with the Hawks. It is NOT about the SMOY award, or the history thereof.
Comparing Jamal to Lamar Odom, James Harden, and other SMOY winners is another story altogether, one that can be argued up and down for days….and I’ll preface that by saying I would take a few names (in their prime) from that list you gave over Crawford.
However, the roles themselves are singular. The fact of the matter is that Jamal was a hired gun for Atlanta. Were it not for his own limitations and the makeup of the team, he would have been a starter. He took more shots in a system that was CLEARLY Iso based, and it worked to his advantage. How is it that this was the highlight/pinnacle of his career? Was he ever close to being in such a role elsewhere? Why not in Portland? My point is that the situation in Atlanta gave him the award. I’m not saying he didn’t earn it by performing, but some folks act like he was the best thing to happen to the Hawks and was a major loss when the truth is that the Hawks have been so dysfunctional on the court system and development-wise that a guy with Jamal’s talents could thrive the way he did, but it didn’t portent well for the team….and it wasn’t going to take the team any further than normal in the playoffs. Let me quantify that further with a segment of your own statements:
I’m almost certain that James Harden and Lamar Odom didn’t take the second most field goals (shots) on their respective teams when they won the Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Oh, you are so much more right than you know. But do you know WHY you are right? Because the Thunder did not NEED Harden to take the second most shots. The Lakers did not NEED Odom to take the second most shots. But guess what? The Hawks DID need that from Jamal. Your statement illustrates how much better the Lakers and Thunder are than the Hawks and how Odom and Harden contributed to their teams. If anything, that shows how much more valuable either player is, in a more successful system. Could Jamal have won SMOY while playing for the Lakers or Thunder? Heh….I’ll leave that one for you to ponder.
I find it ironic that he does that for the Hawks but didn’t and won’t for Portland or any other team.
Jamal was good at what he did, in the role asked of him: Take as many shots as you please, we need the scoring in our “create your own shot and don’t think twice about passing unless you’re double teamed and the clock is running down” system.
Big Ray
June 30th, 2012
10:33 am
“GM Ferry will move a good player with some attitude issues like Josh Smith but will look to keep an overrated, mediocre player like Kirk Hinrich.” – High-Sider
Actually, I don’t believe that.
1) Hinrich isn’t worth the money we’re paying him right now, and if Ferry has a brain (and he does), he’ll see that LD misuses Hinrich all the time. He should be smart enough to remove temptation from Drew…
2) Is Hinrich’s contract expiring? I forget. If so, that makes it a good trade piece. Another reason to let him go elsewhere.
3) If Smith goes, it will be because a) he wants out, which has been made known, or b) Because he’s the best way we have to alter/re-structure this roster, which is needed. Besides Horford, he’s the best trade piece we have, but simultaneously the best player we have.
It’s frustrating, really. Thanks to Billy Knight, Rick Sund, and the interference of Michael Gearon, we have exactly one credible center. Horford is a starter at the position, but if you trade him and don’t get a center in return (or somewhere else) then you’re stuck with Zaza (good backup, not ideal starter) and absolutely NO ONE else near serviceable at the position on the roster. Plus, that puts a heck of a strain on Josh, who will be counted on for rebounds and defense, as usual.
Trade Josh, and you lose the defense of the rim, although team defense is more important from a strategic standpoint…too bad the Hawks stink at it. Plus, you’re still looking at what to do at center, as the absence of Josh all but guarantees Horford moving to PF. At least the rebounding will stay, but there are other issues, and defending the paint is one of them.
Big Ray
June 30th, 2012
10:34 am
Darrell ,
The Falcons are in much better shape right about now than the Hawks are.
Jerry West
June 30th, 2012
10:38 am
So what are we looking at roster-wise? The Signed Six plus:
Jenkins
Ivan
Stack the Smoove Whisperer*
Twin
Pargo
D Sloan
the 2nd rounder
and our big FA signing….
MATT BARNES!
* may become an asst
Jerry West
June 30th, 2012
10:41 am
Big Ray,
Hinrich’s deal is done. He’s a free agent come midnight. Free to go and seek that elusive ring – or return to Chicago. LD sobs at the thought…
Ken Strickland
June 30th, 2012
10:44 am
Pau Gasol has 2yrs remaining on his contract. I would gladly trade JSmith for Gasol. provided LA agreed to pay the annual difference of their contracts to satisfy the matching salary portion of the trade to make it go through. Gasol would give us the same scoring, rebounding and blocks, if not slightly more, than we got from Josh, but he’d do it more efficiently.
Horford should be able to give us as much scoring at PF as we got from Josh, and he’d also do it more effeciently, since he’s a much more efficient jump shooter than Josh. Also, he’d seldom, if ever, be overmatched at PF the way we was so often at center. While he wouldn’t generate the assists as Josh, he wouldn’t have nearly as many turnovers.
With that trade, the Hawks should go hard after RAllen. I know the rumor is he wants to go to Miami, but that’s just a rumor. He feels he still has starter talent, and he does. However, he will have to come off the bench in Miami, since he won’t replace DWade or Chalmers. He won’t start if he resigns with Boston either, since Bradley will replace him as a starter.
His best chance of starting will be with the Hawks, and a starting lineup of
SF-JJohnson
OC-PGasol
PF-AHorford
SG-RAllen
PG-JTeague
BENCH
OC-ZPachulia
SF-MWilliams
PF-Draft Pick
SG-Draft Pick
SG-WGreen
PG-Pargo
PF-IJohnson?
OC-Thabeet(who should be able to give us better rebounding and help DEF than we got from either of our previous #3 and 4 backup centers).
This starting lineup would be a solid EC finals team, and would give Miami fits. Lebron, DWade, Bosh, and Chalmers would definitely have to stay with JJ, Allen, Horford, and Teague at all times, while Gasol would dominate anyone they played at center. They definitely wouldn’t be able to play the small ball, that was so successful in defeating the Thunder, with the size and length of Gasol, Zaza, and Thabeet in the middle.
doc
June 30th, 2012
10:54 am
Big ray bro you been gone too long. Hinrich has expired as of tomorrow. He is targeted back to chitown
When all is said and done by the rumors.
Jerry mentioned Matt Barnes, he didn’t do well for the lakers as he did in orlando so I don’t know if he is on the downside but I would take a close look at him for sure based on asking price.
jgsbirds
June 30th, 2012
10:56 am
@ ken strickland
this is the best scenario i’ve read in a while…while i hate all of the celtics–i know i would love to have ray allen’s presence on this team.
Jerry West
June 30th, 2012
11:05 am
@ Ken
The Lakers wouldn’t be able to send that much cash in a Pau deal. Best case for the Hawks would be Josh and Marvin for Pau. Lakers take back slightly more salary, so maybe the Hawks would have to take Christian Eyenga’s deal in the process.
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
11:20 am
Ken, Try keep Josh trading him for Gasol would give you more cap casualty.
Joe for Gasol make more sense with the age and contract.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Astro Joe
June 30th, 2012
11:22 am
John Jenkins (JJ2) = Ben Gordon
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
11:25 am
I Like to Gasol here with Josh, Horford, Gasol.
Give you more size and a tougher team defensively.
I believe with hire of Danny, Josh would like to stay here now seeing that organization going in right direction.
KEEP JOSH.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
11:41 am
My opinion is Joe only care about pay check i never see this guy say nothing, he hold the ball for 18seconds of 24 second shot clock, if LD want his ball movement to run right Danny must trade Joe
Joe make the Hawk offensive stagnant.
Trade Joe.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
11:43 am
Joe would fit right in LA with Kobe.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
O'Brien
June 30th, 2012
11:45 am
From ajc.com;
The Hawks can retain salary-matching rights by extending a qualifying offer to Johnson by the end of Saturday. Ferry said Thursday he hadn’t made a decision..
With the draft of Mike Scott, I would be surprised if they re-sign Ivan (who I think deserves a raise).
As for Josh, I doubt Josh will sign an extension (and I don’t think he should), but I hope the Hawks still offer him one. IMO, if there is no rumor of the Hawks offering Josh an extension, then I think he will be traded.
O'Brien
June 30th, 2012
11:48 am
Heat just won an NBA title, and they are trying to add Ray Allen to their bench. What will our bench look like? I’m guessing a bunch of vet mins.
Does the ASG and Ferry really think this team as constructed can compete with the Heat?
Moves need to be made,including the amnesty of Marvin Williams.
It was not a bad pick
June 30th, 2012
11:57 am
I wonder why MC never mentions that no one really wants Josh and that he is VERY overpaid..?..If Josh was so great, teams would be knocking the door down to get him..Sund should have let him go to Memphis and blow games by jacking up bad shots…In game game 6 against Boston , Marvin showed up, Josh JACKED up a bad shot again….He has been hurting the Hawks for years…
Rod from College Park
June 30th, 2012
11:57 am
“That sort of analogy is almost as retarded as harping on the fact that Marvin is nowhere close to his draft status long after the fact has been known….”
Call me a retard then. You stated:
“LOL….wrong. Chicago is a very good defensive team, and Orlando was a sorry one. But by your argument, Jamal was the shizzle…that is, until he ran into a team that could play defense (so how does that make him good again?).”
James Harden ran into a great defensive team in Miami, and did not perform up to his capabilities. Same thing happened to Jamal. Neither guy plays any defense, and both guys come off the bench for instant offense. Retarded huh? LOL
“Rod has a blue-veined throbber for Marvin of epic pornographic proportions, which is uncanny, but it is what it is….”‘
Speaking of what’s going on in another man’s pants is not something I’m comfortable with. I don”t swing that way bro. I like women.
It was not a bad pick
June 30th, 2012
12:01 pm
The 2 contracts that are killing the Hawks are Joe and Josh…they always have the ball and never come up big when it really counts..Hawks fans are just mad that we took Marvin over cp3, a guy who has never ever won a damn thing…..Marvin has always been solid, The Hawks 2 stars, Joe and josh have never stepped up..Time for Al and Marvin to get a chance
rainman34
June 30th, 2012
12:05 pm
you guys need to watch mike scotts workout on you tube. This guy can shoot the ball may have been a great pick after all.
Rod from College Park
June 30th, 2012
12:07 pm
“In game game 6 against Boston , Marvin showed up, Josh JACKED up a bad shot again….He has been hurting the Hawks for years…”
Where was Marvin in games 1, 2, 3 and 4?
Rod from College Park
June 30th, 2012
12:10 pm
“Time for Al and Marvin to get a chance”
If Al and Marvin got that chance, they might score 20 points combined. Horford 14, MArvin 6 after falling down 3 times.
Dawg
June 30th, 2012
12:12 pm
Let’s talk about the Hawks. If you want to pontificate on society, go somewhere else.
It was not a bad pick
June 30th, 2012
12:15 pm
Rod from College Park
“Where was Marvin in games 1, 2, 3 and 4?
He didnt get the ball…Marvin was a 14ppg player on one of the top 8 teams in the NBA until his shots declined…Josh has been hrting ATL since his rookie year…I did not see any reason to match Memphis..He is to small to play pf and bball iq is to low to play sf..he has held Al back from playing pf..the Hawks would have been traded him, but NO ONE WANTS JOSH..
Dawg
June 30th, 2012
12:16 pm
There is only one contract that is killing the Hawks. Other clubs have a $12 million dollar almost allstars, but few clubs have a ball guy that is worth $12 million making $20 million on a team that is stuck below the salary cap line.
Marvin is worth closer to $7 million than ISO is worth $20 million for 4 more years.
It was not a bad pick
June 30th, 2012
12:24 pm
Rod from College Park
Al is a better player than Josh and if Ferry put him on the block, teams would be knocking down the door to get him…no way could Josh had played center on a playoff team in the NBA…Al shoots 1000x better than Josh, rebounds better and is simply a better team player…Josh is just a highlight type guy,6th man type player…you and I both know that he has been holding ATL back for years…Good teams know that CHEMISTRY is important and his constant whining and BAD shots will just kill a team..the Hawks have tried to trade him for years
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
12:31 pm
JOE MUST GO, 2 TEAM THAT WOULD TAKE HIM.
LAKERS
KNICKS
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
12:33 pm
Share your trade
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=8a97ghr
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 30th, 2012
12:34 pm
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6tkgn8o
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ken Strickland
June 30th, 2012
12:37 pm
DARRELL STARKS-I know you have a thing for Josh and don’t want to see him traded, but why would LA take on Joe’s $18M contract when they already have a high priced SG in Kobe?
JERRY WEST-The Lakers wouldn’t have to send cash, just agree to pay the difference in the 2 players annual salaries over the course of the next 2yrs. It wouldn’t be any different, or cost them a penny more, than keeping Gasol for the remaining 2yrs of his contract.
They’d just be replacing Gasol with a quicker, faster, and more athletic PF. Josh would allow the Lakers to play a more be far more wide open fast breaking style, which is what they’ve always been know for. In other words, he’d allow them to bring SHOWTIME BACK TO THE FORUM.
Gasol would allow us to be a much more balanced and effective half court OFF team.