Pool - Getty Images
Here's a doozie of a rumor:
NBA PM: Rondo For Gasol a Possibility?
General manager Mitch Kupchak may have inadvertently leaked one target to reporter Mike Trudell of Lakers.com.
To the question, what would he like to address before the trade deadline (March 15th), Kupchak answered:
"Well, if there were a way for us to get a 25-year-old, All-Star, ball-handling guard we’d love to do it … but that’s not likely in February. So you look at other alternatives, and see if it’s better than what you have. That’s all."
... Applying that logic to the Trudell quote, there is exactly one 25-year-old, All-Star, ball-handling guard in the league.
Rajon Rondo. ...
Additionally, sources have told HOOSPWORLD that the Boston Celtics do have interest in Gasol for their All-Star point guard.
Man, that would be a crazy trade. I'd love to see Pau in green, but I'm not sure about giving up Rondo. Also, I think there's a good chance that Kupchak was simply referencing the past Chris Paul trade that was vetoed. Paul is actually 26, but close enough. Lastly, I tend not to trust anything from Hoopsworld, so take this with a huge grain of salt.
0 recs | 83 comments
no way
don’t see how this helps us, now or in the long run. pau is on the wrong side of 30
mc34 - February 7, 2012 via iPhone app
no thanks
i dont want a faker here anyways
GreenSlime - February 7, 2012
Better not be true
Pau is getting worse by the year and bradley or moore are not ready to be a starting pg in the nba
Kgwillkillyou - February 7, 2012 via mobile
Pau makes close to 19 million and Rondo makes about 10
This would mean that it would probably have to be Pau for Rondo and JO unless there was a 3rd team involved
galvinx10 - February 7, 2012
19m for Pau wow and hell no 10m for Rondo is a steal!
Blackberry33 - February 7, 2012 via mobile
LOL
that would be a rip off for us
who is he kidding? we don’t need pau, he’s lousy…
relja111 - February 7, 2012
Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid that’s all I have to say to that rumor!
Blackberry33 - February 7, 2012 via mobile
whats so lousy about averaging 16 and 10?
celticswavesurfer - February 7, 2012
Horrible deal
Perhaps change it to something like KG+Rondo+JO for Gasol+Bynum?
slamdunk1 - February 7, 2012
Lol That is a terrible deal also
Dont Want Kg under any circumstances
EmmCeee - February 7, 2012 via Android app
Kupchak would laugh at that.
The Lakers can get Howard for that kind of package. Why would they accept something way worse?
Ben R - February 7, 2012
One thing is for sure
RR is not going to be in green by next year with all of these rumors
vgarcia890 - February 7, 2012
what a silly conclusion
you taking bets?
KGHurtYourFeelings - February 8, 2012
I'm being speculative
But you’re clearly ready to lose money
vgarcia890 - February 8, 2012
I'm always ready to lose money
Ask Horseshoe Southern Indiana
KGHurtYourFeelings - February 8, 2012
I am guilty of wanting to trade Rondo to get some quality in return (CP3, Deron)
But this trade just does not make sense. We would lose it by far. It would be even worse than Kwame for Gasol. The Lakers would be much better with Rondo, Kobe and Bynum, andthey could always trsde for Howard. We would be old and soft as hell.
Celticsdude - February 7, 2012
If a 27-year old Gasol was traded for a ham sandwich, why should we offer anything of value for a 31-year old Gasol?
slamdunk1 - February 7, 2012
Exactly
Celticsdude - February 7, 2012
That's a bad argument since you're trying to compare two teams in diametrically different situations, but w/e.
Ben R - February 7, 2012
No no no!
Terrible trade!
Pork n Beans - February 7, 2012
HORRIBLE IDEA ALERT
Pau is 31 and is declining already. Are we going to start our “rebuild” around another old guy? Stupid. This is a horrible terrible raw deal for us no way. Just stop.
Absolutely will not help us now or in the future. I can’t even throw enough strong adjectives to describe how very foolish such a move is. Shutting it out of my mind. DUMB.
p-peazy - February 7, 2012
How about this....
Pau, mcroberts, blake, barnes for rondo and pierce!
Tony1975 - February 7, 2012 via mobile
@Tony1975
I would only do that if they include Fisher, that guy has lots of potential. And if they include Murohy, I’d consider trading Ray as well.
Celticsdude - February 7, 2012
Murphy*
Celticsdude - February 7, 2012
had to rec this, lol
LakerAce - February 7, 2012
The only Gasol I'd like to see in green is named Marc.
Pork n Beans - February 7, 2012
+1
I like Marc Gasol also and think he would look great in green.
fordescort - February 7, 2012
Kupchak is saying it's NOT possible...
People misinterpreting this for its opposite meaning.
Push - February 7, 2012
It's not likely in February
Maybe it is something other than “not likely” in the off-season.
LooseCannon - February 7, 2012
No just no
SparzWizard - February 7, 2012
But last time I did say to trade Rondo instead of the Big 3...
But in that comment I also said for contending pieces.
NO. I DON’T ONLY WANT A 31 YEAR OLD GASOL.
SparzWizard - February 7, 2012
Yeah, no way Boston agrees to this.
It’d be a steal for us. (assuming it’s a straight up deal)
LakerAce - February 7, 2012
Um. . .
WHAAA?!?!?
DJKAHN - February 7, 2012
What?
LakerAce - February 7, 2012
He’s a Laker fan, so yes it would be a steal for them going forward.
muckduck - February 7, 2012
pretty sure
he is referring to rondo. like pincus said Mitch is pretty literal. he has moved passed vetogate and looking ahead. not the first I heard that the Lakers FO was interested in Rondo. plus CP3 is more than just a ball-handling all-star. he is superstar pg who can score with the ease.
dasasni - February 7, 2012
he could be referring to Kyle Lowry...
25-year old PG… though he isn’t an All-Star.
LakerAce - February 7, 2012
I don’t think so. Horrible rumor that shouldn’t even get any print.
mr1313 - February 7, 2012
I’d do it.
xmuscular ghandix - February 7, 2012
Only way this is feasible is if Ainge thinks that Deron Williams is a legit possibility in the offseason.
As they stand, Boston will have $35M in cap room in the offseason. Swap say Jermaine O’Neal and Rondo for Gasol and that’s roughly $43M, so the Celts can throw about $15 million/year at Williams. Throw Bass in the deal instead of O’Neal and that’s an extra $4M in cap space. That or the Celts could use all that space to make a play for Nash along with a few other pieces like Kaman, Camby or possibly Duncan if the Spurs want to rebuild. Either way it’s a pretty risky proposition. The rationale would be that the big free agent targets aside from Howard are basically all point guards, so for Boston to use all the space accrued by Allen’s and KG’s contracts expiring, they would need to move Rondo for another piece, although leveraging the cap space to make deals and rebuild around Rondo would be a safer, albeit much slower strategy.
Ben R - February 7, 2012
NO WAY
just cant see pau in green
just cant see rajon in yellow
never trade with fakers
shamgreen - February 7, 2012
May be a great deal for C's
A talented big is harder to get than a good PG. C’s make this deal, and offer picks to Phoenix for Nash. Pretty nice lineup Nash, Allen, Pierce, Garnett, Gasol.
Accension13 - February 7, 2012
That's NOT a made up rumor
That is NOT a rumor.
Lakers GM just literally talked about what the lakers would need and love to get, while Rondo is a good fit. Nothing else.
Or am I missing sth?
Karasu - February 7, 2012
The rumor is the last line...
Of course, “sources” could mean some drunk guy on the RealGM forums.
Roy_Hobbs - February 7, 2012
Never trade with the Lakers
Period.
totheights - February 7, 2012
+1
NEVER.
DJKAHN - February 7, 2012
The last trade between the Celtics and Lakers
August 6, 2004: The Boston Celtics traded Chucky Atkins, Jumaine Jones and Chris Mihm to the Los Angeles Lakers for Rick Fox, Gary Payton and a 2006 1st round draft pick (Rajon Rondo).
(The pick that became Rondo was traded to Atlanta, then Phoenix, before the rights to Rondo were traded back to the Celtics on draft night.)
Arguably, the Celtics have gotten more value out of every trade they’ve made with the Lakers.
LooseCannon - February 7, 2012
AGREED!
Thank you, really thankyou
west coast celtic - February 8, 2012
I read Ainge's comments where he said that if he felt that he could get younger
he would do it and Rondo for and older Gasol goes against that. Not only that, but I think that Rondo would help the Lakers more than Gasol would help the Celtics. in my opinion.
Jelly Bean - February 7, 2012
+1
Rondo for Gasol would not be wise I think due to the age factor.
If Gasol was younger maybe since he is a talented big, but since he is not Id pass on such a trade if there was any truth to it.
fordescort - February 7, 2012
No.
No.
No. . . .no, no.
NO. NO!
NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO!!!!!!!!!!!
DJKAHN - February 7, 2012
The worst possible trade idea
EVER!!!!! I personally do not agree with trading rondo at all.
Celtics_Diva - February 7, 2012
Wouldnt suprise me if Danny agrees to this.
Danny lately has been suffering from dementia.
The green mamba - February 7, 2012 via mobile
LOL - well, this is the kinda silly non-story that at least generates a ton of conversation
Whole lotta words typed for something that makes no sense for the C’s and is about as likely to happen as pigs flying.
mmmmm - February 7, 2012
Overstatements
I’m probably opposed to this trade, but really, to say that Gasol sucks is ignorant. He’s not having a great year, but that has to do more with Brown’s not using him correctly and Kobe’s trying to set an all-time record usage rate than any sort of decline in his game. Despite the “bad” year, he has a PER higher than anyone on the Cs except Pierce and has an astoundingly good assist rate for a 4 (only KG is better), a good rebounding rate, and a low turnover rate, and he still shoots the ball pretty efficiently. I’m not sure I’d trade for him because of his age, but Gasol does not suck.
In fact, try to imagine a lineup of Bradley, Ray, Pierce, Gasol, and Garnett, with Pierce playing point forward. I don’t cringe at that.
Ersatz - February 7, 2012
You’re pretty much spot on. Pau’s subpar year has less to do with a decline in skill and more to do with Mike Brown’s offensive system which usually has Pau as the big “trailing” the interior big and usually ends up with him taking 18 foot jumpers and while he’s pretty good at those he’s much scarier on the block.
Another problem is the lack of secondary action when Pau actually gets the ball in the post. Pau’s a great passer and the reason that he thrived so much in the triangle offense is that he constantly had cutters and shooters moving around him and the threat of a pass is even more potent at times than an actual pass (this makes sense in my head now but I’m sure it won’t tomorrow).
Also, the complete lack of three point shooters makes it so, so much more difficult than it should be for them to get the ball to Pau and Bynum even when they have great post position.
muckduck - February 8, 2012
No.
Sophomore - February 7, 2012
I don't believe this rumor because...
A. Ainge seems very reluctant to take on salary beyond this year and Rondo is a huge value with 3.5 years left on his contract.
B. The logic should be to get younger. The Big 3 are more likely to be traded before the deadline than Rondo (though Rondo could get traded in the offseason.)
We’ve got a young top 5 point guard on a cap friendly contract; this deal just seems bad to me. What’s worse is that it’s the Lakers. I’ll pass.
Only way I’m trading Rondo is as part of a package for maybe CP3, Deron, or Howard.
Big 3 go before Rondo.
florida dodger - February 7, 2012
Gasol doesnt suck really.
Its just the everyday pressure that you might get traded any day now. And added on that the lakers have a new system going on is adding to his “slump”. And yes to sa Gasol sucks is IGNORANT on the decline or in a slump maybe but to say he sucks then you just dont know what your talking about.
The green mamba - February 7, 2012 via mobile
NO ... No way. Not with the Lakers
I don’t mind trading Rondo if do so can significantly improve our chance of getting banner 18, 19, 20, … but not trading to the Lakers.
The only trade with Lakers I will take is Bynum for MDaniel straight up, may be throw in a second rounder.
getthat18now - February 7, 2012
I'm a pro trade Rondo guy
But not for a giant wacky inflatable flailing arm man. No way.
AussieGreen - February 7, 2012
Trade Big 4
For Lakers Big 3 (Kobe, Gasol, Bynum) along with Matt Barnes and maybe Fisher!!
SparzWizard - February 7, 2012
DISGUSTING!!!
I just puked purple and gold!
west coast celtic - February 8, 2012
I've had some time to think it over
For several hours tonight, and I want to post again and say this trade is flat out asinine:
1. Exploding a team that’s on a roll chemistry wise with a compacted season would totally discombobulate what Doc Rivers has been building with little or no practice time. As early as last year in a NORMAL season this team could not recover from a similar loose cannon wild-eyed trade that destroyed chemistry.
2. Pau Gasol is not a solution for the present or future. He’s not a guy to build around looking down the road and is not as effective as Rondo in games RIGHT NOW and certainly not down the road. A trade of this non-improving nature in the middle of a compacted season would alienate the coach players and fans leaving them little chance to get it together by playoff time.
3. The only guy I would even CONSIDER adding in a lockout season would be Dwight Howard, no one else is good enough.
3. Trading away our groomed and acclimated guard would be foolish in nearly all circumstances this year. We’ve got something going here right now.
4. Don’t do mid season trades for thrills, don’t just pull the trigger on wild insane trades for the heck of it.
5. Last year we found ourselves in WINNABLE games vs the Heat, maybe we could use a little addition to tip the balance here and there but don’t go nuts, were still right there.
p-peazy - February 8, 2012
I messed up the numbers
I meant to take it to 6, Bill Russell’s number.
p-peazy - February 8, 2012
I agree, you don't want Pau
The guy you really want is Derek Fisher.
Gil Meriken - February 8, 2012
Actually, this is the most interesting trade idea I've seen yet
…..Because it’s so anathema to BOTH SIDES. And for good reason imo — the deal would make BOTH sides worse. But it would DECIMATE the Cs…. so fuhgetaboutit…. there is no way in heaven, hell and all points in between this trade ever comes close to reality.
But it’s funny… gotta give it that.
JR99 - February 8, 2012
Agreed. Seriously
I’m not surprised the Lakers would like to add a 25 year old premiere point guard. But why in the world would the Celtics want to trade their most valuable asset to acquire a formerly premiere PF who is past his prime? We’ve already got one of those named Kevin Garnett.
BlackMass - February 8, 2012
It's good to see that a majority no longer want to trade Rondo. Ridiculous idea from the get-go.
lygafe - February 8, 2012
I just can't stop thinking
that Danny wants to get rid of Rondo off desperately. I would not be suprised if RR9 eventually asked for trade by himself. Danny’s attitude regarding Rondo is ridiculous if you ask me. You will see that Rondo will not start the next season as a Celtic.
Sebal - February 8, 2012
Rumor or Fact....
First, Gasol is good, real good. Second, we all love our team right now but it wasn’t long ago there was a ton of railing against KG and how he was a shell of himself. If we are to go far this year we need a serious big, Danny sees this too, I’m sure. Third, who are we pairing with Rondo going forward if it won’t be Howard? Ainge may be looking at the next four years right now approx. Rondo’s window of contract and looking at possibles. If not Dwight then what big? Gasol might be his best option for the next four years. Then he would scramble to match a guard probably a couple of guards to go with him. Fourthly, Rondo is overrated. He is very good but he is not great like a lot of people make him out to be. This team got going this year when Pierce came back and finally got in shape. Pierce is the motor not Rondo. Not the worst rumor out there. This is probably what Donny Marshall was talking about earlier in the year.
celty86 - February 8, 2012
I hate to admit it but.....
this idea is actually growing on me. I know that Rondo has his high points but imagine an inside out of KG AND Gasol. I know that we will be lacking in the pg department, but we in essence have the same advantage that LAL has had for a few years with 2 legit 7 fts.
(somone will probably type – how did that work for them in 2011???) But it did work in 2009 and 2010.
heyvik - February 10, 2012
who plays pg for us? dooling? bradley?
Red2 - February 8, 2012
Terrible trade
Gasol is WAY over-rated and has peaked. Rondo is still improving. Gasol, at this point, does not give us the toughness we need in the paint. He uses length and finess but no one fears Gasol.
The Rondo haters would love to see him go but I don’t think you want a team lacking a point guard going into the playoffs. Rondo makes everyone on the team better. Can you say that for Gasol?
CelticsFan616 - February 8, 2012
NO
Rajon <> Pau = Stupidity
Celtics <> Lakers = Vomit
Mitch Kupchak <> Lakers = Selfish Spoiled Thieves
The rumor has to be a joke…I would be shocked if Danny would make a decision like that for the Celtics. ~=-o
ChickieBoomBoom - February 8, 2012
Rondo For Gasol
Danny wouldn’t include Rondo in the deal for KG and that was when Rondo was in his 2nd year. I thought Rumors were only for off-season. Did the new CBA contract include a new rule that rumors were okay year round?
TrueGreen - February 8, 2012
Jajajajaja. Another trade? Again?
Can someone make a list of how many trades have been talk in the las 2 month?
celt4ever - February 8, 2012
Why it could be true.........Possibles
1. Rondo is not getting along with Doc.
2. Rondo is not getting along with KG, PP and RA.
3. Rondo is very injury prone.
4. Rondo cannot shoot foul shots reliably.
5. The 2012 draft is very high on point guards and pf’s but weak on centers.
6. Rondo is not getting along with Danny.
7. Rondo is not getting along with the Owners.
8. Danny is convinced he has no shot at Howard.
9. Danny is convinced he can get a PG free agent of suitable quality.
10. Most of the experts on this Blog are against it and we are seldom right.
Dipper - February 8, 2012
Danny will not build a team around Rondo now or in the future
The point of this deal would be for another trade. Danny would be trying to convert the “Rondo asset” into another type of “asset” as he did with Perkins and Green.
Would he trade Gasol and someone else for DH? Bad example. Would he trade Gasol for another player to trade to the Magic?…yes. Don’t know if he wants DH that bad.
Rondo is NOT the central player in Ainge’s plans. It’s Ainge’s team and he wants to trade Rondo for something else (Chris Paul). Live with the rumors…he’s been shopping him for two years now.
tstorey1 - February 8, 2012
Champs predicted it LOL
YouTube Video
LizzakeShizzow - February 8, 2012
The thought makes me sick
Tommypointz - February 8, 2012
It would only make sense as part of a larger transaction
i.e., something involving a third team or additional parts moving.
Nothing should be considered impossible to happen with Danny, but I would still rate the likelihood of this being true as pretty ridiculously small.
mmmmm - February 8, 2012
My goodness, No
Just an awful trade idea. I hope there’s no truth to it. Gasol is just past his peak as a player it seems like. Rondo has not yet reached his and is only 25. If we’re trading Rondo we better get a hell of a lot more than Pau Gasol.
BlackMass - February 8, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of CelticsBlog to post a comment.