Gasol Heads Back to LA

Pau Gasol returns to the Los Angeles Lakers on a 2 year, 27M dollar deal. The deal does include a team option for the second year.

"I understand it's a short contract, but here I'll have the chance to play full time and show what I'm worth. Hopefully LA sees I'm worth the second year and teams see I can still produce at the highest level," said Pau. "Getting to play with Westbrook, Beal, Horford... that's a great opportunity."

Gasol made his decision after the Miami Heat decided not to pursue the big man anymore.

"I loved my time in Miami, won two rings. But it's time to move on. Thank you to the Miami Heat for the last two years, they have been great. It's time to see where else my career can go."

Called that shit.

Thanks Pau! We had you for a long time so it's sad to see you go, but it's on to greener pastures (by that I mean more greens) for ya.

He's a good pickup on a one-year deal IMO. He can still contribute.

Greeeeeat deal, because of the TO. If it does not pan out, just renounce the option and go for another great FA next year.

I was expecting Miami to re-sign him for the same contract. He was such a vital part of their success.. They have Randolph and McAdoo, but now have lost Splitter and Gasol since i've been here. That's though to handle.



someone is very happy with Miami losing two key front-court players hahahah
Nice sign for LA. I love it.

Yeah, despite the young guys like McAdoo that need developing, we would've loved to keep Pau for one more year, especially since I wanted to see PJ3's TC before anointing him a starter. That would've been tough to match though without giving up a first.

On the flip side, it does clear up our logjam quite a bit, haha.

He won't sniff that 2nd year at all.

Nice signing. The Llama belongs in L.A.

Rizzo (NO) wrote:He won't sniff that 2nd year at all.

All depends on how he plays and how the Kevin Love situation unfolds, most likely. He certainly has every opportunity to earn his 2nd year.

You've done a great job putting the Lakers in a position to make the playoffs this season, and if you do no FA is safe next year. We differ on Beals value obviously but WB/Beal/Butler/Horford and max caproom is unbelievable. 

Gasol is cool too.

I knew once his agent stated "he's making more than 3x your offer" (MLE) the Lakers were getting him.

Nice get and yeah Pau won't be in LA next season, definitely a one yr trial.

Good signing AK.

While no one else would have offered that money for one year, I do hope we ban the two year TO in second year contracts. They're abusive loopholes used to pretend a team is offering more money when it's highly likely they're not going to be honored.

Jestor (PHX) wrote:While no one else would have offered that money for one year, I do hope we ban the two year TO in second year contracts.  They're abusive loopholes used to pretend a team is offering more money when it's highly likely they're not going to be honored.

Unlike the game, agencies (myself included) take that into consideration. I valued the contract offer as a 1 year, 13.5M deal when considering the offers.

Rizzo (NO) wrote:He won't sniff that 2nd year at all.

I highly doubt he will.

good one year pickup for LAL - good luck in the very tough West

here see a little problem if a player like gasol signed these amounts at the end are being very few teams with money, I just hope that players like Gortat, Varejao, seraphin etc do not end up signing for middles when there are teams that offered them previously.

understand that the work in the first days and months of the agency is to get the maximum money possible, but I would not like robberies agencies, each agency has its own personality and takes care of their customers as they believe they deserve.