[ad_1]
The Lakers added Gasol and won a championship.
Will it work again?
Twelve years after negotiating for Pau Gasol and winning the 2008 title, the Lakers sign his brother Marc Gasol (who was drafted by the Lakers and sent to the Grizzlies in connection with the Pau Gasol affair).
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
Marc Gasol finalizes deal to be signed with Lakers, sources tell me and @ZachLowe_NBA.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 23, 2020
Gasol to sign two-year deal, sources say @ZachLowe_NBA and me.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 23, 2020
The Lakers trade JaVale McGee to Cleveland, a source told ESPN.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 23, 2020
Cleveland trades Jordan Bell and Alfonzo McKinnie to the Lakers as part of the deal with Gasol, sources tell ESPN.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 23, 2020
The Lakers send McGee and a future second-round pick to the Cavaliers, a source told ESPN. https://t.co/oVWXtMphII
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 23, 2020
The Lakers have already used their mid-level exception (Montrezl Harrell) and their bi-annual exception (Wesley Matthews). On a two-year deal, Gasol cannot be signed and traded by the Raptors. Signed and traded players must be signed for at least three seasons.
That leaves a minimum wage for Gasol – $ 2,564,753 next season and (in what I wouldn’t be surprised if a player option follows) $ 2,692,991 the following season.
Trading JaVale McGee to the Cavaliers for Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell gives the Lakers enough room under the hard cap. Re-signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope put Los Angeles near that limit. McKinnie and Bell need to have their unsecured wages partially guaranteed to complete the deal, but at least one will likely be canceled (or dumped elsewhere).
Gasol gives the Lakers a bigger option at center with Anthony Davis and Harrell already in the post. Gasol’s defense should help in many clashes, and the combination of Gasol and LeBron James’s passing ability could be special.
It’s unclear how much Gasol, 35, still has in the tank, but his basketball smarts outlive his athleticism. H was mostly still effective for the Raptors last season. They wanted to keep him, which says a lot.
But Toronto is limited by its willingness to preserve 2021 ceiling space for Giannis Antetokounmpo. This has already cost the Raptors Serge Ibaka (who signs with the Clippers) and has probably taken into account the departure of Gasol.
Still, Toronto is looking to win with Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry, OG Anunoby and a re-signed Fred VanVleet (which the Raptors enjoyed enough to strike a long-term deal).
Thus, Toronto will fill its need for adults by signing Aron Baynes and signing Chris Boucher again.
Athletic’s Shams Charania:
Free agent center Aron Baynes signed a two-year, $ 14.3 million deal with the Toronto Raptors, sources say @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 23, 2020
ESPN Bobby Brands:
The second year of Aron Baynes’ contract with Toronto is a team option, league sources have confirmed to ESPN.
– Bobby Brands (@ BobbyMarks42) November 23, 2020
Wojnarowski:
Chris Boucher agreed to a two-year, $ 13.5 million contract to stay with the Toronto Raptors, his agent Sam Permut of @RocNationSports ESPN said.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 23, 2020
Losing Ibaka and Gasol hurts, but Baynes (bigger, stronger) and Boucher (thinner, faster) should form a nice 1-2 punch down the center.
Presumably, Boucher – like Baynes – has a squad option or an unsecured salary in his second season.
The Suns lose Baynes after structuring Chris Paul’s trade to maintain Baynes bird rights. That leaves a hole in the save center behind Deandre Ayton, which I’m not sure 10th pick Jalen Smith is ready to fill.
If retained, McGee adds depth behind Andre Drummond at the Cleveland center after Tristan Thompson left for the Celtics. But for the Cavs, it was mostly about adding a second round.
[ad_2]
Source link