Roster Improvement: Free Agents Now and Later?

I don't believe the Hawks want Pau, esp with new management, but it's worth noting on teh Lakers side
that Dwight Howard and Josh Smith are childhood friends. If the priority is to keep Howard long-term, I would imagine it wouldn't hurt to have one of his best friends from the ATL alongside him.

I don't think that's why the Lakers make a move like that - but it's a factor worth noting. The decision isn't made yet on Pau.

Even if LA re-signed Smith on a big contract - it's going to be less than what Gasol is set to make next season.

Theoretically . . . also, it's very difficult to manufacture a three-team trade midseason - but they happen.

lakerfan2 wrote:Would we get Smooth's bird rights if we traded for him as we do with Dwight?

lakerfan2 wrote:How about this:

LA: Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia
SAC: Pau Gasol, DeShawn Stevenson, ATL 1st
ATL: Demarcus Cousins, John Salmons, Francisco Garcia

Center Court wrote:the best trade to get Smoove to LA would be to to bring in Minny to package Pek/DWill for Pau.

I'd be stoked with either Smith or Gay as Lakers... only issue is the 2014 plan.

lakersin4 wrote:

Center Court wrote:the best trade to get Smoove to LA would be to to bring in Minny to package Pek/DWill for Pau.

I'd be stoked with either Smith or Gay as Lakers... only issue is the 2014 plan.

That's a great return for ATL.. I just don't see Minne parting with Pek now that Love's done for the season.

UPDATE: While Josh Smith's agent Wallace Prather hasn't made a trade request on behalf of his client, multiple sources tell Ken Berger of the CBSSports.com that "the Hawks have engaged in some trade conversations regarding Smith."

The topic of Smith's future with the Hawks won't go away, and it's safe to say that it is starting to look less likely than it did even a couple weeks ago.

Nikola Pekovic - C - Timberwolves Nikola Pekovic will be out for 7-10 days with a quad injury.
The Timberwolves have been granted an injury exception to sign a free agent to a 10-day contract, and Pekovic is just the latest injury on a team filled with them. The Wolves current injury list consists of: Kevin Love (hand), Alexey Shved (ankle), Malcolm Lee (hip surgery, knee surgery), Brandon Roy (knee surgery), Chase Budinger (knee surgery) and now Pekovic with his quad injury, not to mention Josh Howard who tore his ACL earlier in the year and was released. Greg Stiemsma will be thrust into a starting role unless the Wolves go with an ultra-small lineup.

Balance&Options24 wrote:

Nikola Pekovic - C - Timberwolves Nikola Pekovic will be out for 7-10 days with a quad injury.
The Timberwolves have been granted an injury exception to sign a free agent to a 10-day contract, and Pekovic is just the latest injury on a team filled with them. The Wolves current injury list consists of: Kevin Love (hand), Alexey Shved (ankle), Malcolm Lee (hip surgery, knee surgery), Brandon Roy (knee surgery), Chase Budinger (knee surgery) and now Pekovic with his quad injury, not to mention Josh Howard who tore his ACL earlier in the year and was released. Greg Stiemsma will be thrust into a starting role unless the Wolves go with an ultra-small lineup.

Maybe T-wolves would start getting desperate. Initiate a three way deal.

Wolves to trade for a big man?
January, 18, 2013
JAN 18
4:08
PM ET
By Tom Carpenter | ESPN.com
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Per 1500ESPN.com's Darren Wolfson, Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahn has been attempting to acquire a big man.

"Kahn was aggressively working the phone Wednesday and Thursday way more than normal for mid-January and is making some progress on a trade. The source said it's for more of a big guy, not a wing," he wrote.

"The most likely player to be sent elsewhere is forward Derrick Williams. Multiple team and league sources say he's being shopped heavily."

lakerfan2 wrote:

Balance&Options24 wrote:

Nikola Pekovic - C - Timberwolves Nikola Pekovic will be out for 7-10 days with a quad injury.
The Timberwolves have been granted an injury exception to sign a free agent to a 10-day contract, and Pekovic is just the latest injury on a team filled with them. The Wolves current injury list consists of: Kevin Love (hand), Alexey Shved (ankle), Malcolm Lee (hip surgery, knee surgery), Brandon Roy (knee surgery), Chase Budinger (knee surgery) and now Pekovic with his quad injury, not to mention Josh Howard who tore his ACL earlier in the year and was released. Greg Stiemsma will be thrust into a starting role unless the Wolves go with an ultra-small lineup.

Maybe T-wolves would start getting desperate. Initiate a three way deal.

Pek, Dwill to ATL
Smith, Ridnour to LA
Gasol, Blake to MIN

DO IT MITCHELL!

Punk-101 wrote:The question is what could minn offer atl, cause i want smoove?

therealdeal wrote:

Punk-101 wrote:The question is what could minn offer atl, cause i want smoove?

Well not too long ago they were offering Pek and Williams. After Pek's great start, I doubt he's available any more... If they really truly wanted Gasol, they'd have to part with either Pek or Kirilenko...