Gregg Popovich Rips Pau Gasol Trade
By Larry Brown February 10, 2008 - Posted in Basketball

It was only a matter of time before someone said what everyone was thinking — the Lakers ripped the Grizzlies off. They acquired a premium player like Pau Gasol, who pretty much single-handedly got the Grizzlies into the playoffs a few times, for the likes of nearly nothing. Kwame Brown, Javaris Critenton, Pau’s brother Marc, and a pair of first-round picks isn’t exactly a king’s ransom. About the only thing there worth any value would be the draft picks, but you figure the Lakers are getting Pau so those picks will probably be late first-round, like 25th or so. So when you think about it, what did the Lakers give up? Not a whole lot. And that’s what makes Spurs coach Gregg Popovich so peeved:

“What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension,” said Popovich. “There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I’d like to elect myself to that committee. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade.”

I wonder what he has to say about the Shaq trade huh? Guess Pop feels a bit threatened — as well he should. The Spurs might be the defending champions, but now the Lakers provide some serious competition. I’ll still give the nod to San Antonio, but the gap has certainly closed. The playoffs are going to be quite exciting, to say the least.

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17 Comments
  • Rey

    This is not the first time we have seen highway robbery. The Pats raided the Raiders, 4th rounder for Moss?? Makes you think who’s running these franchises.

  • Anders(on) Varejao

    Well said Rey,

    Baron Davis to GS for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis.

    Vince Carter to NJ for an Alonzo Mourning(who’s contract was bought out), 2 1st rounders, and a couple of stiffs.

    Allen Iverson to DEN for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and 2 first rounders.

    Trades like this happen all the time with rebuilding teams, but thats probably the homer in me coming out.

  • Jeff

    The Spurs are on the decline for sure. They are getting OLD. Tim Duncan got manhandled by young rookie Big Baby this weekend…did anyone see it?

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  • http://www.yeahdho.blogspot.com chris

    The Lakers have just finished the longest road trip in their history since the league switched to a 82 game season. After the first game of the trip (a loss to Detroit) the Lakers decided this trip could either break or make their season and with Andrew Bynum out they werent going to depend on Kwame Brown to be their low post presence. In a steal for the Lakers they traded Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol. You think the other Western Conference powers think this will push the Lakers over the top? Of course. In reaction to the Gasol trade the Suns traded for Shaq and the Mavs have tried to trade for Jason Kidd. The Jason Kidd trade was shot down by Devean George who happens to have a no trade clause in his contract (Who structured HIS deal, LMAO). The other Western Conference contender, Spurs have decided to stay put or atleast they arent publicly pursuing any trades but that doesnt mean they didnt take notice it caused Spurs Head Coach Greg Popovich to say this:

    “What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension. There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I’d like to elect myself to that committee. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade.”

    Of course he would have voted no the L.A. trade, can you say bitter, scared, and intimidated? I can.

    go to http://www.yeahdho.blogspot.com for more

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  • http://guttylittlebruins.com blackjack

    In response to what Rey said, the tradeabonafidenflsuperstarforafreakin’4throundpick GM philosophy still blows my mind. Now, with Randy Moss there might have been questions about motivation…but Darrell Jackson? Jevan Walker the year before? I have to be missing something here…

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  • axar

    Maybe the “competion committe” should void the Spurs trade for Richard Jefferson. At least the Lakers aren’t complaining but then again Poopovich is classless and riding Duncan’s coat tails. It’s all luck (1% chance of winning lottery) and no talent. Poppovich only complains if it doesn’t work in his favor by his own ridiculous comment the competition committee should void the Richard. At least Kwame Brown can play unlike like Bruce “Assault Me” Bowen or Kurt “Over the Hill” “Might as Well Retire” Thomas.

    – “Milwaukee Bucks traded Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas on Tuesday.”

  • axar

    “What they did in Spurs trade for Richard Jefferson is beyond comprehension,???” said Poopovich. There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I’d like to elect myself to that committee. I would have voted no to the Spurs trade.???

    - Greg Poopovich on the Richard Jefferson Spurs Trade
    (At least LA offered more talent all the Spurs offered were scrubs (role players) for Jefferson).

  • Sammy

    Spurs are on the right track. I think they are cooking up one more move to get rid of 2 bench players for Raja bell with the help of his buddy Larry Brown.
    With Bell playing with the Spurs, Kobe needs to come with an execuse to skip that series because we all know he wouldn’t want to play. Also, Phil, might wanna check into the hospital for a check up.

    Line up with Ginobili, Jefferson, Duncan, Dice, Parker, there will be too much fire power, saviness, creativity and speed for the lakers to handle. This is absolutely match up nightmare for the Lakers.

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