Memphis didn't take best deal available...

R I O T — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:03:04 -0000

Link (free preview): http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=Gasol-080205&a ction=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcol umnist%3dford_chad%26page%3dGasol-080205

Basically it lists ten teams (including the Warriors) who potentially had better packages then the Lakers' package that ultimately got them Gasol. I'm just pissed the Lakers got him...

Interesting tidbits:

One GM I spoke to asserted he had a better deal to offer, claiming that Wallace didn't return his calls.

Another said that just two weeks ago, Wallace was asking for twice as much in return. If this GM had known the Grizzlies were lowering the asking price on Gasol, he would've made another offer, he said.

A Western Conference GM said the Grizzlies' timing threw him off: "Big trades like this normally don't happen until after the All-Star break. Who would've guessed that the Grizzlies would've jumped the gun and taken such a lopsided deal three weeks before the trade deadline?"

Another prominent GM said his owner vetoed any trade that would've pushed his team into luxury-tax territory.

I wonder who the GMs were...

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Memphis didn't take best deal available...