[Los Lakers]

By Gary Lee
LakersNation.com

Lakers Rumors: Kupchak Slipped on Pau Gasol for Rajon Rondo Deal



According to some investigative speculation by HoopsWorld writer, Eric Pincus, Mitch Kupchak might have just given his tell on what the Lakers are looking for and planning to do in these upcoming months.

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Based on a conversation that Lakers sideline reporter, Mike Trudell, had with Mitch regarding potential moves, Kupchak replied with:

“Well, if there were a way for us to get a 25-year-old, All-Star, ball-handling guard we’d love to do it … but that’s not likely in February. So you look at other alternatives, and see if it’s better than what you have. That’s all.”

Scouring his database of birthdays, Pincus found that there is only one man that fits that description and that man is the starting point guard for the Boston Celtics – Rajon Rondo.

Rivalry aside, this seems to be a great trade for the Lakers and a so-so trade for the Celtics. Boston is already stacked up front with Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal and Brandon Bass. Also, who knows what KG would do to Pau if they were ever in the same locker room together.

For the Lakers, adding Rajon Rondo to the team would be as good as it gets if both Dwight Howard and Deron Williams choose not to come to LA. Rajon has the competitive fire that team leader, Kobe Bryant, craves for. Rondo has the ball handling skills and playing making abilities to create shots for his teammates. Finally, the biggest asset that Rondo brings is the defensive tenacity that will wreak havoc on opposing guards.

Personally, I think it’s going to be a reach for the Celtics and Lakers to close this deal, but since Eric Pincus is reporting it, we definitely have to give it a look!

Full article also found at LakersNation.com

[Dean Darkblue]

Not quite sure if I'd rather trade Bynum than Pau at this point. The question is how well Pau plays center.

I'm 51%-49 for pulling the trigger on this. We really need a point guard and this is a good start.

[Los Lakers]

According to the article this is being based on a "25-year-old, All-Star, ball-handling guard". Is Rondo really the only one out there that fits that description? Anyone else Mitch could be talking about?

[EvenSteven]

Don't have to necessarily have a super stud PG such as Williams or even Rondo. The Lakers need a good ball handler that could run the offense and defend. Who was the mastermind that allow Shannon Brown to leave while knowing that there was nobody left but erek Fisher and Blake? The small forward position needs to be addressed quickly as well because World Peace and Barnes are not cutting it.

[pjacobo08]

why not??? rondo for gasol is a steal for the lakers. bynum, kobe and rondo is a hell of defensive core to compete. i dont know why boston would do this? why would the celtics be interested in gasol? didnt they label him as soft? do u uys think rondo is still but hurt about being mentioned as trade bait for the cp3 deal?

[Nanizm]

Wow..that is reaching for a trade rumor…I think Mitch was just giving an example of a player that would be ideal for them to acquire, not literelly describing the player they were pursuing or looking to pursue.

I hate Rondo and would be against the Lakers going after this guy. I would not trade either Gasol or Bynum for Rondo. He is an offensive liability with his retarded shooting. The guy isn’t just bad at shooting, he’s horrific. While you can live with a big guy that cant shoot, you cant with a lead guard that has the ball in his hands all the time. Also, having him in the perimeter would crowd the paint and allow his man to cheat on Kobe, giving him less space. It’s what the Lakers always did when they played Boston in the Finals. I would take 20 other point guards before taking Rondo. Maybe more.

Hell no to Rondo!

[EvenSteven]

Rondo is not a great outside shooter, but he could dribble penetrate and dish to a wide open man. The defense has to respect his driving ability. He averages 10+ assists the last three seasons and would be great at running the Lakers offense.
He is also a great defender.
His career shooting percentage is 48.7%.
Kobe's career shooting percentage is 45.4%.
I would trade him for Pau but not Andrew.

[JayTheGreat]

Nanizm, on 08 February 2012 - 07:24 AM, said:

Wow..that is reaching for a trade rumor…I think Mitch was just giving an example of a player that would be ideal for them to acquire, not literelly describing the player they were pursuing or looking to pursue.

I hate Rondo and would be against the Lakers going after this guy. I would not trade either Gasol or Bynum for Rondo. He is an offensive liability with his retarded shooting. The guy isn’t just bad at shooting, he’s horrific. While you can live with a big guy that cant shoot, you cant with a lead guard that has the ball in his hands all the time. Also, having him in the perimeter would crowd the paint and allow his man to cheat on Kobe, giving him less space. It’s what the Lakers always did when they played Boston in the Finals. I would take 20 other point guards before taking Rondo. Maybe more.

Hell no to Rondo!

Really tho? Rondo can't shoot. He is shooting 48% from the field. That's better than anyone we have now. Rondo makes this team sooo much better. We may have to give up Gasol but if we can get Bass or Jermaine Oneal in the deal too that would make it perfect. They may not be as gifted offensively as Gasol but they aren't punks like gasol is. They will rebound play defense and stand their ground not to mention rondo would make them better players too. This trade is a no brainer for the lakers. Mitch do this immediately.

[Nanizm]

JayTheGreat, on 08 February 2012 - 12:04 PM, said:

Really tho? Rondo can't shoot. He is shooting 48% from the field. That's better than anyone we have now. Rondo makes this team sooo much better. We may have to give up Gasol but if we can get Bass or Jermaine Oneal in the deal too that would make it perfect. They may not be as gifted offensively as Gasol but they aren't punks like gasol is. They will rebound play defense and stand their ground not to mention rondo would make them better players too. This trade is a no brainer for the lakers. Mitch do this immediately.

If you have ever watched Rondo play you know the guy cant shoot to save his life. Field goal percentage is not an indicator of a guy having an outside shot. Rondo is the worse outside shooting guard in the league. His outside shot is worse than some centers. Teams play off of him because he is so horrible from the outside. The Lakers did the same in both finals vs. the Celtics. He makes players better? Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen were all great well before they ever played with Rondo. In fact, it is those guys that made Rondo look better. How do you think Rondo would fair with less talent around him? He think he’d still get 9-10 apg with the teams knowing he cant hit water falling out of a boat? Ill run off 20 other PGs in the league Id rather have. Gasol is a lot more valuable than Rondo. Bad trade. Anyway its not happening, nor is it a legit rumor.

[JayTheGreat]

Nanizm, on 08 February 2012 - 12:26 PM, said:

If you have ever watched Rondo play you know the guy cant shoot to save his life. Field goal percentage is not an indicator of a guy having an outside shot. Rondo is the worse outside shooting guard in the league. His outside shot is worse than some centers. Teams play off of him because he is so horrible from the outside. The Lakers did the same in both finals vs. the Celtics. He makes players better? Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen were all great well before they ever played with Rondo. In fact, it is those guys that made Rondo look better. How do you think Rondo would fair with less talent around him? He think he’d still get 9-10 apg with the teams knowing he cant hit water falling out of a boat? Ill run off 20 other PGs in the league Id rather have. Gasol is a lot more valuable than Rondo. Bad trade. Anyway its not happening, nor is it a legit rumor.

How is it a bad trade? He got those assist with Garnet Allen and Pierce. You mean to tell me he couldn't get those same numbers with Kobe Bynum and other slasher on the team. Fisher can't shoot? Metta can't shoot? Barnes can't shoot? So what are you saying? This team is a contender with rondo. Matt Barnes isn't a scorer but a slasher. With rondo being able to shred the opponents defense and getting to the lane this opens up limitless scoring oppourtunities for the team. Let me guess you want us to go after Sessions or Flynn or better yet Gilbert Arenas right?

[Nanizm]

EvenSteven, on 08 February 2012 - 10:12 AM, said:

Rondo is not a great outside shooter, but he could dribble penetrate and dish to a wide open man. The defense has to respect his driving ability. He averages 10+ assists the last three seasons and would be great at running the Lakers offense.
He is also a great defender.
His career shooting percentage is 48.7%.
Kobe's career shooting percentage is 45.4%.
I would trade him for Pau but not Andrew.

What does Kobe have to do with Rondo? They are 2 different type of players that play under different circumstances.

Rondo is always the 4th or 5th scoring option on the floor. Kobe is always the 1st.

Teams game plan to stop Kobe’s outside shot and drives. Teams play off of Rondo cause he cant shoot.

Rondo shoots the majority of his shots around the basket. Kobe takes the majority of his shots from 15 feet out.

Rondo shoots about 10 times a game. Kobe about 20 times a game.

Rondo’s job is to create shots for others. Kobe’s job is to score.

This isn’t about Kobe anyway, its about how bad of a fit Rondo would be for the Lakers. As it is they cant score or shoot all the well and you want to bring in a guy that scores less than Gasol and shoots worse than DJ Mbenga?

With nobody in his face and from 15 feet out he shoots 59% from the free throw line. For a guard who has the ball in his hands all the time!!! That’s embarrassing and makes him a liability.

[Nanizm]

JayTheGreat, on 08 February 2012 - 12:35 PM, said:

How is it a bad trade? He got those assist with Garnet Allen and Pierce. You mean to tell me he couldn't get those same numbers with Kobe Bynum and other slasher on the team. Fisher can't shoot? Metta can't shoot? Barnes can't shoot? So what are you saying? This team is a contender with rondo. Matt Barnes isn't a scorer but a slasher. With rondo being able to shred the opponents defense and getting to the lane this opens up limitless scoring oppourtunities for the team. Let me guess you want us to go after Sessions or Flynn or better yet Gilbert Arenas right?

Of the 3 I would actually only like Sessions but yes I’d RATHER have Sessions or Flynn or Arenas because it wouldn’t cost them Pau Gasol. Arenas would cost nothing.

Im all for trading Gasol for a PG or a package of players that makes the team better. Rondo is not the guy. His strengths are nice but it doesn’t offset his huge weakness. When you are a ball handling guard that has the ball in your hands the majority of the time and you cant shoot it crowds the paint and lanes. It allows players to cheat on other players since they don’t need to stay that close to you cause you cant shoot.

[EvenSteven]

Nanizm, on 08 February 2012 - 12:37 PM, said:

What does Kobe have to do with Rondo? They are 2 different type of players that play under different circumstances.

Rondo is always the 4th or 5th scoring option on the floor. Kobe is always the 1st.

Teams game plan to stop Kobe’s outside shot and drives. Teams play off of Rondo cause he cant shoot.

Rondo shoots the majority of his shots around the basket. Kobe takes the majority of his shots from 15 feet out.

Rondo shoots about 10 times a game. Kobe about 20 times a game.

Rondo’s job is to create shots for others. Kobe’s job is to score.

This isn’t about Kobe anyway, its about how bad of a fit Rondo would be for the Lakers. As it is they cant score or shoot all the well and you want to bring in a guy that scores less than Gasol and shoots worse than DJ Mbenga?

With nobody in his face and from 15 feet out he shoots 59% from the free throw line. For a guard who has the ball in his hands all the time!!! That’s embarrassing and makes him a liability.

Two points is two points....the NBA is not Olympic diving. You don't get points for higher degree of difficulty. If you can drive for a two foot layup, or pass to an wide open teammate, then why shoot a 22 foot fade away jumper, with Iguodala and two other guys in your jersey!!

[CAS]

Ill tell you what...

Ill give BOS Pau if they give us Rondo & Allen.