NBA - Sports Rumors

Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:19 pm EST

Grizzlies owner willing to take heat for Gasol trade

By Michael Hurd

Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley never shies away from conflict or controversy. And in the case of trading away the team's one-time cornerstone in Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers essentially for draft picks and salary-cap savings, Heisley sounded as though he's ready to deal with the criticism.

"I'm the guy who is making the decisions," Heisley said Saturday. "If people want to (complain) don't get on (general manager) Chris Wallace about the trade — get on me. ... We had to reconstruct and start building a team like the Portland Trail Blazers did and like what the Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to do.

"This trade will give us the ability to get the payroll in line. There is no mystery to it. I'm not dumb enough to think we got quality for quality for Pau. What we did was try to open up flexibility."

Source: Commercial AppealNew Window

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218 Comments

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  1. jonathan m
    1. Posted by jonathan m Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    genius! go lakers!
  2. Scoottie
    2. Posted by Scoottie Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:19 pm EDT

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    Thank you.
    Finally Mitch is getting his proper dues for getting rid of the Big Useless named Shaq and building a team that didn't depend on an aging center who was worried more about his rap career and getting paid money then actually performing night in and night out. Hows it going over there with him Miami?
  3. daniel l
    3. Posted by daniel l Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    heisley and memphis were not going to win,so why not start over.they will be better for it.... laker fan for 30 years,so thank you mr.heisley
  4. THEGAMEINTHEGAME
    4. Posted by THEGAMEINTHEGAME Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    Who's his GM? Jerry West. Jerry has vision that is beyond this season something that most GM's are lacking. Check the draft boards that are forming for both of those years. He is hoping to land a big catch and keep cap room with the contracts of the youth. Rudy will be due for money by then and I'm sure that Mike Miller will be trade bait before then too.
  5. Yucaipa R A I D E R S Fan
    5. Posted by Yucaipa R A I D E R S Fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    Thanks for Pau!
  6. Ramblin25
    6. Posted by Ramblin25 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT

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    mike miller is the only player u have left that is exciting to watch.j-will was the most exciting grizzlie ever and u trade him.should have fired fratello and kept the j-will express.j-will went so did the playoff teams.
  7. Me
    7. Posted by Me Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    Isn't Jerry West the "used to be GM" of Memphis Mr. The Game
  8. S D
    8. Posted by S D Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:01 pm EDT

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    Well he could've gotten sometihng more than just KWAME bust brown and draft picks. They have enough points and Rudy may not stick around for this building process.
  9. Matt A
    9. Posted by Matt A Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:38 pm EDT

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    How about them Lakers? LOL
  10. PubPest
    10. Posted by PubPest Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

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    Heisley is more than welcome in MEMPHIS.. after what he did here in Vancouver.. he is two faced and can't be trusted... I wouldn't want to deal with him in the business world.. good thing his wife has loads of money!!!
  11. Justin H
    11. Posted by Justin H Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:48 pm EDT

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    haha ya kwame is the worst player ive seen in a long time haha THANK GOD he's gone
  12. Takeo L
    12. Posted by Takeo L Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:59 pm EDT

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    i respect that he has the balls to take the heat for trading pau.
  13. james b
    13. Posted by james b Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    Lakers will dominate the next decade.. we rock!
  14. Ross D
    14. Posted by Ross D Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:52 pm EDT

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    Mr. M. Heisley is doing the right thing. The Kwame + and Pau Gasol trade save the Grizzles $41 million ($50 M - $9 M) which will be used to rebuild the team. Gasol for years was unhappy playing in Memphis. Ex-Lakers rookie Critenton was a good pick. Kwame (& his $9 miilion pay) is in his last contract year.
    Memphis fans like the Lakers fans (for years like the Celtics fans) should be patient. Mr. Heisley (like Mr. Bass) knows what he is doing. Good luck Memphis!
  15. Wyn
    15. Posted by Wyn Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:31 pm EDT

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    Now we got a twin tower in LA. Thank you Grizzlies... Lakers - Boston NBA Finals here we Go!...
  16. Wyn
    16. Posted by Wyn Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:31 pm EDT

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    Sorry Cwebb you had your chance in getting a ring but you blew-it!...
  17. ncredibo
    17. Posted by ncredibo Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:34 pm EDT

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    THANKS MR. HEISLEY, YOU'RE THE BEST!!! A Diehard LAKERS FAN!!! I really wish you & your team the best of luck... kb.ahardcorelakersfanforlifeuntilthewheelsfalloff... WELCOME PAU!!!
  18. dj
    18. Posted by dj Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    giving up pau is not a big deal in memphis only because they were losing as it is.kwame is coming off the books and they have draft picks for the next couple of years and crit is going to be a good player but just not the right fit for the lakers at this moment.
  19. A Yahoo! User
    19. Posted by A Yahoo! User Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    Michael heisley you did the right thing trading away gasol...other teams & people are just jealous that the lakers are contenders now...
    go lakers!!!
    stfu laker haters!!!
  20. Alis D
    20. Posted by Alis D Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    Are you guys forgetting?? Now they have Kwame and Darko!!!! what a tandem.
  21. The Czar
    21. Posted by The Czar Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    It was a brilliant move. Before you guys criticize, think about the upcoming FA class. Josh Smith, possible Shawn Marion, Okefor, Luol Deng, Brand, Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, etc. etc.
    It is a very strong class. By dealing an underachieving, pouty Gasol for money coming off the books, they can make a run at a premium FA and definately get somebody better than Gasol, or whatever the Bulls were offering in Gordon or Nocioni.
    It may look like a bad move now, but you have to take into account the FA class coming up and that they werent' going anywhere with Gasol. In 2 years, it will look like a very good move.
  22. Cotton Piquer
    22. Posted by Cotton Piquer Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    & # 6 Kyle Lowry. Lowry has a FG% of 39.8 & a 3 pt% of 22.6. But often took more shots per minute than Gasol or Miller.
    Mike Miller needs to go to Dallas for Howard, or Phoenix for Raja Bell.
  23. Jefro
    23. Posted by Jefro Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:49 pm EDT

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    Its sad fans dont catch on. He just did a very smart move for you guys. Do you honestly think you would beat teams like the Lakers, Spurs, Suns, Mavericks. Or the Celtics and Pistons? Doubt it. Trade him and rebuild with the draft and free agency.

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