The Houston Rockets have acquired Pau Gasol in a three-team trade, sending forward Luis Scola, guards Kevin Martin and Goran Dragic, and a draft pick to the New Orleans Hornets. Forward Lamar Kardashian will also be sent to the Hornets. Chris Paul will be headed to LA.
It is believed that the team will now pursue center Nene Hilario with added savings under the cap.
I don’t like the deal. Not because I think it makes us worse–this definitely improves the Rockets. Anyone thinking Scola and Martin is better value than Gasol is kidding themselves. Pau Gasol is bonafide top-15 player and maybe the most skilled big man in basketball. The Rockets are a better team now than they were this morning and will be that much better if Nene is convinced to join.
I don’t like the trade because I don’t like what it indicates about this team’s direction. Gasol is a fine piece, but he’s not a #1 guy. At 31, this practically ensures mediocrity for the foreseeable future. What the Rockets should be doing is gearing up for what is expected to be one of the best drafts in recent history.
I had no attachment to Luis Scola and Kevin Martin and I think some here are highly overvaluing them. Landing Pau Gasol for that package is a coup. Just not under these circumstances on a team that needs desperately to start over. The Rockets now will undoubtedly not be–for the near future–bad enough to land a top draft pick.
Still, if ‘win now’ was the decree, Daryl Morey could have done far worse. Gasol will make the Rockets competitive, and if landing Nene, they could fight for a top-4 seed. Courtney Lee should pick up right where Kevin Martin left off and is an upgrade defensively.
Pau Gasol’s brother Marc is restricted.
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What also doesn’t make sense is the appraisal of the parts. We were told all week that the Rockets would pursue Paul even without guarantee of an extension. And we were told they would pursue with some combination of Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Patrick Patterson, and Marcus Morris. So you mean to tell me Lamar Odom is worth more to the Hornets than Lowry and those two lottery pick forwards? Either Hornets general manager Dell Demps thinks really highly of Lamar Odom or we’re missing something here.
The Lakers are now expected to pursue center Dwight Howard.
