Apparently, Gregg Popovich is that guy in your fantasy league who likes to veto trades

Boo hoo, the Lakers managed to score a star player by using an expiring contract. It's no different than the Heat scoring Shaq by using an untenable teammate situation with him and Kobe or the Celtics scoring Garnett based on a guy coming up on the end of his contract and not wanting to get nothing for him. The Lakers traded an expiring contract, a top 20 first round pick in Javaris Crittenton, a possible future star in Marc Gasol and several draft picks. It's lopsided in terms of personnel but perfectly reasonable within the framework of the NBA CBA. Popovich would have taken the same deal for Gasol, and I'm not about to cry any tears for him. Poor baby - sorry your team is getting old on you.

Great deal? BK, that's an understatement. I'm not totally sold on Gasol as a number one guy, and we'll see how happy he is long-term being the number two, or three...but it's a phenomenal deal for LA. I never thought I'd see a deal so soon that rivaled the Vince Carter trade, but there you go.

Those grapes are some especially sour grapes, but really, he and Jackson don't get along and Pop's team is not playing how he wants.

The Lakers have finally figured it out. Who cares what other people say? Who cares what moves they make? They can only worry about the Lakers.

SNAP CRACKLE POP

I'm surprised he's talking.

He's always been about who and what his own team does.

In any case, like I said...don't forget the Spurs.

lost a lot of respect for pop after readin about this. seems to hold a grudge against the lakers... there have been plenty of bad trades in the past 10 years but i havent heard a (pun intended) pop from him.

The hypocracy in the league is baffling. I hate to reiterate what been posted but...cmon man...we offered the hous for KG and they settled for bunch of garbage/role players "LOPSIDED". We got fleesed for Shaq "LOPSIDED". its hard to believe Pop would say such a thing..and now I hate the Spurs even more than I use to.

The NBA...were LOPSIDED trades (As long as its not in the west) causes coaches to wish they were on the trade committee happens

We should also thank Lamar Odom. If he didn't injure Bynum, the Lakers would have never made the trade.
Thanks Odom!

Just another in a line of great Lakers trades:

1) Elmore Smith, Briand Winters, Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley
2) Don Ford for pick that became James Worthy
3) An old Gail Goodrich for the pick that became Magic Johnson
4) Vlade Divac for Kobe Bryant
5) Shaq for Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Jordan Farmar
6) Archie Clark, Jerry Chambers and Darrel Imhoff for Wilt Chamberlain

Shorter Pop:

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!

does anyone see the hypocrisy that pop is showin,

he gets enough bought out contracts to create a throwback all-star team for his bench and he is crying?

Folks are just blowing smoke. Fact is that all teams had opportunity to trade for Gasol. Memphis put him so out there. Memphis wanted 1) immediate salary cap relief and 2) young talented players. That is what the Lakers gave them in a way that other teams didn't. Memphis payroll next season is low.

Memphis is very high on Javaris Crittenton as are we. Losing Crit hurts. Memphis gets him cheap for the next 3 or 4 years. Crit may be an all star making Memphis look smarter than people are currently giving them credit.

Good job Mitch.
NBA & Pop can quit crying and play ball.

Popovich has got a lot of nerve...what about the convoluted " salary cap amnesty rule" that allowed the Spurs to pick up Michael Finley on the cheap while Dallas payed the lion's share of Finley's contract?

BK....that play you mentioned last night where the Spurs tied the game on the Knicks was brilliantly executed by the Spurs. Ginobli sucked in three players going for the basket and basically the Knicks were glad to let him have a two point basket. But at the last moment he found Finley, who had rotated from the top of the circle, in the right corner for the game tying three. That's why the Spurs are champs...smarts and execution. Plus, when it comes to bending the rules, who is better than they are? Ginobli and Bowen with the flops and dirty defensive plays, Duncan with the CONSTANT moving sereens. Duncan also has a subtle way of pushing opponents in the back when he is boxed out, a practice for which he's very rarely whistled for. Combined with the fact that the Spurs lead the league in whining to the refs. and their team becomes easy for me to dislike. Plus they are BORING as all get out.

Popovich is just plain worried at seeing the rest of the league improving. As currently constructed, the Spurs can be had, and he knows it.

POP has popped his cork. The guy needs to worry about his Spurs. Maybe that is what he's doing; worrying the LAKERS will once again kick their butts

We'll see you in the playoffs Pop. LOL

I'm not sure if you've read this new interview with Bynum...but here it is, it's from ESPN Magazine:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?name=20080128/everbodylovesbynum

Part of me can't help but smile wide when I think of the ire across the league that the trade for Pau is inspiring. Oh, forget a wide smile, how about an evil chuckle? Muahahahahahahahha!!!!!!! Seeing Kobe playing with a team that is less than well put together for the past couple of years makes the trade and Drew's growth ten times more satisfying.

I am looking forward to tomorrow and another great game from our team.

Popovich can kiss my a**! And what did he say about the Lakers in 2004 when we traded Shaq....he compared the Lakers to the collapse of the Soviet Union, are you kidding me? He needs to make a trade with a plastic surgeon in LA---his hole-filled face for a new one.

I Hate that guy, he is number one on my list of most hated coaches...right behind Mike--I can't coach anything but elementary pick and rolls--D'Antoini.

If the Laker's were the collapse of the Soviet Union, then his Spurs' decline could very well be likened to the fall of the Roman Empire.

Snap, Crackle...STFU and deal with it, Pop...

Lets be honest here...it is a unfair trade,at least Min. got Jefferson who is a stud now.If this trade was with anyother team,we all would be moaning....Even Phoenix had to give up something for Shaq. Remember a prospect is a suspect until he proves he can play.Iam a Laker fan but smart enough to relize that it was an unfair trade.....

See, here's the thing about this trade being "unfair"

It can't be unfair if the other team got what they wanted to. And Memphis got what they wanted- Salary cap room. Thety bit the bullet and did it cause they thought that the flexability would help them later down the road.

LOL you guys are taking this POP comments to the heart! Don't do that men! honestly I liked his comments because he's already letting everyone know that the LAKERS are for real and are to be taken seriuos!
Just think about for a second... he's the coach of the champions and perhaps he's the one who understands the problems that Gasol gives to Timmy. So... Timmy has to guard Gasol because the dude can shoot... who's gonna stay down low to play Bynum??? and if so... what about Odom?? :)... on the defense end... well .. Tim may pass by Gasol but he'll find Bynum there waiting for him. Woww ... I personally think there is no match for this Lakers roster. Stick to it... do not make any more trades!!!

This deal was lop-sided as all heck.

We received another team's #1 player in exchange for a guy that was booed on the home floor and who was best known for fumbling a birthday cake.

Sure, it was Highway Robbery sans man in the mask.

Do I care that Memphis got robbed? Nope.

Viva La Lakers!

I still have the latimes sports page the day that Vlade Divac was traded for Kobe. The owner from the Hornets said that the deal was going to be the steal of a lifetime...oh was he right about that. :)

Neil

I don't understand? How was this trade unfair? Were talkin bout multi-millionair men coming to an accord and you scream unfair? Wow I could go down the line of unfair trades..and this is by far beneficial for Memphis since we helped them accomplish a mission (cap relief) So again..how was this an unfair trade? What if 3yrs down the line Memphis pick up some nice FA and draft a stud? Geezz man doesn't anyone see further than what was traded..instead of what could be the future for a franchise so far on the bottom that a shake up was needed? I careless about unfair trades..bout time we were on the receiving end of something good..ill let yall piss and moan like Coach pop about what's unfair and what's not!

Did he say anything when the Spurs tanked a season to pick up Duncan in the draft?

Screw POP

POP GOES THE WEASEL

me

that's a good point.

they tanked the season with Mr. Robinson of all of them. i'm sure he could have pull maybe an exit in the first round of the playoffs, like kobe did 2 years in a row.

Mike T is thinking 'Darn straight, this deal was one-sided!!'

I think Pop has a great sense of humor. I have to admit it must make the Lakers favorites if they can get Bynum back healthy, as well as Ariza. I'd like to see how Odom fits in on this down the road.

Collapse of the Soviet Union!?

Who do you think the Spurs are, Pop? USA?
HAHAHA..

I think its just a fear of not being able to repeat unlike the great teams of the Lakers, Celtics and Bulls (and even the Olajuwon led Rockets who burned the David Robinson led Spurs).

And to think that Phil Jackson Coached that Lakers and Bulls. And the pain in Pop's a$$ when the Lakers kicked it during that three peat. I think that's where the grudge can be attributed to.

The bottomline is...HE IS SCARED!

GO LAKERS!!!

I THINK THAT NOW THAT THE LAKERS WILL WAIVE DJ MBENGA AND THE ROSTER WILL BE REDUCED TO 13 THAT WE SHOULD GET 1 OR 2 MORE PLAYERS.ANY SUGGESTIONS?

bobie,

Thanks for posting the link to the Bynum profile. Loved the story and makes me cheer for he and Critter even stronger now.

actually now you better keep mbenga,,he's the only one who can muscle with shaq...

>>>Snap, Crackle...STFU and deal with it, Pop...

nice.

The Original Ken,

>>>I still have the latimes sports page the day that Vlade
>>>Divac was traded for Kobe. The owner from the
>>>Hornets said that the deal was going to be the steal of
>>>a lifetime...oh was he right about that. :)

And that could be a more prescient observation than you
know. What if Crittenton eventually turns out to have
Kobe-like talent?

I'm not saying it's likely, but it is at least possible.

And there was another facet of the Vlade trade - it helped
clear cap space to make an offer for Shaq.

After we finish this road trip we play atlant at home go on a 3 game road trip again!
that will make the lakers play 12 out of 13 games on the road!

Greg is too high strung for his own good. I think it probably helps him be a good coach, but not necessarily a good human being. He comes off as extraordinarily whiny.

I guess we can infer from his comments that he's afraid of the Lakers, eh?

I still have the latimes sports page the day that Vlade Divac was traded for Kobe. The owner from the Hornets said that the deal was going to be the steal of a lifetime...oh was he right about that. :)

Posted by: The Original Ken | February 09, 2008 at 02:47 PM

Thanks for the historical perspective.

One wise poster was saying deals are judged years down the road. Well, there you go.

Gasol put the sand in Pop's underwear
It rubbed his place that rhymes with China
In the summer we couldn't see this thing coming
Now the old, bargain roster team Spurs are going

Does Pop want a trade review committee if he doesn't have a championship roster that can attract talent to his stingy, small market team? I'm thinking not.

And putting a person with an obvious self-interest on a trade review committee. That sure makes a lot of sense too.

Pau (peace/paul in catalan) has been unhappy being the best player at Memphis.

He never was best player at FC Barcelona, except a King's Cup where he was almost perfect. But his role was not that.

He likes titles, and team happiness, every team mate at FIBA national teams world cup final dedicate the final to him (injured at semi final) and weared a T-shirt with his name and with a legend - TODOS SOMOS GASOL - -All of we are Gasol -.

He is a friendly person, very, very, polite, not "divo" and LAkers will enjoy his play and behaviour a lot.

If I were a NBA manager I should look for Ricky Rubio, the best world player of her age (17 years old) and a ACB star since last year, and some ACB coach, first as assistant and after to replace some old head coach that wants to leave the court.

I do think better European coaches are much better than USA non best ones, and perhaps better that some coach of the season.

George Karl was the last one to came from USA to ACB and he learned a lot, and R. Madrid learned not to contract any other USA coach. If he was coach of the season, imagine those who beat him - and he had the better bill and roaster money could buy that season.