2014-15 Lakers Season Thread (21-61) KAT
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Memphis’ Marc Gasol keeping options open during free agency
Below is a Q&A with Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, who talked with the Los Angeles Newspaper Group about his upcoming free agency, whether he’d consider the Lakers and how he has developed into what many around the NBA consider as the league’s best center. The Lakers (10-22) host the Memphis Grizzlies (23-on Friday at Staples Center.
Once you become a free agent this offseason, what variables are you going to weigh?
Gasol: I haven’t weighed anything yet. Knowing that Arn [Tellum] (Gasol’s agent) will handle pretty much the load of everything else, whenever July comes, it’ll come. We’ll sit down and have a human eye-to-eye conversation and we’ll see what we’re looking for and looking at for the next four or five years of my life with the team and different teams and my family. Whatever decision I make, it would be the best.”
Would you consider the Lakers as an option?
Gasol: “I haven’t even looked at it yet. Whenever the time comes, I’m not going to say no to anything or refuse anything. I’m not going to agree to anything. We’re much in no man’s land right now. I pretty much just have to wait until July.”
Has Pau provided you any perspective considering his time with the Lakers?
Gasol: That was Pau’s time. I won’t say no to anything right now. It’s not something I have in front of me right now. If it’s presented to me, I’ll think about it. If not, I won’t.
How do you look back on being part of the Lakers’ trade that brought Pau here (In Feb. 2008, the Lakers traded Kwame Brown, Aaron McKie, Javaris Crittenton two first-round picks and the rights to Marc Gasol to Memphis for Pau Gasol. The Lakers selected Marc Gasol 48th overall in the 2007 NBA draft. The Lakers would then appear in three consecutive NBA Finals and win two back-to-back championships, though Pau Gasol left this offseason to Chicago after experiencing endless trade rumors, reduced roles and health ailments for the past three seasons).
Gasol: “I never thought I would be in this league. I was happy for Pau because I knew that he needed a new start. I didn’t see myself as an NBA player. I didn’t see myself coming over here [from his native Spain]. I knew the Lakers didn’t know much about me. I never talked to them and they never came over. They gave me a training camp minimum contract. I wasn’t going to leave my team to be a training camp guy, especially not knowing what a training camp guy is. I would have a slim chance of making the team. It happens, but it normally doesn’t happen.
I was just happy for Pau, honestly. I think it worked out pretty well for both sides. The Grizzlies got what they want, which was rebuilding and the cap space at that time and some young players. I don’t think they knew what that could turn into. The Lakers obviously have two rings, which is the ultimate goal and a great, unique and outstanding player in Pau. I don’t think they’ll get another one like that in years to come.”
When you were traded then, did you have any clairvoyance you would become the player you are now?
Gasol: “I don’t think they knew the player I was. Nobody knew. Even today, I don’t think I’m the player I can still be. You never know. You make a decision and you have your side. They got a pretty good result having Pau for 6 ½ years. I don’t think they got the most out of Pau. They used Pau well for the 3 ½ years. But after that, the team didn’t have everything figured out. It was sad to see that. Move on and onto the next goal and next thing.”
So what has gone into your trajectory as a player?
Gasol: “You look at the game that’s in front of you and how teams try to play you and try to practice ways to get out of that. If teams sag on you, you work on your shooting. If teams play close, you work on your driving. If teams double teams you, you try to find ways to get out of what teams do to you. When you’re in the league long enough and you do different things, you’re going to find every single way to get out of every situation. It’s going to be hard to be a perfect player. But you try to be a complete basketball player as you can be. In the end, the game becomes easier.
As a basketball player, you always try to get better and think the game and see what they do and see how you can affect and how you can have a positive impact on your team. First you try to get in the rotation honestly. My goal was in our first training camp was to make the rotation and fight for the spot and earn my teammates respect. To the day, that’s one of the best that’s most important. To have your teammates’ respect, it’s never given. You have to earn your respect and earn your trust. That’s why they trust you now. You have to earn that everyday, especially in this league when it’s an emotional roller coaster when there’s games where you do real well and games you don’t do so well. You earn it everyday. That’s why you use that when you don’t do so well. They still trust you because they know what you stand for and know you have their back.”
It’s everyday. It keeps growing. It starts whenever they see you. You don’t think about it and do it. As long as do it consistently every night and every day in practice and every night in the games, teammates are watching. They see in the heat of the battle how you’re going to react. When the team is winning, they see how you react. When the team is losing, they see how you react. It’s something that you build on.
What did your focus this offseason on losing weight and changing your diet entail?
Gasol: “It all first started with my knee injury and having the little tear on the knee. It proves that you’re not invincible. That opened my eyes . That put me away from the game for a few weeks. There’s nothing worse for a player than to be away from the game. It’s frustrating. You feel like you’re not useful and you see your teammates go through adversity and you can’t help them. With that said, I look back and wonder what can I do to prevent this. One of the things was trying to be stronger and try to be a little healthier. That’s what I was already. I was healthy. Just clean up some stuff and knowing exactly how different things affect your body. Not that I didn’t know. Knowing it better. It really helped me. I don’t think the job is done yet. We have another good goal I can do. In season, it’s really tough to do. But during the summer, I think there’s more I can do. We will do it.
What is that next step?
Gasol: “Getting even leaner and even stronger. I won’t get much athletic because I’m not athletic at all. But just being able to do things tweaks here and there that can make a big difference in your game.”
What’s your goal weight/body fat percentage?
Gasol: “I don’t think there’s a goal. The weight drop just happens. It’s not a goal. It happens. You eat right and you do things and you’re determined enough, the weight is going to drop. That wasn’t even a goal where we talked about it. The goal was to be the healthiest possible. You can even take it beyond basketball and beyond professional sports. You want to be able to be healthy through your whole life.”
What did you have to clean up?
Gasol: A few things. Nothing that important. Nothing crazy. Just because they say there is zero calories or they say it’s fat free or it’s diet something or something light, it doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Just because they say all those things, it doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Everybody is different. My complexion is different than some people. I found what was good for me and what worked for me. I just stuck to it.
Any particular foods?
Gasol: To me, I wanted to find organic stuff. The less touched by humans, the better. We normally screw things up, usually to make a profit out of it. But that’s a whole different problem. Just find out what’s good for you and what’s work and be determined every day.
After talking to [Memphis coach Dave Joerger] and those on the Lakers, the overall consensus is that they all love your versatility, your passing, post presence and how you anchor the defense. What’s your perspective on what’s become key in mastering all those different skills?
Gasol: “I honestly don’t see anything that extraordinary about my game. I really don’t. I just see myself as a basketball player and like to compete. I take challenges and enjoy challenges. I don’t see anything that extraordinary for me. The game comes natural for me. There are things I must improve to get better.”
http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2...asol-keeping-options-open-during-free-agency/
Would he actually leave?
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Z-Bo stay getting hurt wouldn't see a reason not to come to LA besides Pau being and not wanting to work with a new crew
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Not a great chance..
But let's all be honest here.. Teams like the Grizzles, Suns are not going to win a title in the next 5 years. They could get better, but they will not win a title at all. Same thing for about 20 other teams. You can get better, but you won't win a title.
If that's how he views it, bigger chance he leaves.. And the only place he will go is LA. No Star Free Agent is going to that **** hole Knicks team.
But if we draft Okafor or Towns... Then it's a moot point. Unless you end up trading that guy for another pick, and that's extremely risky. And normally ends up being a bad decision based on history.
But let's all be honest here.. Teams like the Grizzles, Suns are not going to win a title in the next 5 years. They could get better, but they will not win a title at all. Same thing for about 20 other teams. You can get better, but you won't win a title.
If that's how he views it, bigger chance he leaves.. And the only place he will go is LA. No Star Free Agent is going to that **** hole Knicks team.
But if we draft Okafor or Towns... Then it's a moot point. Unless you end up trading that guy for another pick, and that's extremely risky. And normally ends up being a bad decision based on history.
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I hope Kobe stays doing what he's doing. 16 shots is a good look, considering he can still get to the free throw line. He needs to chill with the turnovers though. A lot of them are careless.
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I don't have a good feeling about tonight's game, but the last time these two teams played the Lakers got their teeth kicked in.
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Pistons. 
Kobe isn't scheduled to play the Blazers tomorrow per Byron.
Kobe isn't scheduled to play the Blazers tomorrow per Byron.
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We got that 4th spot 
I think that's the worse we can do but it works for me. Maybe when Minn gets some of they people back, they'll win a few more games.
I think that's the worse we can do but it works for me. Maybe when Minn gets some of they people back, they'll win a few more games.
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Seeing the Lakers suck so much hurts 
Mamba off to a hot start.
Mamba off to a hot start.
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Pacers
They are very well coached.
They are very well coached.
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I feel like Jordan hill purposely not trying cuz he doesn't wanna get traded. He's been awful lately
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wes johnson made me spit out my water
kobe needs to stop passing
kobe needs to stop passing
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***** ******** ****** nick young
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jordan hill knows hes going to be traded so hes just trying to make sure we get a good replacement bigman in this years draft
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Yeah he's hella inconsistent. I hope we don't end up getting rid of Davis and keeping him.
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GARY VITTI NEEDS TO ******* GO.
Our training staff is absolutely horrible.
They were vehement that he wouldn't need surgery and that he was fine... FIRST game of the year, broken leg.
Absolutey incompetent training staff. Clear house.
Bring Alex Mckechnie back.
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Get these bums (hibbert boozer) off the court
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why Hibbert so soft
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Hibbert looked like he flopped, then got upset. Doesn't really make sense.
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He flopped for sure
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