The Atlanta Hawks have aggressively tried to trade power forward Josh Smith (6'9''-F-85) to the Lakers for Pau Gasol (7'0''-F/C-80), initially expressing interest in Gasol shortly after Oklahoma City eliminated the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, The Times has learned.
Smith has been unhappy in Atlanta for more than a year, his dissatisfaction starting after the 2010-11 season because he felt he was an unfair target of criticism by coaches and media members.
In separate activity leading up to Thursdays amateur draft, the Lakers are also open to trading Gasol to a team with a high first-round pick because they covet Kentucky freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Atlanta holds the 23rd pick and cannot help in that area.
No deals were imminent for the Lakers, who hold only the 60th and final pick in the draft. They have not had a first-round pick since taking Javaris Crittenton in 2007.
Last season, Smith averaged career-highs in points (18.8) and rebounds (9.6) for the Hawks. He is only 26, five years younger than Gasol.
If the Lakers struck a deal with Atlanta, they would lose the height advantage that made them one of the longest teams in the NBA Smith is 6 feet 9, three inches shorter than Gasol but would instantly become more athletic.
Smith is an incredibly active defender and has career averages of 1.3 steals and 2.2 blocked shots. Two years ago, he became the youngest player ever with 1,000 career blocked shots.
He has one more year on his contract for $13.2 million and becomes an unrestricted free agent in June 2013 unless he signs an extension. The Lakers would also benefit financially from a deal involving the two players: Gasol has two more years and $38.3 million on his contract. It is unclear which player would accompany Smith to the Lakers in such a scenario.
The problem with Smith is his percentages. He shot only 45.8% last season, very low for a power forward, and was a dreadful 63% from the free-throw line. He probably takes too many three-point attempts as well, making only 28 of 109 last season (25.7%).
Smith isnt nearly as strong as Gasol in shooting, though he averaged a commendable 3.9 assists last season. Gasol averaged 3.7 a game.
Like Smith, Gasol could use a fresh start with a new franchise.
He was part of the proposed Chris Paul trade in December that was vetoed by the NBA. He never dragged his feet after the trade was nixed, but his play suffered in accordance with Andrew Bynums improvement.
Gasol failed to make the All-Star team after three consecutive appearances and stalled in the playoffs, averaging 12.5 points and shooting 43% in the Lakers short-lived run.
Gasol was similarly small in playoff stats the previous year, averaging 13.1 points and 42% shooting as the Lakers were eliminated by Dallas in the West semifinals.
Kidd-Gilchrist averaged 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds for Kentucky, which won the NCAA championship. Listed at 6-foot-7, Kidd-Gilchrist is projected to be one of the top five picks in the draft.
Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka look forward to Eurobasket 2013 - May 21, 2013
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Marc Gasol (216-C-85, agency: Interperformances) and Serge Ibaka (208-C/F-89) look forward to Eurobasket 2013. Juan Antonio Orenga is sure both of them can play on the same level as absent Pau Gasol.
Marc Gasol spent his best season in NBA. He has been named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year. LeBron James finished second, with Serge Ibaka finishing third. In 2011-2012 for Memphis Grizzlies (NBA, starting five) Marc Gasol 14.6 points per game and 7 [read more]
Marc Gasol (216-C-85, agency: Interperformances) and Serge Ibaka (208-C/F-89) look forward to Eurobasket 2013. Juan Antonio Orenga is sure both of them can play on the same level as absent Pau Gasol. Marc Gasol spent his best season in NBA. He has been named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year. LeBron James finished second, with Serge Ibaka finishing third. In 2011-2012 for Memphis Grizzlies (NBA, starting five) Marc Gasol 14.6 points per game and 7.6 rebounds. In the first Semifinal game he scored 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Serge Ibakas season in NBA is finished. His Oklahoma City Thunder lost to Marc Gasols Memphis in the Quarterfinal series. This season he showed massive 13.1 points per game and had 7.8 rebounds.
Jasmin Repesa is set to leave Unicaja - May 21, 2013
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Jasmin Repesa is not going to stay with Unicaja Malaga reportedly. The Spanish media reports that the team decided to part ways with the coach after his failure to lead Unicaja into the ACB playoffs. Unicaja finished the regular season in the ninth position at 18-16 record. The Malaga team also failed to make it into EuroLeague playoffs occupying the fifth position in the second stage Group E. Jasmin Repesa took over Unicaja at the start of the season [read more]
Jasmin Repesa is not going to stay with Unicaja Malaga reportedly. The Spanish media reports that the team decided to part ways with the coach after his failure to lead Unicaja into the ACB playoffs. Unicaja finished the regular season in the ninth position at 18-16 record. The Malaga team also failed to make it into EuroLeague playoffs occupying the fifth position in the second stage Group E. Jasmin Repesa took over Unicaja at the start of the season. He signed 1+1 contract then. Last season the Croatian specialist worked with KK Cibona. He led the team to the A1 title. Eurobasket.com named Jasmin Repesa All-Croatian A1 League Coach of the Year. Repesa used to work in Croatia, Turkey, Poland and Italy before. He also guided the Croatian and Polish National Teams.
Spanish ACB round 34 best performance: Brad Oleson - May 20, 2013
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Naturalized American point guard Brad Oleson (191-PG-83, agency: Duran International) had a great game in the last round for FCB Regal, receiving a Eurobasket.com Player of the Week award for round 34. The 29-year old player was the main contributor (26 points, two rebounds and four assists) to his team's victory, helping them to edge out Lagun [read more]
Naturalized American point guard Brad Oleson (191-PG-83, agency: Duran International) had a great game in the last round for FCB Regal, receiving a Eurobasket.com Player of the Week award for round 34. The 29-year old player was the main contributor (26 points, two rebounds and four assists) to his team's victory, helping them to edge out Lagun Aro GBC (#17, 8-26) 90-89. FCB Regal maintains the 3rd position in American ACB. They would have been even better if they hadn't lost a few games earlier this season. FCB Regal will need more victories to improve their 23-11 record. In the team's last game Oleson had a remarkable 66.7% from 2-point range. He just recently signed at FCB Regal, being already a very valuable addition to the team. Brad Oleson averages this season 9.7ppg.
The second best player in last round's games was young Brazilian Raul Neto (186-PG-92) of Lagun Aro GBC. Neto had a very good evening with 25 points and 6 assists. Bad luck as Lagun Aro GBC was edged by the higher-ranked FCB Regal (#3, 23-11) 90-89. Lagun Aro GBC is still in a red zone at 17th spot in Round 33. 26 lost games are too many comparing to just eight victories Lagun Aro GBC managed to get this year. Neto is well-known at Lagun Aro GBC and is a proven leader in his second season with the team.
Third on the list of top players last round was forward Nacho Martin (205-F-83) of Blancos de R. (#16). Martin scored 19 points and grabbed ten rebounds. Despite Martin's great performance Blancos de R. lost 62-78 to the higher-ranked G.Canaria 2014 (#7, 19-15). But his team cannot count on just a single player as he also needs help of the other teammates. The chances of Blancos de R. not to end season at such low position in , however are less than slim as they have already lost 22 games, recording just twelve victories. With bigger assistance of his teammates, Martin could try to bring Blancos de R.'s a little bit higher in the standings. Martin has individually a great season in Spain. After 34 games, he made it on the list of the league's leaders in points with 15.6ppg (4th best) and rebounds with 7.1rpg (#1 in league).
Other top performing players last week: 4. Fernando San Emeterio (198-F/G-84) of Caja Laboral - 27 points 5. Corey Fisher (186-PG-88) of FIATC Joventut - 26 points, 2 rebounds and 9 assists 6. Vladimir Golubovic (213-C-86) of CAI Zaragoza - 17 points and 7 rebounds 7. Salah Mejri (217-C-86) of Blusens M. - 12 points and 14 rebounds 8. Marcus Lewis (203-F/C-86) of UCAM Murcia - 19 points and 9 rebounds 9. David Doblas (206-C-81) of Lagun Aro GBC - 20 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists 10. Jordi Trias (207-F-80) of FIATC Joventut - 11 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists
The Player of the week is choosen based on efficiency calculation, but also including game result, importance of the game, if played recorded double-double/triple-double, etc. The efficiency formula is a combination of various formulas used by different basketball organizations/leagues. We got involved many basketball scouts and journalists to assure it's accuracy. The formula: 1.5*PTS + 3*(REB+AST+ST+BL-TO) - 2*BSAG - 4*PF + 3*PFRV + 4*(2FGPM+3FGPM) + 1.5*FTM - 3*(2FGPA-2FGPM) - 3*(3FGPA-3FGPM) - (FTA-FTM)
Caja Laboral: took 4th place (4-6) in Group C of the Regular Season, took
4th place (8-6) in Group F of the Top16, lost to CSKA 3-1 in the quarterfinals
!!!
FCB Regal: took 1st place (9-1) in Group D of the Regular Season, took 1st
place (13-1) in Group F of the Top16, lost to Real Madrid 67-74 in the
Semifinals, lost to CSKA 73-74 in the 3rd place game !!!
Real Madrid: took 1st place (7-3) in Group A of the Regular Season, took 2nd
place (10-4) in Group E of the Top16, lost to Olympiakos 88-100 in the Final !!!
Unicaja: took 2nd place (8-2) in Group B of the Regular Season, took 5th
place (7-7) in Group E of the Top16
Cajasol: took 2nd place (3-3) in Group H of the Regular Season, took 4th
(last) place (1-5) in Group K of the Top16
Gescrap BB: took 1st place (6-0) in Group B of the Regular Season, took 1st
place (4-2) in Group J of the Top16, lost to Lokomotiv 64-75 in the Final !!!
Valencia: took 1st place (5-1) in Group D of the Regular Season, took 2nd
place (4-2) in Group J of the Top16, lost to Lokomotiv 1-1 (-5) in the
Semifinals !!!
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