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The way free agency has played out over the past few days, new NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers have taken pole position when it comes to the 2020 NBA season and are seemingly headed for back-to-back titles.
This, after replenishing his ranks with former 2013 defensive player of the year Marc Gasol, last season’s sixth man of the year winner Montrezl Harrell and his runner-up Dennis Schroder, and defensive stalwart Wesley Matthews.
Gasol’s signing with the glamor of the Los Angeles team makes him and his older brother, Pau, the only group of siblings to have played for the Purple and Gold at any point in their careers. Though past his prime, the 7’0 ”puncher is still a notable improvement from last year’s starter JaVale McGee, which the Lakers had to ditch along with a second-round pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers, and backup Dwight Howard. , who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Thus, Gasol plays for the team that originally selected him in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft (48th overall). However, he did not get to don the suit for the Lakers, as his rights were included in the highly successful trade with the Memphis Grizzlies that brought Pau to Los Angeles in what was described, at the time, as the best job. wool in NBA history as LA. he just had to give up Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie and two first-round picks.
Of course, it proved the skeptics wrong, as Pau’s once chubby little brother doubled his brother’s brilliance in Memphis as he immediately made a huge impression with his inclusion in the NBA Rookie Second Team. In all, Gasol has averaged nearly 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists in a 12-year NBA career that includes three all-star picks, NBA first and second team picks, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. NBA mentioned above. and a 2019 NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors.
At the very least, Gasol will provide tough defense and an amazing pass from the post and elbow for the Lakers. He can also play pick-and-pop with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as Gasol has proven he’s a more than capable shooter from long range.
The Lakers not only caught a high-energy guy who can either start for them or come off the bench, but he also severely crippled their city rivals the LA Clippers when they signed Harrell to a two-year contract for half full. tier exemption. Despite the nightmare playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, the small 6’7 ”center is toughness personified and is a handful on the pick-and-roll and offensive crystal (19 points and seven rebounds per game Last season).
By getting Schroder, LA acquired a Rajon Rondo clone who is seven years younger than the original. The 6’1 ”German had a career renaissance last year as part of the Thunder’s three-headed point guard rotation (along with Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), averaging 19 points and four assists per game while he was helping Oklahoma City to a surprising playoff run before losing to Paul’s old team, the Houston Rockets.
Matthews, meanwhile, is a capable replacement for Avery Bradley, who signed with the Miami Heat. He is a 3 and D player who is a 38 percent career shooter from the land of plenty. But he really makes a living on the defensive end, where Marquette’s 6’4 ”student is tough as nails to control the best player on the opposing team’s perimeter.
Pat Riley and the Miami Heat, meanwhile, decided to stand their ground (no pun intended) and re-signed their free agents to essentially one-year deals to become a serious player in next offseason’s free agent award. , Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Last season’s Eastern Conference champions were able to keep veteran Goran Dragic, who led the team in scoring in the playoffs, and regular season starting center Meyers Leonard by signing them to two-year contracts with the sophomore as options. team. Wanting to keep their salary cap flexibility next year, the Heat were unable to accept the demands for long-term deals from Jae Crowder, who had a playoff breakdown last season, and NBA Slam Dunk 2019 Derrick King Jones Jr. Crowder signed with the Phoenix Suns, while DJJ is now with the Portland Trailblazers.
The management in South Beach deserves a pat on the back (pun intended) for avoiding the shiny objects on the floor and thinking about the bigger picture: the 2021 Greek Freak giveaway.
Mark Rabago is a former reporter for the Manila Times. He has continued his journalism career abroad, but is still a true fan of the NBA and PBA. He can be contacted at [email protected].
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