According to Peter Vescey (NY Post) Options

[spiderman]

According to the NY Post (Peter Vescey), Pau Gasol's exodus from Memphis has lost momentum. If the Grizzlies can't wheedle Ben Gordon and Luol Deng from the Bulls, he's not going anywhere, it says here. Meaning Gasol is staying put. John Paxson unwaveringly refuses to give up both or even two of his consecrated corps (Kirk Hinrich and Andres Nocioni) of four, whereas Jerry West steadfastly refuses to surrender his superior services for anything less. Moreover, there's strong sentiment from above that even if that ideal deal became available it'd be a monumental mistake to move Gasol at this time. Better to delay deliberating parting with a 26-year-old, 7-foot, All-Star caliber talent until it's established what position the Grizzlies will own in this June's draft and whether Greg Oden and Kevin Durant have declared their eligibility for it. Imagine Gasol alongside one or the other and then add Rudy Burrito, Mike Miller (not exactly a lock to remain in Memphis past Thursday), Hakim Warrick, Alexander Johnson, Lawrence Roberts and largely forgotten (special rookie) Kyle Lowry, out forever with a broken left hand. "Trade Pau now and then what?" wondered a Grizzlies executive before answering his own question. "We'll wind up spending the next 10 years trying to replace him." Convinced time and youth, for the most part, are on his side, the Bulls VP is scouring the topography for a halfway decent post-up scorer (Shareef Abdur-Rahim?) unless, of course, someone like Zach Randolph suddenly comes on the market.

[Chicago Bulls Fr...]

I agree with you on a few of your points but the reason Miami won was because of Wade and Shaq. Actually another good reason is because there role players, Posey, Williams and Walker all played extremely well when called upon and they hit there open shots.

We don't have any player close to Wade's skill level because number 1 he can get any foul late in the game because he is a superstar and also likes to initiate contact which is something we don't do as a team very well. He sees the floor well and he is excellent with his ball handling. If you don't double team Shaq he is going to kill you on the boards and offensively. There just isn't a player in the league that pound for pound matches up with him. Fortuanetly if you put a quicker player on him you can get a couple of steals or charges on him but we didn't have that last year but we do now, Tyrus Thomas. Obviously Tyrus can't guard Shaq one on one but if he has a little help he can hopefully reach in there to steal it.

I agree we shouldn't give up both Deng and Gordon but if it comes down to Deng and other role players, as much as Paxson loves Deng we must part ways because the East is up for grabs and by getting Gasol it makes us the favorite to win the East.