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But the Lakers' title hopes were dramatically upgraded with the addition of Gasol last Friday. Los Angeles acquired the 7-foot, 227-pounder and a 2010 second-round draft choice from Memphis for underachieving forward Kwame Brown (whose lucrative contract expires after this season), rookie guard Javaris Crittenton, guard Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol, and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010.
When asked if he was shocked by the trade, Pierce said: "For what [the Lakers] gave up I was. I thought they'd at least give up a little bit. They didn't give up any of their core [players] and they got a guy that can really help them, an All-Star."
Gasol is set to practice today and debut Tuesday night in New Jersey. He watched the second half from the Lakers' bench with assistant coach Brian Shaw in his right ear with explanations about the triangle offense. Gasol joined the team's huddles in timeouts and listened in at one point when Bryant was advising Ronny Turiaf. Jackson noted the triangle is easier to learn for big men and said of Gasol's adjustment: "We don't think it's going to take him more than a couple of weeks."
Gasol's lingering problem with his back
Gasol said his brother, Marc, a center whose rights went to Memphis in the deal, is dominating this season in Spain: "My little brother is becoming really good."
Newly acquired forward Pau Gasol is expected to start for the Lakers when they take on the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The only thing that would keep him out of the starting lineup is his sore back which caused him a miss his last few games with the Grizzlies.
"It's getting there, good enough to perform well," Gasol told the Globe. "I have it under control. I'm working hard with the trainers and physical therapists, and it's looking good."
On the day the Los Angeles Lakers completed a trade for Pau Gasol, Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams expressed his disappointment in the Memphis Grizzlies. "Why did they do that to us?" Williams said, laughing. "Trade him to the East."
The Griz didn't attempt to quell the fact that Brown's expiring contract worth more than $9 million made the deal possible.
"That's not any of my business," said Brown, a 6-11 center. "I just have to come out and play hard. We've got a young team here and there's definitely an opportunity for me to get minutes. This could be a fortunate situation for me. I didn't get to play much out in L.A."
