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Pau Gasol traded to the LA Lakers for Kwame ($10 mil expiring) + Critterton + 08 and 10 First round picks.


LA now becomes....
C:Bynum
F:Gasol
F:Odom
G:Kobe
G:Fisher

Pretty solid starting 5.

This is very similar to Detroit getting Sheed for expirings and 2 future firsts.

Could be the piece to put them over the top.

Consider that they have Farmar/Vujacic/Walton/Radmanovic/Turiaf off the bench with Ariza coming back this season and Mihm set to return from injury fairly soon?
Los Angeles *might* be the most talented team in the league now.

Odom and Gasol somewhat duplicate their games, right? But they are so versatile offensively. That's a scary cover. Outside shooting will be the key to their success, and they look like they'll be pretty okay at it, on paper (from three-point range: Farmar, Fisher and Walton can catch Bryant's dishes and hit shots--and Gasol and Odom can hit closer shots). Is the Jerry West still working for Memphis? It's weird. First the making of the Boston super team with Celtic connections in the background, and now the Lakers, with Laker connections in the background. Nah, not enough for a conspiracy.

As for the defense of the Lakers, we'll have to see. And then egos (like everybody said about Boston, which hasn't at all been a problem yet--to my knowledge).

Brown and Critterton? Memphis just went comatose for the rest of the season. I suppose the picks could be valuable. But what other options did they have for Gasol?

Memphis gave him away. I can't believe no other team could match that offer. The draft picks are going to be late firsts to boot. So you get an expiring in Kwame Brown, a mid-late first rounder in Crittendon and two future late firsts?

Doesn't make any sense to me.

Yah, but think of how low Memphis's picks will be. I didn't realize how bad their record is already.

Two firsts and the Kwame Brown pu pu platter for Gasol? Makes no sense.

But for LA, this looks like the first of two big trades to me. Now they can move Lamar Odom and some of their guard talent to pick up a guy like Kidd and be TRULY scary.

Imagine...

PG - Kidd
SG - Kobe
SF - Ariza/Radmanovic/whoever
PF - Gasol
C - Bynum

I bet that $10 million in Brown's expiring contract doesn't amount to much for Memphis.

I think Fisher is a better complement to Bryant than Kidd would be. Still, it would be fun to see Kidd on that team just to see what happens.

Fisher has played really well for them.

I don't think they're going to trade Odom for Kidd.

They seem very deep, with a great starting 5. That starting 5 is going to be very hard to defend.

Lakers are for real now, even more so if they can turn Odom into a point guard.

They still need a good defender at the 3 and Lamar Odom's more of a 4. Plus, he's never really worked out there. Frankly, I'd be surprised if he's still around after the deadline.

Is there a more athletic SF they might trade Odom for?

Is Ariza done for the season?

What about Artest in Laker Purple and Gold?

Dirtgrain wrote:Is there a more athletic SF they might trade Odom for?

I could see TMac being available.

Or maybe if they want to move Kobe to the 3, they could get Redd.

Joe sould see what it would take to get Mike Miller. Our first this year plus expirings?

Low-Ki wrote:Joe sould see what it would take to get Mike Miller. Our first this year plus expirings?

I was thinking along the same lines but I think that the Grizz might want Amir, Max, or Afflalo.


Miller would be a definate upgrade over Hayes but I"m not sure he'd be worth the asking price.

I guess this means that there is no chance of a Kidd to Lakers deal. I didnt even realize that Gasol's contract was so huge. Now I see why JoeD and other GMs didnt try to trade for Gasol.

With a deal like this, I think Joe will seriously consider making a move at the deadline.

I don't know who, but it'll probably be a potential 6th man. Like someone mentioned, Miller or Maggette.

Did not see this deal coming. Gasol is nothing like the Gasol of early these days, he can not even stay healthy.