Getting Gasol … and greatness
February 1st, 2008, 12:47 pm · 4 Comments · posted by KEVIN DING, OCREGISTER.COM
The trade for Pau Gasol is fundamentally, indisputably great stuff for the Lakers — both this season and beyond, because they remain young and deep. They’re just a lot, lot better now and a legitimate championship contender right away.
When healthy, the Lakers will have a starting five of Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Gasol and Andrew Bynum. They’ll still have tremendous versatility from the bench, because Luke Walton, Trevor Ariza, Ronny Turiaf and Vladimir Radmanovic offer varying degrees of impressive size and athleticism. Chris Mihm will be insurance behind Bynum and Gasol but won’t be needed normally. Jordan Farmar, especially, and Sasha Vujacic will retain their prominent backup guard roles, with Coby Karl as their insurance.
Here’s the current version of my story on the trade:
The bold move for championship immediacy that Kobe Bryant has long been awaiting has finally happened:
Power forward Pau Gasol, a 2006 All-Star, is coming in trade from the Memphis Grizzlies with a second-round pick for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and two future first-round draft picks. It is a deal that catapults the Lakers into championship contention both now and later.
The 7-foot Gasol, 27, is averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds in what has been a slightly down season for him as he weathered numerous trade scenarios once Memphis concluded he was not dynamic enough to anchor a rebuilding team. The Lakers expect to plug Gasol into an imposing frontcourt of size and skill with Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum, giving them three top-shelf interior players – all 6-foot-10 or taller – to go with Bryant, believed by many to be the best player in the game.
“We’re extremely pleased to be able to make this trade,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. “Pau is a proven player of all-star caliber in this league who can score and rebound and he’s still a young player. We feel this move strengthens our team in the short term as well as the long term.”
The Lakers lose little in the mistake- and injury-prone Brown, whose expiring $9.1 million contract provides salary-cap relief to Memphis. The Grizzlies, who saw Jerry West retire after last season and replaced him with Chris Wallace, wanted out from under the remaining $63.1 million over four years of Gasol’s contract (counting this season). Crittenton, the Lakers’ 2007 No. 1 pick, has great upside but no spot in Lakers coach Phil Jackson’s current rotation – and the Lakers have a point guard of the future already in the emerging Jordan Farmar.
The Lakers are making a commitment with three high-salary players in Bryant ($19.5 million), Gasol ($13.7 million) and Odom ($13.3 million) – with Bynum set to join them in 2009-10 once he gets his hefty extension this summer. But the accompanying talent is unquestionable, with the Lakers also retaining all their depth. Even if Odom isn’t ideal quickness-wise as far as defending opposing small forwards, the Lakers still have Luke Walton and Trevor Ariza or Bryant to pick up that burden.
Odom could also be moved for a cheaper replacement talent next season, when he is in the final season of his contract and another club could be seeking cap relief. The Lakers will need to shed salary to avoid a massive luxury-tax bill once Bynum’s extension kicks in with the 2009-10 season.
Although the Lakers could’ve been more aggressive in going for available New Jersey point guard Jason Kidd, he turns 35 next month and doesn’t play as great of a need position. Jackson said after he agreed to his contract extension earlier this season that the one thing the Lakers were lacking was a quality banger inside: Gasol isn’t necessarily the most physical big man, but he is a big man who can be physical. Gasol is fully capable of filling in at center until Bynum returns.
Gasol hasn’t won in Memphis, but he has done extremely well for the Spanish national team. Spain won the 2006 FIBA World Championship, with Gasol being named tournament MVP.
The 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year, Gasol has a gentle touch around the basket and a mid-range jumper that should be ideal for the power-forward slot in the triangle offense. He is also adept as a shot blocker – he has averaged 1.8 blocks per game for his NBA career – and with Bynum gives the Lakers two defensive stoppers inside. Gasol has missed three of Memphis’ past four games with a sore back, but it isn’t considered a major problem.
The move should go a long way toward ending talk of Bryant wanting to be traded away. Even though Bryant still has some issues with individuals in the organization, his desire to win more championships remains at the fore. And Lakers decision-makers Jerry Buss and Kupchak have now added two difference-makers through in-season trades: Ariza, who is out another 1 ½ months with a fractured foot, and Gasol.
The Lakers gave up first-round picks in 2008 and ’10 but get back Memphis’ 2010 second-rounder. They also included Aaron McKie, whom they weren’t planning on re-signing, and the draft rights to 2007 second-round pick Marc Gasol, Pau’s younger brother.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Kevin…. After watching the game last night, there was a moment where Kobe penetrated and gave Kwame a clean pass that he fumbled, and there where several defensive collapses that he made…. was that game alone the final straw for Kwame? And will Gasol be able to pick up the triangle quickly? And how do you forsee the lineup when Andrew comes back?
February 1st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Thank God they got rid off that Brown guy, Barkley said it all: K Brown?
P-l-e-a-s-e!
Let’s hope the Lakers did not get a washed-up player, like the Dodgers always do.
Adios, k. Brown! Thank God you are out of L.A.!
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Kevin,
Great article as usual.
I think Kobe deserves thanks for the stand he took
Kobe has been vilified for stating the obvious last spring — that the Lakers, as constituted, were nowhere near championship caliber.
On top of that, he questioned the owner’s willingness to do whatever it took to pull the trigger on a major deal. While Dr. Buss’ feelings were hurt, Kobe’s outburst did seem to shock him out of complacency.
On the first day of training camp when Phil was having everyone go around the room and say something about themselves, Kobe said, “Hi, my name is Kobe Bryant, and I want to win a championship.” That set the tone with his teammates and they have worked hard to earn his respect.
By not dropping his game face for the first months of the season, even when the Lakers were performing well, and by not saying (as the sportswriters were demanding) “Okay, I’ll drop my trade demand or opt out threat “, Kobe kept the pressure on the front office to truly improve the team for the long term. And he did it without backstabbing the guys he has now.
The result is a team that is taking on his competitive nature, that still sought to improve, and now with the addition of Gasol can legitimately be called a championship contender.
So yesterday Kobe let his guard down a little and said, “I have to take my hat off to Dr. Buss and to the front office. Now it’s up to us.”
He has transferred the expectations to his teammates, who I think will be happy to step up to the challenge.
On top of that, he went out last night and led by example, dropping 46 on Toronto to guarantee a win on the road trip that everyone predicted would be the Lakers’ demise.
Laker fans should thank Kobe for refusing to let the front office or his teammates settle for mediocrity.