Ever since Shaq left in 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers have been trying to fill a void in their front court. This pressing need was prompted to a priority when, in the ‘07-’08 season, all the contending teams in the West seemed to have athletic big men (the Suns’ Amare Stoudamire, Dallas’s Dirk Nowitzki, Spurs’ Tim Duncan, Hornets’ David West, Jazz’s Carlos Boozer), including the Boston Celtics who just acquired Kevin Garnett.
Mid-way through the season, on February 1, 2008, Pau Gasol was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Los Angeles Lakers for forward-center Kwame Brown, guards Javaris Crittenton and Aaron McKie, and first round picks in 2008 and 2010.
Are you kidding me? The only good player/pick that the Lakers gave away was that 2008 first rounder that turned into Marc Gasol, and he’s a long ways away from proving himself in the NBA. Pau Gasol is a top-tier NBA forward, and the Memphis Grizzlies, with the help of their new, inexperienced GM Chris Wallace, seemingly gave him away for nothing. Kwame Brown was let go after a half year of services, Crittenton was traded to the Wizards, McKie was released and become an assistant coach for the 76ers, Marc Gasol is still unproven, and the 2010 pick will inevitably be late in the 1st round. Bravo Memphis, bravo.
Pau Gasol turned the Lakers franchise around, although they were already respectable, and led them to the NBA Finals alongside MVP Kobe Bryant - however they lost in 6 games to the Boston Celtics. The following year, in Gasol’s first full season in purple and gold, the Lakers returned to the Finals and easily handled the Orlando Magic to garner their 15th championship.
Gasol has averaged nearly 19 ppg and 9 rpg, solidifying the power forward spot for the Lakers and keeping them as a perennial contender for years to come.
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