The Gasol Trade: Why This Is Awesome
One Laker fan’s point of view
I was in downtown Toronto, doing a bit of shopping with wifey when news of the trade broke. Driving down Bay St, when the reality of what had just transpired hit me, I very nearly veered into oncoming traffic.
My cell phone started blowing up with hysterical messages from friends, some ecstatic with what this meant for the Lakers, others (Laker haters) bitterly claiming that a softie like Gasol didn’t guarantee a damn thing.
An improbable trade in the middle of an increasingly improbable season.
Overnight, my beloved Lakers have transformed themselves into legitimate title contenders, and below are some of the reasons why.
1)How about Jerry West pulling a Kevin McHale on the Grizzlies? Remember how McHale basically gave away KG to the Celtics to save his good buddy Danny Ainge’s behind? That, essentially, is what happened here. Once a Laker, always a Laker.
(Jerry West, being the shrewd businessman that he is, has also set up the Grizzlies nicely for the future by securing two future first-round picks from the Lakers. L.A. was willing to mortgage its future for a chance to win now – with Kobe still at the apex of his powers - and Jerry was the right man to help them along. Thanks, Mr. Logo.)
2)Pau Gasol needed this as much as the Lakers did. He’s basically pissed away the last five years of his life in the wasteland known as Memphis, and suddenly, he’s now playing on for the League’s most popular franchise, alongside its most compelling figure. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to find out that he woke up the day after the trade and pinched himself to make sure he didn’t dream the whole thing.
(Pau Gasol was also made for a town like Los Angeles. When watching him toil away in Memphis, one couldn’t help but get the feeling that he deserved a much bigger stage. He’s on the biggest stage imaginable now, and I believe he’s going to flourish. The Triangle Offense thrives on passing, and guess what one of Pau’s biggest assets is? Not only that, but he’s got another low post presence returning to the lineup in about a month to make up for his shortcomings on defense and boards.
(Also: Gasol’s slightly “out there” personality should add tremendously to the Lakers’ hilariously eccentric locker room.)
3)This is now the Purple & Gold frontline: Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol. Lawdy Lawd. I’ll take my chances with those three against anyone in the League, everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. Those angst-ridden nights of guaranteed losses to stacked squads like San Antonio and Phoenix that we Laker fans had grown accustomed to over the last three seasons are over.
4)Every Laker fan worth his/her salt owes Mitch Kupchak a heartfelt apology. Three years of nothing but seething hatred from an entire fanbase, and Christ, it turns out that the bastard knew what he was doing all along.
(This past summer, when Kobe morphed into Denzel’s frantic wife from “John Q”, essentially yelling “Do something!!!” into the abyss, Mitch showed tremendous courage by refusing to panic and stubbornly stuck to his beliefs. He didn’t grab a gun and hold up an entire hospital; instead he kept faith in the roster he had painstakingly assembled and waited for them to prove him right. And shockingly, they did.
Kupchak knew full well that if Andrew Bynum didn’t turn into the monster that he has become, he was in danger of forever sullying his professional legacy by being the guy who stood by helplessly and watched Shaq and Kobe leave within the same decade. Today, he has to be considered one of the smartest front-office execs in all of sports. Simply remarkable.)
5)Seriously, who wants to face these guys in the Playoffs now? They were already scary without Gasol, and now, teams must decide if they’re going to let the Lakers’ frontline do them in, or if they’ll take their chances with a single-covered Kobe. In other words, “Gulp”.
6)The Western Conference is now even more insanely difficult than it was before. In the Wild West, only five teams are below .500 (with the Kings right around the mark), and at this point, it’s impossible to predict who’ll come out in June. I’ll be shocked if at least three of the Playoff series don’t go the distance this summer.
7)The NBA’s two marquee franchises, LA and Boston, are poised for a serious run at the title. If you can think up a more potentially entertaining Finals series than this one, I’d love to hear about it.
(It’s almost as if David Stern woke up one day this past summer, and said to himself, “You know, I kind of miss when the Lakers and Celtics were relevant. Let’s see if I can do something to make it so again … Now, where did I put McHale and West’s numbers?”)
8)This trade all but guarantees that Kobe Bryant will finish his career in a Laker uniform. All Bryant has ever asked for – in the most dramatic way possible, of course - is a fighter’s chance. Do you think there’s any chance in hell he’ll bolt town after next season with two dominant frontcourt players, arguably the best coach in the League, and support up the wazoo? No way.
(Ever since Shaq got traded, by the sheer force of his will, Bryant has dragged the team into the Playoffs, only to bow out unceremoniously. Now, the front office has brought in a fellow All-Star, nurtured a young center with limitless potential, and sprinkled in the requisite veteran leadership. Best of all, they’ve done it without giving up too many assets.)
Management has done its job. Now, it’s the players’ turn.
No more excuses.
Time to go out and win a title.
65 Responses to “The Gasol Trade: Why This Is Awesome”
Feb.5 at 9:47 am
Ryne Nelson says:
First?
Feb.5 at 9:50 am
white hot eboy says:
……..
Feb.5 at 9:53 am
DP says:
Championship b*tch. play wit it.
Feb.5 at 9:54 am
Ryne Nelson says:
This trade, in all respect, is starting to get overhyped before we have any idea of how it’s going to pan out. I have faith Gasol and Bynum will be able to co-exist well. But what about on the Memphis side of things? I wouldn’t be so quick to say they got scammed.
Feb.5 at 9:58 am
white hot eboy says:
I’d take Boston’s Big Three over LA’s right now. Kobe is one, KG two, Paul three, Ray four, Bynum 5 and Pau six. Their 2,3,4 is better than the Lakers 1,5,6.
Feb.5 at 10:00 am
TADOne says:
Memphis is mortgaging everything for the future. They know exactly what they are doing. As for the Lakers, I agree that everyone is making this bigger than it should be before Pau even plays in a game. I’d like to see how he fits into the rotation and lockerroom first before drawing any conclusions. The Lakers were stacked in 2004 as well and we all know how that turned out.
Feb.5 at 10:07 am
416 says:
they won the west in 2004 how is that a bad season it was the pistons year. try cheering for the raptors were excited after they make playoffs
Feb.5 at 10:09 am
riggs says:
you are giving this trade (and the people behind it) wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much credit.
Feb.5 at 10:18 am
TADOne says:
I understand the Lakers won the West that year. But everyone has been crowning the Lakers before Pau even plays a game. Same as in 2004. My point is that you still have to play the games and the West is still stacked. Nothing is guaranteed.
Feb.5 at 10:22 am
Ryne Nelson says:
No one can argue this doesn’t put the Lakers in the running. Until Parker went out indefinitely yesterday, I still had the Spurs as my favorite.
Feb.5 at 10:25 am
TADOne says:
I agree. The Lakers were in the mix even without Pau. I’m just not ready to crown anyone at this point.
Feb.5 at 10:27 am
BETCATS says:
pop bottles on 1 2 3
Feb.5 at 10:36 am
Rasheedionics says:
If you want to crown them, then crown their as*es. But they are who we thought they were!
Feb.5 at 10:39 am
Tariq says:
The Lakers are definitely contenders now, at least on paper. But I wouldn’t pencil them in for the Finals just yet. I’d like them to get out of the first round before I start thinking about even the possibility of the Finals. They do have the players though.
Feb.5 at 10:44 am
white hot eboy says:
Tariq, you will be blasted for that stance as I was on Friday when the trade was announced and I said the same thing. Lakers fans who haven’t had a title run since 2002 were telling me that this move guarentees a run of 3 to 4 titles so I guess we have to wait and see, huh?
Feb.5 at 10:48 am
TADOne says:
3 or 4 titles? Um, no. Reality and reason has to come around sooner or later.
Feb.5 at 10:54 am
white hot eboy says:
TAD, you weren’t around much on Friday were you? This was touted as probably the single greatest trade in NBA history. I just report what I read.
Feb.5 at 10:54 am
Dan says:
Don’t get me wrong, this trade is excellent for the Lakers, but why is it that everyone is talking like they are going to be unstoppable now? Pau is good, but not great; Bynum is still just a 10/10 guy; Odom has never lived up to his potential. Things are good in L.A., but it’s not like they have become a dynasty overnight.
Feb.5 at 10:57 am
BETCATS says:
if the Heat could win a ring anyone can
Feb.5 at 10:58 am
SLAM ONLINE | » A Contender To Call His Own says:
[…] Excerpts from the mind of Kobe Bryant: A crate-digging expedition inspired by Gasol, MacKenzie, Mutoni and Airington. Mutoni has already written about this. Holly has referenced it once or twice. And Myles has been threatening to give his own iconic take, which I hope he does very soon. So this may be overkill, but I’ll throw it into the pot anyway… […]
Feb.5 at 11:01 am
TADOne says:
I was here Eboy for the initial reaction, but I know everyone is really pumped right after a big trade, so I didn’t pay much attention to the people who were claiming championships from the jump. Tonight will be Pau’s first game. Let’s take the results from this point forward.
Feb.5 at 11:06 am
Slick Nick Da Ruler says:
Eboy, Boston’s big 3 is better now, but their supporting cast is weaker. Lakers look good for now. Did you hear those Shaq for Marion/Diaw rumors Friday night? I figured you’d be pumped, just to start the reloading in earnest
Feb.5 at 11:07 am
Sesa says:
If I may use an analogy, Gasol signing with the Lakers are like Microsoft trying to buy Yahoo.
Microsoft and Yahoo! have their own respective product, but the acquisition will revive the whole US economy.
While Gasol and Bynum are both virtually Centers that probably roam the same area but the signings itself had made a big buzz around the NBA and will gave the whole NBA Entertainment a big hope of drawing rating and commercials.
Feb.5 at 11:15 am
Tariq says:
Eboy: the dogs bark, but the caravan goes on…or something like that.
Feb.5 at 11:15 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
Marcel!!! You know how excited I am for this. You know how hyped all of the guys were in that locker room.. there was the buzz of new blood in the air.. whoo whoo.. Yes, JWest, looking out for his boy Kobe. haha. I really can’t wait for this. I also recall Lamar being asked if they had enough time to adjust to playing with one another before the playoffs and he said, “We have to.” I liked that. They will get it together. It will be an adjustment to get Pau used to the tri, and then to fit Bynum back in, but, damn I am excited. Kobe is excited. Phil is excited. It is a great time to be a Laker fan.
Feb.5 at 11:17 am
Cub Buenning says:
eBoy, no doubt.
San Antonio’s toughest series last year was that first-rounder with Denver. Not Phoenix. I’ll have to put up some separated at birth shots of myself and the big Spaniard. ‘Gasol’ is usually what i am called in my old-man league. I just gave myself my yearly shearing, but normally my appearance (shaggy mop, scruffy mug) and long-armed sky-hooks and finger rolls fit nicely with Pau.
Feb.5 at 11:24 am
TADOne says:
Would it be as great as Sam’s beard is Cub?
Feb.5 at 11:26 am
Cub Buenning says:
I can rock it like that…….
Light moustache, heavy chinbeard kinda growth. I hate shaving and probably only get to it once a month.
Being a teacher and a freelance writer for the past 12 years allow you those luxuries, i guess.
I haven’t worn anything but sneakers (usually vans or chucks)to work since 97.
Feb.5 at 11:30 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
I feel like 50% of the freelancers I meet are teachers… It doesn’t give me a good feeling because I’m not sure that would be a good fit for me! haha
Feb.5 at 11:30 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
and yes, Cub, we want a SAB with Gasol.
Feb.5 at 11:35 am
Rasheedionics says:
How does Gasol fits with triangle offense? Phil never ran an offense with 2 big men…It’s not about adding All-Star but creating a good chemistry… And I thought Luke Walton was big part of the starting five due to his obscenely huge basketball IQ… Just a thought.
Feb.5 at 11:43 am
DIO says:
Aside from the hype there is also reality…. Let me just remind to everybody that Gasol not only is overrated and soft, he is also a classic KG type loser…His Spanish squad won the world champion WITHOUT him playing in the final and last year he and his buddy Juan Carl managed to lose the EuroChampion final while playing home in front of 10.000 crazy Spaniards! Have fun in L.A Pau…
Feb.5 at 11:50 am
Ben Osborne says:
So nice to see “Mutoni’s Spot” back in action.
Feb.5 at 11:56 am
Cub Buenning says:
So winning a gold in the Worlds and a Silver at the Euros classifies as a loser? wow. KG type loser= dope player with no good teammates? Are you a relative of Ronnie James DIO?
HOLY DIVER! You’ve been down too long!
99% of this sites’ readers have to be confused by that rant, sorry…..
Feb.5 at 12:14 pm
k.o. says:
mutoni u can’t seriously be suggesting that kupchak has been planning this for the last 3 years!?
Feb.5 at 12:14 pm
white hot eboy says:
If Dio was any taller than 5′ 2″ he would have been menacing.
Feb.5 at 12:17 pm
Cub Buenning says:
One semi-obscure 80s metal fan out there!
Feb.5 at 1:16 pm
Jake Appleman says:
I think you just compared Kobe Bryant to John Q and John Q’s wife in the same paragraph. Kudos.
Feb.5 at 1:19 pm
DIO says:
@Cub:
my bad, I totally forgot KG’s performance during 2004 playoffs..but hey, you can blame it on Spree and Sammy!
The list of great NBA players never ending up with a ring is endless, I’m just sayin that Gasol and KG fit that category (Kobe too if not for Shaq)…watch it happen starting this year! and people pls get over it, ain’t no Ronnie James aka DIO fan!
CLOVERFIELD BABY!
Feb.5 at 1:19 pm
Joel O's says:
Remember the last time the Lakers were this stacked? It didn’t work. That said, I’ve been walking on air since this happened, and even if you are a Laker hater, you can’t help but be hyped right now. Go Kobeeee.
Feb.5 at 1:22 pm
Darksaber says:
Pau’s ONLY slightly “out there”. C’mon Mutoni, even with the Timberbeard, Pau’s still a bird.
Feb.5 at 1:54 pm
markis6385 says:
yea the needed this.if gasol can pick up that triangle offense its a wrap.phoenix who?????
Feb.5 at 2:13 pm
Nguni says:
the last time the lakers were this stacked, KB24 wasn’t the happiest camper. he was still complaining about touches and being the man. well, now he is happy and he has become a better leader, and a better teammate. the lakers are def gon’ be a scary team come playoffs. i’m not a huge laker fan, but the west should be scared, even the spurs are shaking in their boots right now.
Feb.5 at 2:14 pm
Nguni says:
@k.o.:
it sure sounded like it.
Feb.5 at 2:36 pm
Goody says:
Should work out great if they use him like Vlade…
Feb.5 at 2:45 pm
says says:
um, west left memphis last year…what are you smoking dude? get with it…
Feb.5 at 2:55 pm
Permaculture says:
It’s all about storyline. KG and Ray to Boston created something that people wanted to follow: 3 classy (lovable) , hungry all stars with a short window to make an impact–a last gasp for greatness and a legacy. This latest LA trade is equally interesting to me and I don’t even like LA. Kobe has turned a corner in his game and maturity (God I disliked him in the off season–disgruntled whiny superstar.) His team is healthy unlike last year’s playoffs and they are youngish and coachable like a college team. Everybody is passing (and making shots) which immediately makes them watchable to me. Now add a Euro all-star whose abilities have been thus far masked in Memphis and this creates a greyhound-like front court to run with the rest of the league. Somebody: what team past or present has had this type of profile?
Feb.5 at 3:27 pm
Pistonfan1 says:
Soft added to soft and expect hard results? Are you kidding me? Pau and Odom are in the same category with Chris Bosh… as long as there isnt any REAL talent forced against them, they flourish… any real post pressence and they buckle. Not to mention neither Pau nor Odom have ever won a damn thing in the NBA. Koby is still arguably the best all around player in the NBA, this much is true; but is it enough? Look for them to improve, but until we see how Pau does in a playoff series where the whole world now expects results remains to be seen. We already know Koby is battle playoff tested, but Odom has shown his weak soft self the past couple years in playoff series. The biggest key to this year isnt Pau or Odom or Bynum… It’s Derek Fisher. If he can show the type of commanding PG play he had in the Shaq era championships, this team has a legit shot at the championship. Pau will get them maybe 4-6 more wins over last year, but we all know the playoffs are a different bird entirely.
Feb.5 at 3:32 pm
Jerry West says:
“um, west left memphis last year…what are you smoking dude? get with it…” I was wondering if anyone else noticed that… Jerry West really didn’t have too much to do with the trade. I’m sure it is a typo because certainly someone who writes for a basketball magazine and is a self-proclaimed laker fan would know whats up with the logo…
Feb.5 at 3:33 pm
Sparker says:
why don’t we just give the lakers the chip right now? it would save time and we wouldn’t have to worry about questions related to all those players without deep playoff experience. i actually like detroit right now: those mfers are serious. boston looks vulnerable; coaches are figuring them out and doc does not seem to have new sets. i have to think more about what losing parker means, but i’m not counting those wily old spurs out either
Feb.5 at 3:34 pm
Cass McBride says:
ya blame chris wallace, jerry west never would’ve done this…unless of course he is secretly working for the lakers again…
Feb.5 at 3:34 pm
Jukai says:
I think people are missing some minor factors… like Bynum not being back for a long time, and Odom still being a walking injury. Can the team learn to work together fast enough before being pencilled in at number one? Also, Dio is still menacing at 5′2. Didn’t you see him in the caveman fur with that giant sword? Haunts my dreams.
Feb.5 at 3:39 pm
Zee says:
Damn, It feels good to be a Laker fan. I smell chips. At least two. That way Kobe can pass the big dummy in chip counts. That hopefully, will ease the big guy’s transition into law enforcement.
Feb.5 at 3:42 pm
Zee says:
And damn there’s a lot of hate on this page.
Feb.5 at 3:45 pm
tike says:
wow you fellas are really saying these things because the Lakers picked up a soft ass Pau Gasol…thats unbeleieveable i agree that there def a top 4 team in the West theres no doubt about that but i still think Dallas can get them in a 7 game series as so can the Spurs and with PHX it should be a dogfight….and whos says that Bynum is going to the same person he was before he got injuried because im sure as hell not drinking that Kool-Aid….the kid showed promise for what 15-20 games now hes the next Kareem…gimme a break!!
Feb.5 at 4:42 pm
J_E_Remy says:
I have to discredit you… Jerry West left the Grizzlies when his contract expired and after the 2007 NBA Draft. He had nothing to do with this trade. It’s a nice conspiracy theory but, it doesn’t hold any water…
Feb.5 at 5:03 pm
says says:
why doesnt marcel take responsibilty for this mistake? i dont get it…
Feb.5 at 5:35 pm
Marcel Mutoni says:
whoops. totally forgot about west leaving memphis last year. guess the new gm must be a laker fan. apologies for the mistake.
Feb.5 at 5:37 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
nah, Mutoni, West is still in the ear’s of the Memphis FO. I think he def gave his input and I’ve heard it mentioned from other credible sources as well!
Feb.5 at 7:52 pm
Cub Buenning says:
I wouldn’t doubt that the Logo is in both camps’ ears…..
Feb.5 at 7:54 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
oh for sure, Cub.
Feb.5 at 10:19 pm
Dacre says:
The thing is… this trade is somewhat over-rated…who wrote that peice out, Jerry Reinsdorf?
Feb.6 at 1:55 am
Reno says:
I totally share your enthusiasm Marcel..too bad the Spurs had to ruin it for all of us
Feb.6 at 8:12 am
D Man says:
This trade now forces other teams in the west to shuffle their rosters which could take them out of sinc. The only team I really see giving them trouble would be San Antonio because besides Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, Duncan and company also has multiple hardware and knows how to win down the stretch.
Feb.6 at 10:28 am
routhless says:
TOTAL NBA FIX … Another example in the long line (see Ewing to NY) of NBA FIXES to get players into “marketable” cities!!! The NBA NEEDS the Lakers to be on TV late in April, May and even June. SIMPLE…the love of MONEY is the ROOT OF ALL EVIL. A league that preaches fairness is a total fraud! I’m a fan of the sport, not of TV RATINGS. To hell with this evil FIXING of a “sport”. Boycott the NBA and their advitisers!