The NBA’s Western Conference is crowded with elite teams. Phoenix, Dallas and defending champion San Antonio are all challenging for the top spot in the conference with upstart New Orleans in the mix. There are 10 teams fighting for eight playoff spots, separate by six games or less.
On Friday, a traditional Western power inched closer toward elite status. The Los Angeles Lakers acquired former All-Star Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2010.
Gasol offers the Lakers a crutch in the post while budding center Andrew Bynum recovers from a knee injury. The Spaniard is an underrated 20-10 forward that will help the Lakers immediately. While he may be a touch soft, Pau’s been incredibly consistent. The trade is a win-win for LA. They gained an All-Star and dumped the cantankerous Kwame Brown.
Some analysts are questioning if Gasol can withstand the pressure in LA. But who really cares if Gasol was 0-for-12 in the postseason with Memphis? He carried the Grizzlies to the postseason several times!
For Memphis, this trade essentially means the organization is waving the white flag. They’re already playing for a lottery pick and they just added a second first-round pick in the upcoming draft. The Griz can continue to develop their younger talent in Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley Jr. The most crucial outcome for Memphis in dumping Gasol is financial relief. With loads of cap room to work with, Memphis is bound to be a player in next summer’s free agent market.
The LA Lakers just secured their position as the fourth-best team in the Western Conference. Suddenly, they look a genuine threat entering the second-half of the season.
1 comment:
I think the Lakers are better than fourth. Dallas has been sluggish at best and proven losers against true big-men teams. San Antonio is hurt, but even when healthy has looked less than stellar this year. Phoenix is the most vulnerable of the bunch to the offense that LA runs, and will be even harder pressed with Gasol on the floor. Other possible contenders like New Orleans and Utah will be tough competitors but are unlikely to beat out LA. At the moment you might be correct, but I think the impact of the Gasol/Bynum big-man lineup will be enough to open up Kobe, Fisher, and the three pointer bombing eastern Europeans Radmanovic and Vujacic. What a perfect tandem of players for the triangle offense. Everyone better watch out for the Lakers.
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