wtf - Lakers Get Gasol for peanuts
 

what a fucking trade the Lakers pulled off - giving up very little for a prime time fairly young player.

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/10613377

TORONTO -- The Los Angeles Lakers bolstered their banged-up frontline Friday with a key acquisition -- 7-footer Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.

"It shows a great deal of commitment from the organization," All-Star Kobe Bryant said before the Lakers' game at Toronto. "It's a great step.

"It's a matter of us just gelling now and putting it together," added Bryant, who urged management to improve the team over the summer. "We've got a great bench. We have a lot of length, a lot of versatility. Now it's time to walk the walk."

The Lakers gave up Kwame Brown, rookie Javaris Crittenton and two first-round draft picks for Gasol. The Spaniard is certain to help a Lakers team reeling from recent injuries to inside players, including blossoming center Andrew Bynum.

"We need a little scoring inside without Andrew Bynum," coach Phil Jackson said. "It gives us a post-up threat right now, and he's a good passer. We like that."

Jackson said Gasol could make his debut when the Lakers visit Washington on Sunday.

"We'd like him to play on Sunday," Jackson said. "I don't know if that's possible or not. He's got to go back to L.A. and have a physical tomorrow."

Gasol, averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.44 blocked shots in 39 games this season, can fill in at center until Bynum returns in mid-March, then move to power forward.

Not a good trade if you are a suns fan :(

Great trade...

it works out well for the grizzlies, get rid of gasols contract, kwames contract is expiring soon so they get to free up money to pay future draft picks

awesome trade indeed!!!!

what's the point in freeing up cap space when your franchise is such a joke that none of the top free agents want to go there? the two first picks from LA are going to be low draft positions - they could have done much better than this deal. it doesnt matter really - the Grizzlies are one of those franchises like the Clippers and Nets that will always suck, even when they turn things around for awhile and it looks like a bright future ahead franchises like them alway find a way to crash again.

nothing works out well for the grizzlies

Not sure I would consider what the Lakers gave up as "peanuts". The Lakers basically gave up 3 first round picks (2 futures pics + Crittendon, this years first pic) and the rights to Gasol's brother who is currently a star in Europe. With so many NBA teams in financial distress and struggling with the salary cap, 1st round picks are now the most sought after commodity because their salaries are locked the first 3 years. Teams who stockpile those can free up money for big free agents and still stay well under the cap. Obviously if the Lakers go far into the playoffs those 1st round picks will be low even though next years draft is predicted to be the best in years. Unfortunately this is what happens to small market teams who don't produce the revenue to resign stars with large expiring contracts.

With the Lakers adding Gasol they have greatly shortened their window for having to win a championship as they are going to really struggle this off season to stay under the cap and will probably have to trade/release some players they would otherwise want to keep. This isn't the old Jerry Buss who was willing to pay the luxury tax and go over the cap to acquire players. The cap is the reason they had to decide between Kobe and Shaq and why they haven't been able to add any notable players the last few years. With overall league revenue flatlined, this may be the first offseason the salary cap is not increased forcing many teams to be very prudent fiscally.

They got amazing player

I hate peanuts............

Amazing trade for the Lakers. Getting a player like that and giving up almost nothing. If they can get healthy they would be a serious force.

Great trade for the lakers, but I wouldn't say they got him for peanuts.. Brown + 2 firsts plus isn't nothing

Plus they have thier own two 1st round draft picks which will be high picks. So that's four 1st round picks in 2 years. If you can't make a team out of that then you suck.