That simply doesn't sound like the Lakers.
Dealing with a rash of injuries, the Lakers have not been at full strength for quite some time. Kobe Bryant has missed all but six games this season due to a knee injury. Pau Gasol has been hampered by a groin injury. Steve Nash has been dealing with a back injury.
It appears as though a trend is developing here.
The team is full of high-priced players who are getting up there in age and are having more and more difficulty staying healthy with each passing year.
Los Angeles needs to do something about this—for the sake of on-court production and cap space.
The best possible solution for this team is to trade center Pau Gasol.
At 33 years of age, Gasol is entering the twilight of his career. He has been productive for a long time—and continues to shine at times this season. However, chances are that it will be short-lived.
The seventh-highest paid player in the NBA, Gasol will earn $19,285,850 this season. It can be easily speculated that the Lakers would love to use that money in other areas.
Despite his looming injury, Gasol has played well of late. He averaged an impressive 20.8 points per game and 11.9 rebounds per game over the month of January. The Lakers must strike while the iron is hot.
Trade talks regarding Gasol stalled between the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns earlier this month. However, Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News recently shed some light as to why:
The Lakers were open to trading Pau Gasol until they couldn’t pry one of Phoenix’s top draft picks for this June away f...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
