Lakers Trade Rumors: Can the Lakers Get Bigger, Faster and Deeper?

Kobe Bryant has a lot of tread on his legs and Andrew Bynum is an inconsistent, but dominant center that is the biggest catch of Laker VP Jim Buss.  Both are the faces of this team, past and present.  However, the current window is closing on this reputable franchise.

Laker GM Mitch Kupchak needs to rebuild the roster on the fly, but he does not have many chips in play.  As most successful GMs think, it is better to get rid of a player one year too early than a year too late.  The Lakers chose too late with Pau Gasol.

Besides a Bynum trade for Magic center Dwight Howard, Gasol is the only valuable commodity on the Laker roster. Gasol was rumored to be part of a package for the second pick in last year’s draft.  He was part of the blockbuster trade for Chris Paul that was eventually denied by the commissioner.

In order for the Lakers to restore their luster, they need to add youth and speed.  Besides their Big 3 headed by Kobe, they have a mishmash of players, none of whom is considered a superstar or even a potential superstar. 

So, that brings us back to Gasol.  Is there still a market for him? Can the Lakers still ask for prime talent in return for the star?  The Lakers best option would be to give Houston a call to pry Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola from their roster, like they had done until David Stern reversed the trade.

The good news for Laker fan is that Pau got over it quickly, unlike Lamar Odom, the other player involved in that trade.  The bad news is that Pau was embarrassed with his play in the NBA second-round loss vs. the OKC Thunder.



 

Kyle Lowry wants out of Houston and publicly has said so. A trade of Pau, G Steve Blake, and PF Josh McRoberts (expiring contract) for Lowry, PF Luis Scola, and SG Kevin Martin could help the Lakers immediately and would give the Lakers an extra trade piece with Martin.
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