Pau Gasol Trade Would Be Win-Win Deal for LA Lakers and Phoenix Suns

Finally, a Pau Gasol trade rumor that makes sense.

Over the years, the Los Angeles Lakers big man has been linked to some humdingers, each scenario as confusing, unlikely and susceptible to former commissioner David Stern's wrath as the next.

But for the first time in two-plus years, the Lakers have found an avenue worth exploring.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Phoenix Suns are making a serious push to acquire the 33-year-old center:

Sources told ESPN.com that the Suns, among the options being weighed as part of their well-chronicled desire to acquire an established player as they make an unexpected playoff push this season, have been exploring the feasibility of trading for the Lakers' four-time All-Star.

One option for the Suns, by virtue of their $5.6 million in available salary-cap space, is swapping the expiring contract of injured big man Emeka Okafor for Gasol, even though Okafor's $14.5 million salary this season falls well shy of Gasol's $19.3 million.

The Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan confirmed Stein's report, which is the first piece of Gasol-related scuttlebutt worth a second look.

Most Gasol proposals have been one-sided, favoring the Lakers who have a tendency to overvalue their 7-footer, or an interested team attempting to capitalize off Los Angeles' seeming desperation.

There are no losers in this purported scenario, no team being unjustly or stupidly fleeced of valuable assets.

There are only winners.

 

Sunny In Los Angeles



Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

For nearly three years, the Lakers have seesawed between trading Gasol and keeping him. Though he's been linked to numerous trade rumors, each negotiation has proved abortive, the result of Los Angeles overvaluing him or Stern deciding Chris Paul wouldn't look good in a Lakers uniform.

Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers