NBA Trade Rumors: Why Lakers Must Trade Pau Gasol to Save Future

The Los Angeles Lakers need to trade away Pau Gasol and get everything they can in return.

The future has to be more important than the present of this organization, and by trading Gasol they will be setting themselves up in the perfect position to have a great team in a few years.

Rumors have surfaced stating that the Minnesota Timberwolves are highly interested in making a deal for Gasol, and according to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports, they would be sending a lot back in return:

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In other news involving NBA big men, a source said Wednesday that Minnesota continues to pursue a possible trade for Lakers forward Pau Gasol, dangling rookie Derrick Williams, who is from the Los Angeles area, and draft choices. The only players considered untouchable by the Timberwolves, who are seeking to add a veteran by the trade deadline, are Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio. The Timberwolves believe it could be enticing for Gasol to play on the same team as fellow Spaniard Rubio.

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It's understandable that most Lakers fans would be against this, as Gasol is an integral part of this team, but I urge you to consider these few factors before making your judgment.

Will the Lakers win the title this season?

Let's not talk about hope and don't answer this question as a fan. Look at the Western Conference, look at what will potentially be coming out of the East, and then answer this question.

It's very unlikely the Lakers will win the NBA title—they may not even win the Pacific Division.

With that in mind, instead of holding out for an improbable run, why not make a trade that can get you all sorts of value back in return? While Derrick Williams is no Gasol, he's certainly not a slouch, he's only a rookie, and you still have Andrew Bynum down low and Kobe Bryant on the wing.

That's not a half-bad situation on a team that needs to rebuild. If we're going to be brutally honest, the Lakers need to start rebuilding.

That leads me to my next point...

Draft picks

The Timberwolves may not be getting their traditional extremely high pick, but the more picks you have the better.

This is a Lakers team desperate for youth, and the draft is the best way to go about rebuilding.

How much longer is Kobe going to be able to play at a high level?

What will life without Kobe look like?

Like it or not, these are questions that will eventually have to be answered. They can be answered a lot easier through the draft. If the Lakers draft properly they can continue to build their team and perhaps find a young superstar to eventually replace Bryant.

This is what it's all about...

It's all about youth and it's all about athleticism. Like it or not, the Lakers are plagued by the fact they are an aging team, so everything about this trade makes sense.

Gasol isn't getting any younger, and by trading just him away the Lakers would have a young budding star in Williams, plus draft picks to start building around Bynum and Bryant until he retires.

Forget this season and start building for the future.

It may not be the popular decision, but it would be the smart thing to do.