Lakers Rumors: 5 Things Lakers Can Do with Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol was part of one of the biggest trades in recent memory when he was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008 for forward Kwame Brown, guard Javaris Crittenton, guard Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol and first round picks in 2008 and 2010.

He turned out to be the missing piece in the Lakers' championship run.

This year, Gasol was part of talks for another potential franchise-changing trade, which involved him going to the Houston Rockets in a three-team trade that would have also sent All-Star point guard Chris Paul to the Lakers.

Even though this trade was vetoed by NBA commissioner David Stern, Gasol continues to be the center of trade rumors. Here are five things the Lakers can do with Gasol:

Pau Gasol to the Orlando Magic

This is the trade everyone has been talking about for the past few months, and multiple sources, such as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, can confirm that. This potential trade would also involve Lakers center Andrew Bynum. 

It may not make sense to trade two seven-footers for one, but let's look deeper into it. Pau Gasol is 31 years old, which means his production will keep declining. Bynum, although young and full of potential as shown by his early season success, is injury-prone, and it's not certain that he will be in the lineup come playoff time. 

So why would Orlando want an aging forward and an injury-prone center? Because it's becoming clear that Howard isn't going to sign a contract extension, and Gasol and Bynum are the best deal they can get, unless they want to let Howard leave through free agency and receive nothing in return.

Gasol would give the Magic an offensively skilled post player, which is something they lack right now. And he would perfectly compliment all of the Magic's three-point shooters. 

In Howard, the Lakers would get one of the best defensive players in NBA history. Mike Brown, who preaches defense and has turned the Lakers into one of the best defensive teams in the league, would love to have Howard.

Pau Gasol to the Houston Rockets

Houston wanted Pau Gasol once this season, and they would be in favor of pursuing him once more. The Rockets could trade Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola in exchange for Gasol.

Scola, compared to last season, isn't producing at the same rate. It seems that he isn't comfortable playing with a team that tried to trade him, much like what led to Lamar Odom's departure from the Lakers.

Lowry is only 25 years of age, and he's having a career year in which he's averaging 15.5 points per game, 8.5 assists and 6.8 rebounds. It wouldn't make much sense for the Rockets to include Lowry in this potential trade, but Kevin Martin would still be around and Goran Dragic has shown the potential to do what Lowry is currently doing for the Rockets.

Chris Broussard of ESPN says the Lakers have expressed interest in the young guard.

The Lakers would downgrade at power forward, but they would get the help they need at the point guard position. Lowry would also help defensively and with the Lakers' woeful three point shooting. In Gasol, the Rockets would get the player they have wanted all along.

Pau Gasol to the New Jersey Nets

The Lakers need help at point guard, which has been their biggest weakness for years. It's time to address that issue.

According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, Deron Williams has allegedly stated that if the Nets don't obtain Dwight Howard, then he is not signing a contract extension. One of the teams on his wish list, which consists of teams he would like to play for, includes the Lakers.

A Gasol-for-Williams trade makes sense for the Nets because they would have two seven-footers in Gasol and Brook Lopez. It would instantly make them better defensively.

Yes, they would be giving up an All-Star point guard and their leading scorer, but MarShon Brooks and Anthony Morrow have shown promise early on and could be a solid, young backcourt.

On the other hand, the Lakers would be able to compete for another NBA championship with a core of Andrew Bynum, Kobe Bryant and Williams. The Lakers would also get their future franchise player in Williams.

Pau Gasol to the Boston Celtics

According to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, there have been talks of the Lakers being interested in acquiring Celtics small forward Paul Pierce

Amico said the following:

"

Also, the Lakers reportedly are trying to find a way to land Paul Pierce. Not sure yet, what they are willing to give up. But again, it won't be an easy deal to make. The Celtics love him, obviously.

"

A Gasol-for-Pierce trade could help both teams.

It would give the Lakers the offensive help they need, and the Celtics would acquire a younger and better power forward than their current one, Kevin Garnett.

This trade would also eventually lead to the Celtics trading away Ray Allen and Garnett, both of whom Danny Ainge has expressed interest in trading, in hopes of rebuilding. They could rebuild around Gasol and Rajon Rondo for the time being.

Pierce could help take some of the scoring pressure off Kobe Bryant, and he could help his hometown team make another run at an NBA title.

Pau Gasol Stays with the Lakers

Pau Gasol may be aging, but he's still an All-Star forward and one of the most offensively skilled post players in the NBA. Not to mention that he's one of the best passing big men as well.

Gasol was key in the Lakers winning back-to-back championships and going to the NBA Finals in three consecutive years.

His production across the board may be down from a season ago, but he showed in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers a few nights ago by putting up 23 points 10 rebounds that he can still be the Pau Gasol he was during the Lakers' championship run.

The Lakers need offense, especially this year when they are averaging nine less points per game than they were a year ago, and Gasol can give them that help offensively. Gasol, alongside Andrew Bynum, has also been key to Lakers being a top-10 defensive team this year.