Lakers Trade Rumors: Pau Gasol for Derrick Williams Would Be an Idiotic Move

Even though the Los Angeles Lakers aren't living up to expectations so far this season, trading Pau Gasol for anything less than a dynamic point guard—would be a terrible move.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly putting rookie Derrick Williams on the block in hopes of landing Gasol, but there's way too much risk involved for the Lakers to even consider making that swap.

Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports provides details about negotiations between the two sides:

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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 an offer which screams rebuilding phase. The Lakers shouldn't be entering that territory yet. They are still contenders in a Western Conference, lacking a dominant team. An upgrade at the point guard position is all they really need to become favorites again.

Williams hasn't proven anything in his short time in the league. He's averaging just eight points and four rebounds through 29 games, not to mention his shooting percentages are well below par for a forward.

While his potential is intriguing, the Lakers should be focused on improving their current roster—not on somebody who might help the team in a couple seasons when he finally settles in.

That's especially true when you consider Gasol would be the piece going in the opposite direction. He continues to produce at an elite level, despite the constant trade bickering surrounding him. It can't be easy to focus on the task at hand when you're being linked to a new trade seemingly every day.

Double-double machines like him don't come around very often, so it's puzzling to see how willing the Lakers are to put his name out there in negotiations. He has basically become a pawn in the Lakers' game of trade chess.

There should only be a handful of players in the entire NBA the Lakers should even consider dealing Gasol for—and Williams is nowhere close to the breaking the list. The report doesn't say how involved the talks have become, but Lakers fans should hope Mitch Kupchak immediately hung up the phone.

Making a deal like that would set the franchise back at least two seasons.

Kobe Bryant simply doesn't have that much time to waste, so the Lakers would be crazy to pull the trigger on any deal with those two players as the base.