Lakers Rumors: Why Trading Pau Gasol to Minnesota Makes Sense for L.A.

How do you get from Pau Gasol being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves to Dwight Howard landing with the Los Angeles Lakers?

Take a journey with me, my friends. I'll be Frodo so I can show you the many temptations that come with trying to acquire the ring.

(On second thought, I absolutely don't want to be Frodo—he's like three-feet tall, has incredibly hairy feet and sort of goes insane. I instantly regret that metaphor.)

Okay, enough of that. A new rumor has popped up that suggests the Timberwolves have serious interest in trading for Gasol. From Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports:

"

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.

"

At first, I didn't see how this would make any sense for either team. I'm not sure how Gasol and Love would pair, but if Minnesota is willing to do it, so be it.

Still, why would the Lakers trade with Minnesota for a young player like Derrick Williams when their championship window with Kobe Bryant is gradually closing?

But then I thought big picture. I began to think about how Minnesota had some young, appealing talent Orlando might want to bring in. And I came up with this absolutely crazy yet somewhat logical trade between the three teams.

Lakers get: Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu from Orlando, Luke Ridnour from Minnesota

Timberwolves get: Pau Gasol from Los Angeles

Orlando gets: Andrew Bynum and Metta World Peace from Los Angeles, Derrick Williams and Michael Beasley from Minnesota

The money works, draft picks could be exchanged for any teams feeling shorted and Orlando fans couldn't complain about this return rather than potentially losing Howard for nothing in the offseason.

The Lakers get their man in Dwight Howard, a decent point guard and a player in Turkoglu that will contribute, all while getting rid of Metta World Peace. This might leave their frontcourt a little thin, however, so if they can get World Peace to play nice with coach Mike Brown they might try to keep him in this deal.

Plus, Orlando might not want him.

But that's the structure of the deal that started with Pau Gasol going to Minnesota to play with fellow Spaniard Ricky Rubio and ended with Dwight Howard landing in L.A.

All to acquire the precious.

Hit me up on Twitter—I'm #Linning.