NBA Trade Rumors: Why Losing Pau Gasol Would Only Hurt the Lakers

Ever since the Los Angeles Lakers disappointing end to last season—getting swept out of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks—the Lakers have tried to identify a scapegoat.

One scapegoat, Lamar Odom was traded, ironically to Dallas. The one guy that most people considered the biggest scapegoat, however, is Pau Gasol.

Gasol was almost traded to Houston in the big Chris Paul to the Lakers trade that the NBA voided—only to turn back around and still trade Paul to the Staples Center, only just a bit further down the hall.

The Lakers were ready to get rid of Gasol, who they themselves got in one of the most astonishing trades in league history.

At 31, Gasol should be in his prime and not yet trending downward, however Gasol is currently averaging a career low 16 points a game. Last week, younger brother, Marc Gasol was named to the Western Conference All-Star Team, while Pau was not.

Does this mean that the older brother is now officially the second best player in the duo?

Gasol was supposed to have a career year this season to take the pressure off of Kobe Bryant. Instead at age 33, Bryant is turning back the clock and carrying the Lakers. With all this said, shouldn't the Lakers just cut ties with Gasol?

No, because despite evidence that shows Gasol may be slowing down, he remains one of the best big men in the league. That's not stopping the rumors of Gasol getting traded, but each one of those proposed deals should be dismissed. Gasol needs to remain a Laker.

Fox Sports is reporting that the Minnesota Timberwolves continue trying to see if they can get Gasol. The centerpiece of the proposed deal is rookie Derrick Williams, the second overall pick in this year's draft. Minnesota believes that Gasol would be rejuvenated playing with point guard Ricky Rubio, his fellow countryman.

If I were Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, the only way I would do this deal is if the Timberwolves offered Kevin Love. A current All-Star for a perennial All-Star. Derrick Williams has shown flashes this season that he could be a very good player, but how exactly does this help the Lakers in the short term?

Derrick Williams isn't helping Kobe get his sixth ring this season or for the next few seasons unless the Lakers get some free agents or make another trade. Williams is a liability defensively. He can't guard Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, or LaMarcus Aldridge. Williams also won't be able to supply the scoring needed to make up for the deficiencies on defense.

The Lakers would surely concede the season if they did that deal.

Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle believes that the Houston Rockets still have legs in a Gasol trade because of their black hole at point guard and the Rockets having Goran Dragic. Dragic isn't getting Gasol, and the Lakers would want Luis Scola and Kevin Martin at the least.

Scola, Kevin Martin, Goran Dragic, and Chase Budinger or Chandler Parsons won't get the Lakers past Oklahoma City, Miami, or Chicago. Why would the Lakers be inclined to deal Gasol within the conference anyway?

Any trade the Lakers would do aside from an All-Star or a guaranteed future All-Star would just be a neutral trade. Sure, the Lakers can gut one of their rivals, but at the same time, you would be sending away a pretty solid brick to start laying pieces around.

Unless, the Lakers take a stance that any deal for Gasol must include that team taking on the contract of Metta World Peace, which is likely to be a deal killer. Asking a team to take World Peace is a way to say that the Lakers aren't serious about trading Gasol, but then again a team could just amnesty World Peace.

Hoopsworld has a very interesting, proposal that the Celtics and Lakers may have mutual interest in a Rajon Rondo—Paul Gasol swap.

The site mentions how Kupchak would be interested in acquiring a 25-year-old All-Star, ball handling guard. Rondo is the only player in the league that fits that description.

I can understand sending Gasol to the East, so you won't have to consistently deal with him. Rondo does fit the All Star for All Star criteria, but offensively Rondo would not help the Lakers enough to get them over the hump. Rondo can help Kobe win another Scoring Title, but Kobe desperately wants that sixth ring.

While Rondo is putting up huge scoring nights, his jump shot has not improved at all. Rondo is currently shooting 25 percent from three point range and 60 percent from the free throw line. Anybody who thinks that this trade puts Kobe closer to a ring ask yourself this—Why would a team trade a 25-year-old All Star point guard for a 31-year-old big man who may be slightly starting to decline?

A Rondo trade would put increased pressure on the Lakers defense. While the Lakers have improved under Mike Brown's defensive system, they are not close to the Spurs of the last decade in terms of great physical defense.

Anyway you look at it, unless the Lakers get a blockbuster offer like Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol should remain a Los Angeles Laker. If Kobe keeps playing at a high level without wearing down, the Lakers could go deep in the playoffs.

To win the title, though, it depends on Gasol or what the Lakers can get for him, which unless it's Dwight Howard isn't going to be enough.