Lakers Rumors: Why Dealing Pau Gasol Would Kill L.A.'s Playoff Dreams

NBA trade rumors: What's not to like?

Well, if you're a Los Angeles Lakers fan, you shouldn't like the rumors surrounding the team shopping All-Star forward Pau Gasol.

According to CBSLosAngles.com, Gasol is aware that he may be on the trade block.

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There's talks and rumors everyday. Today I was reading it was Minnesota is really interested in trying to put a good package together. [Other teams are] calling, and it seems like things are just waiting for the right offer to come along for [the Lakers] to pull the trigger.

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Why Gasol?

What makes him expendable, while Andrew Bynum is almost "untouchable"?

I understand that there is a shortage of quality big men in the NBA, and Bynum—along with Orlando's Dwight Howard—is probably among the two best centers in the NBA right now. However, I am not so sure a guy like Bynum couldn't be replaced.

If the latest rumor involving Pau Gasol heading to Minnesota in exchange for Derrick Williams and draft picks is true, the Lakers can forget about the playoffs.

While Williams is only a rookie and does have room to grow, he is no Pau Gasol. I don't see Williams growing into an All-Star caliber player, and I don't see him matching the type of career that Gasol has had.

The Los Angeles Lakers are about winning NBA championships, they are not about simply making the playoffs. 

They are not about just winning their division, they are about winning NBA titles.

Does anyone really think Kobe Bryant chose to stay in Los Angeles just because he loves playing in the Staples Center?

Of course he didn't.  He wants to win.

If Los Angeles does make a deal involving Gasol, they can kiss the 2011-12 playoffs goodbye.

And you can add 2012-13 to the list as well.