NBA Rumors: Trading Pau Gasol Would Cripple Los Angeles Lakers' Title Hopes

I'm not a religious man, or even a Los Angeles Lakers fan, but today I'm thanking every deity I can think of for delivering us Kobe Bryant and his outspoken ways.

Bryant ripped into Lakers management after their loss to Phoenix on Sunday, saying what's been festering in the minds of L.A. fans for months now: Either trade Pau Gasol, or publicly declare him untouchable, because this little seesaw, high school-gossipy game they're playing has gotten ridiculous.

Gasol's name has been floated out in numerous trade rumors, from the botched Chris Paul deal, to a potential trade with Minnesota, to the ridiculous suggestion he could be swapped for Carlos Boozer.

The Lakers front office has stayed quiet through most of these proceedings, and while some may see this as a shrewd business technique, it's also a major disservice to the man who brought back-to-back championships to L.A.

At this point, Gasol is unquestionably the most underrated star in the league. He's been selected the All-Star team four times. He's made one of the All-NBA teams three times. He's continuously proved he's the most skilled seven-footer on the planet, and the minute he stepped foot in Los Angeles he transformed the Lakers from playoff afterthought to title contenders.

So, excuse my language here, but what the hell do you want from this guy?

Rather than treating Gasol like a franchise cornerstone, the Lakers front office has been looking to drop him like a bad habit. And while I understand their willingness to do whatever it takes to improve their franchise, there's a kicker here that the Buss boys don't seem to have grasped: Trading Gasol would cripple their title chances.

The Lakers have floundered at times this season, but they still have a good a shot as anyone to come out of the West.

They have no depth, no outside shooting and no point guard, but with Gasol, Bryant and Andrew Bynum, they've got the best big three in the conference. And as the Miami Heat proved last season, if your "Big Three" is better than your opponents', you will advance deep into the playoffs, regardless of how awful your 4-12 guys are.

Right now, the Lakers have a strong shot of advancing to the NBA Finals, but if they trade Gasol, they can flush those hopes down the toilet. Kobe realizes how valuable Gasol is, and he's not willing to sacrifice the twilight of his career just to appease the whims of those who don't realize how lucky they truly are.

Gasol isn't just a rare talent—he's a proven winner, a consummate professional and an excellent teammate. He's also one of the best power forwards ever to lace up a pair of sneakers.

If the Lakers trade Gasol, it wouldn't just be a stupid move. It would be the main blow in the slow destruction of the Kobe Bryant era.