Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Would Be Sacrificing 2012 Season by Trading Pau Gasol

The Los Angeles Lakers are just one playoff defeat removed from three NBA Finals appearances in a row and two wins.

They still have the pieces in place to compete for a championship in 2012 and would be giving up on that dream if they were to trade Pau Gasol before the March 15 deadline.

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak admitted in a statement on Monday that he has a responsibility to fans and ownership to "actively pursue opportunities to improve the team for this season and seasons to come." (Italics are mine, not Kupchak’s.)

He’s basically admitted that he believes this team is growing too old with Kobe Bryant turning 34 soon and Gasol inching closer to 32 himself. The only young star they have on the roster is 24-year-old Andrew Bynum.

Kupchak has to be hoping that he can flip the Spanish power forward for a young point guard or small forward with potential and a chance to work with Bynum well past the Kobe era.

Unfortunately for Lakers fans, who Kupchak has a stated obligation to win for, they won’t be able to return anyone for Gasol that will push this team back into the Finals.

There are plenty of intriguing prospects and draft picks that they could land, but no single player who is even rumored to be available can help this team the way Gasol has.

Remember, this is a skilled All-Star who came over from the Memphis Grizzlies and immediately transformed the Lakeshow from a team in which Kobe had to do everything into well-balanced contenders.

If they could find that chemistry again and get contributions from their bench, the Lakers can do some damage in the postseason and possibly win another championship.

They will not be able to do that if they flip Gasol for players to build around in the future and would be waiving a white flag if they panicked by moving him prior to the offseason.