Lakers Rumors: Sending Pau Gasol to Houston Rockets Makes Lake Show Tougher

Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers is an extremely skilled post player, but his toughness has been called into question by everyone from Snoop Dogg to Kendrick Perkins.

If there is one thing Luis Scola will never be called, it's soft. This could be why the Lakers may have interest in acquiring Scola and point guard Kyle Lowry.

Chris Broussard of ESPN.com reported this:

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The Lakers, however, are not going to just give Gasol away. They want a star-quality player/players in return. Houston still wants Gasol, and a package of Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry could perhaps get it done.

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Scola is a banger, and he has no problems mixing it up down low. He isn't as skilled as Gasol, then again, few big men are. It's possible the Lakers could be willing to part with some of Gasol's finesse for Scola's muscle.

The fact that Lowry fills a huge need at point guard gives this rumor some plausibility. 

Scola's toughness is not without production; he is currently averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game. He is also a great mid-range shooter which would seem to fit in perfectly with Andrew Bynum.

It would give Bynum the room to operate freely on the block, and allow Scola to roam near the free-throw line to knock down jump shots.

Scola's physical presence is especially present on the defensive end. He's a wide body that isn't afraid of giving a hard foul. Right now, the Lakers have one large body to clog the middle, as Gasol obstructs the rim with length, not width.

Scola would make opposing players think twice about delving into the painted area.

Lowry also adds a toughness to the squad. He is a solidly built, aggressive defender who is an immediate upgrade in every way for the Lakers. Lowry is currently averaging 16 points and 7.5 assists per game, while knocking down 38 percent of his three-point shots.

The proposed deal could go a long way in changing the identity of the team. The Lakers would be a much more physical bunch, and better defensively on the perimeter.

Lowry's ability to knock down big shots from distance would be a definite plus. This scenario gives the Lakers a chance at addressing their biggest need, without losing much at power forward.

There are so many rumors swirling around the Lakers, but this is one of the better trades for the Lakers, if they choose to deal at all.