Pau Gasol Trade Rumors: How Houston Rockets and LA Lakers Match Up on Deal

The Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers might be revisiting this summer's trade talks, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN (Insider content only):

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Everyone knows the Lakers are willing to move Gasol, if only because they actually did move him in the preseason (before commissioner David Stern nixed the three-team Chris Paul trade that had Gasol going to Houston).

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.

But the Rockets, as much as they like Gasol, do not want to lose Lowry, sources say. With the point guard enjoying a breakout season -- and the Rockets winning as well -- Houston wants to build around Lowry.

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This deal that works both ways, which is usually the sign of a fair deal. In a fair deal, both teams are going to feel like they're getting ripped off before the deal is concluded, and both teams are going to feel like they got the better of the deal after the trade is completed. 

This trade has elements of both of those things. The Lakers would be getting what they need the most—a point guard who can effectively run the team and score. They would also get a more than serviceable big man in Luis Scola, a.k.a. Kevin Love's welcome mat. 

The Rockets though aren't going to be happy with parting with Kyle Lowry, who is averaging 15.8 points, 7.5 assists and 5.2 boards. 

On the other hand, the Rockets get the thing they covet the most (and have been aching for since Yao Ming's retirement), a legitimate NBA center. 

Both teams get what they want and what they need, but both sides would have to give up something they are reluctant to part with. That's a pretty fair deal.