NBA Trade Rumors: 6 Teams That Desperately Need Pau Gasol

If it seems like Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol has been involved in trade rumors all season long, it's because he has.

Gasol was dealt to Houston in the nixed Chris Paul trade, and the speculation hasn't slowed down since, even prompting Lakers star Kobe Bryant to speak out in defense of his teammate.

That hasn't slowed down the rumors and speculation as there's one week before the March 15th trade deadline, which means there's one week left to see if Gasol will be in a Lakers uniform for the rest of the season.

With that being said, let's take a look at the teams that could use Gasol the most.

Houston Rockets

Houston continues to be in hot pursuit of Gasol as adding a big man could make them a very tough out in the postseason.

But we do know they aren't dealing point guard Kyle Lowry to get him, so they are down to hoping the Lakers take Goran Dragic in a multi-player deal or involve a third team who could flip the LA a quality point guard.

Dragic would be an upgrade at the point over what the Lakers have now, but he's likely not what the Lakers are looking for in a Gasol deal.

If Houston could find a way to land Gasol, they could become very dangerous.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Sam Amick of SI.com confirms that Minnesota general manager David Kahn is still attempting to acquire Gasol, and his aggressive push will continue all the way up to the deadline.

Pairing Gasol with Kevin Love gives the Wolves a great front-line and pretty much guarantees them a trip back to the postseason this year.

Los Angeles Lakers

That's right, the Lakers are on this list too because as much as other teams are coveting him, that's how much the Lakers need him.

What makes the Lakers good is their superior length and talent inside.

Very few teams can match up against the Lakers' size on a nightly basis, especially in a seven-game series.

Take away Gasol without a suitable replacement, and Andrew Bynum may not be as effective. Or what happens if they trade Gasol and Bynum is banged up?

Suddenly the Lakers become easy to match up against.

New York Knicks

There's nothing to this but pure speculation.

The Knicks can't win with Amar'e Stoudemire's Ole-type of defense, and he's not the explosive player he once was.

Gasol is a different type of player who could thrive offensively in Mike D'Antoni's system but also hold his own at the defensive end of the floor.

Of course, that would require the Knicks unloading Stoudemire, but ESPN's Chad Ford suggested that Golden State may be willing to take Stoudemire in a Monta Ellis-type deal, so it's not impossible.

The Knicks do have depth they could deal from, but while acquiring Gasol would be a long shot, it would be a good fit in New York.

Golden State Warriors

It's unlikely that the Warriors could position themselves to make a legit offer for Gasol, but Mark Jackson's team has been in search for a quality big all season and Gasol fits that bill.

He likely would have to play the 5 in Golden State next to David Lee, whose inclusion in a deal would defeat the Warriors' purpose of going out and getting a big. However, matched with Lee, Gasol would be a good fit.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics were linked to Gasol in a possible swap for Rajon Rondo last month.

Quality frontcourt depth is a major issue for Boston, and making a play for Gasol only helps.

Adding his 16.8 PPG and 10.5 RPG to a team that has problems scoring (90.5 PPG, 26th in NBA) and rebounding (39.1 RPG, last in NBA) is a move that Danny Ainge still must consider making.