2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Lakers, Bucks & Rockets Realistic 3-Team Blockbuster

LAKERS TRADE: Pau Gasol, Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris

LAKERS RECEIVE: Kyle Lowry, Ersan Ilyasova, Terrence Williams & Patrick Patterson

The Los Angeles Lakers seem dedicated to trading Pau Gasol, cutting salary and building for the future while at the same time contending for a title in the present—an extremely difficult task. However, I do believe this trade accomplishes both goals.

Trading away Pau Gasol will most likely anger Kobe Bryant and even make fans feel as if the team is abandoning any hope of a title this season. However, this trade upgrades the Lakers point guard position in a big way with the addition of Lowry and strengthens the shooting guard and small forward positions with the addition of Williams.

As for the power forward position, losing Gasol is tough but replacing him with the talented young duo of Patrick Patterson and Ersan Ilyasova, a player who has played magnificently lately and shown flashes of stardom, is a solid swap all things considered.

ROCKETS TRADE: Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin, Samuel Dalembert, Hasheem Thabeet, Patrick Patterson Terrence Williams & the Knicks 2012 No. 1 Pick

ROCKETS RECEIVE: Andrew Bogut, Pau Gasol, Stephen Jackson, Devin Ebanks and Darius Morris

The Houston Rockets tried earlier this season to acquire Pau Gasol in the Chris Paul fiasco and thought they had a done deal only to be told by NBA commissioner's office that the deal would not be allowed. However, that seeming travesty would turn out to be a blessing in disguise if Houston could now acquire both Paul Gasol and Andrew Bogut, giving them the best 4/5 combination in the league.

I have no doubt the Rockets front office would jump for joy at this deal and that the Rockets would be an extremely tough out come playoff time.

BUCKS TRADE: Andrew Bogut, Ersan Ilyasova and Stephen Jackson

BUCKS RECEIVE: Kevin Martin, Samuel Dalembert, Hasheem Thabeet and Knicks 2012 No. 1 Pick

Milwaukee Bucks franchise center Andrew Bogut is open to leaving the Bucks, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal-Times. If he is truly unhappy, a wise thing to do would be to trade him. As long as they can dump Stephen Jackson and receive a solid package in return, trading Bogut is what they will do.

This trade would be a solid one for the Bucks, mostly because Ilyasova has made it clear (according to Stephen Brottherston of HOOPSWORLD) that he will sign with the highest bidder. Stephen Jackson's contract being added to Bogut actually makes Bogut worth less on the trade market than if he were to be traded by himself.

All of this said the Bucks would basically be trading what amounts to be worth a bit less than Bogut alone for a package that contains a starting quality shooting guard, starting quality center, young backup center and a first round draft pick...not bad.

This is one three-team blockbuster trade that should happen!