Pau Gasol Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Saga Must End with Mammoth Trade

The Pau Gasol trade saga has worn on and on for what seems like forever now.

The fact is, if the Los Angeles Lakers want to be better, this must end with some sort of mammoth trade.

There is no way they can keep this guy.

If they do, they'll be what they are now, which is a playoff team that is not good enough to win it all.

Each day, it seems that new rumors surface about where Gasol could be going. There's the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics now in the mix, and as well as the Washington Wizards.

There are plenty of reasons why this story must end with a mammoth trade.

Gasol is the Laker's best trade piece for young talent. If they want to have any hope at rebuilding for the future, then they must get what they can for him now while his value is high.

Strike While the Iron is Hot

To be honest, I have no clue why Pau Gasol is such a hot commodity right now. I get that he's a very offensively skilled power forward, but why teams want to give up so much for him is really beyond me.

Boston was reportedly willing to give up Rajon Rondo for Gasol, nearly straight up? It makes sense to give up the most well-rounded point guard in the NBA, who is five years younger, for a 31-year-old declining power forward, right?

Houston, in the league-vetoed Chris Paul trade before the season, was willing to give up most of their major pieces in an effort to get Gasol. Guys like Luis Scola and Kevin Martin are good players that most teams would want to have.

But the fact that Gasol is wanted by so many teams is great for the Lakers and is why they must trade him now.

He's on the back end of his career, so he'll never be this valuable ever again.

They have to do this to improve their team while they still have a chance.

Do You Still Love Me?

A question that people should be asking is whether or not Gasol even wants to stay with the Lakers.

It's like having a girlfriend who shops around for a new guy, trying to get rid of you and then tells you she loves you after she can't find anything better.

I'm sure Gasol really feels loved right now. In fact, he doesn't sound like he's loving the Lakers much anymore either.

According to Yahoo Sports writer Kelly Dwyer, Gasol made some pretty interesting comments to a radio station in Spain about his team, the Lakers.

Basically, Gasol stated that the team was poisoned with selfishness and arrogance, and claimed that the team as a whole was unfocused and didn't utilize its talent well.

Those remarks are not from a guy who sounds like he wants to stay where he's at.

Gasol needs to be moved because it sounds like the whole situation is beyond repair.

The Future Done as the Past Was

Trading Gasol gives the Lakers the opportunity to acquire pieces and draft picks that will help them remain a contender for the next decade, long after both Gasol and Kobe Bryant are gone.

If you look back at the Lakers over the years, they've always made these kinds of deals to stay relevant in the league.

They trade aging stars for solid draft picks and rebuild by drafting great players.

The Lakers must get back to that philosophy, and it starts here.

This trade must happen, not just because Gasol is red hot and his personal situation is beyond repair, but also because the Lakers need it to be good going forward.

If they don't make this trade, they'll be struggling to make the playoffs three or fours years from now.