Lakers Trade Rumors: Why Pau Gasol for Rajon Rondo Doesn't Make Sense for LA

The rumored trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics consisting of Pau Gasol and Rajon Rondo makes no sense for the Lakers.

While the Lakers do need a point guard, the expense of having to give up a guy like Gasol is just too great and not worth getting a guy like Rondo who, although he can be great at times, can also cause off-the-court problems.

Gasol is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, more so than Rondo. Gasol is always a better guy off the court, who is willing to take a backseat to win.

On or Off

Pau Gasol is the type of guy every NBA team wants. He is a legit 7'0" European who is an artist in the post.

He has literally every post move that has really ever been invented and knows how to score on just about anyone. Combined with Andrew Bynum, he creates a dynamic frontcourt duo that can be matched by no other NBA team.

However, it is his off-the-court demeanor that makes him really valuable. Gasol is a good guy. He’s emotional, but at the same time always does his best to maintain professionalism. He’s the type of guy who would be interesting to talk to.

Most importantly, though, he won’t cause problems in the locker room. Rajon Rondo has done just that in the past.

His issues with Celtics head coach Doc Rivers are well-documented and he has always had problems with veteran teammates.

A guy like that is not what the Lakers need at this juncture. Any of that type of behavior would undermine new head coach Mike Brown and tick off Kobe Bryant.

A Bird in the Hand…

We’ve all heard that saying, right? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

It means that a sure thing is always more valuable than a risk. It also applies very well to this trade situation.

In Gasol, you have an extremely talented big man, which is king in the NBA. When you pair him with Bynum, you have two extremely talented big men which is unheard of in the NBA.

I know that the Lakers need help at the point, but is it really worth giving up your biggest advantage to get it?

If the Lakers make this trade, they have no power forward. I suppose they could stick Troy Murphy in there, but it would be nowhere near what it had been with Gasol.

Rondo might turn out great, but then again he might turn out to be a complete bust in LA for a variety of reasons. Is the risk really worth giving up a seven-footer as talented as Gasol?

I Don’t Like You, Why Should I Help You?

In the Lakers and Celtics, we have the most intense, storied rivalry in NBA history. They are by far the two best franchises and have dominated the league for pretty much its entire history.

Which begs this question: Why would either of them want to help the other?

Why would the Celtics want to trade one of the best point guards in the game to the Lakers? It doesn’t make any sense, especially given Rondo’s youth.

The Lakers should be suspicious of this trade. The Celtics may know something about Rondo that the Lakers don’t and are now trying to use it to nab Gasol from the Lakers.

It all goes back to that risk factor. What if Rondo can’t get along with Kobe when he gets here? It will have all been for nothing.

What if Gasol helps Boston win a championship? That would just be peachy.

No, this trade isn’t worth the risk, and the Lakers should shut the door on Boston right now and find other trade partners with better trade assets if they really wish to deal Gasol.

This trade may be good in theory, but it doesn’t make sense in reality.