Lakers Trade Rumors: Dealing Pau Gasol to Atlanta Would Benefit Both Sides

The Los Angeles Lakers have tried to move Pau Gasol before, but failed. Now, it appears they have a suitor if they want to pull the trigger.

According to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, the Atlanta Hawks are intrigued by the possibility of landing the rangy center.

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The Atlanta Hawks have aggressively tried to trade power forward Josh Smith" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/josh-smith-PESPT0000010884.topic" id="PESPT0000010884">Josh Smith to the Lakers for Pau Gasol, initially expressing interest in Gasol shortly after Oklahoma City eliminated the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, The Times has learned.

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Atlanta fans will argue that Gasol is soft, but he averaged 17.4 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game this year. He did this while making constant adjustments in terms of his team's strategy and his role with the team.

He averages 18-plus points and nine-plus rebounds per game in his career. He may be "soft," but you cannot doubt Gasol's productivity.

Laker fans may look at Smith and see a player who makes too much money ($25.6 million over next two years), but he does all the things the Lakers lack. He's an elite defender (averages over one steal and two blocks for his career). His dazzling array of high-flying dunks would 'wow' Laker fans, and he is notorious for emerging come playoff time.

This trade would benefit all parties. Smith and Gasol should both favor a change of scenery. Los Angeles and Atlanta would be better teams with the addition of their new player's skill set.

Let's take a look at how each addition would impact the lineups of these respective teams.

Atlanta Hawks

Gasol is a mismatch for most NBA centers. Before Andrew Bynum's emergence in Los Angeles, he played primarily with his back to the basket. Once Bynum realized his star potential, Gasol moved away from the basket.

Atlanta would benefit from Gasol's versatility. Al Horford is a solid player in the low post, and Gasol would give him more room to work underneath.

Adding his playoff experience to Atlanta's consistently underwhelming playoff team would also help. Gasol knows what it takes to win. Laker fans would argue that he falters under pressure, but he would be a breath of fresh air to the Hawks' unproven group.

Mismatches change games. Gasol's speed overwhelms plodding centers and he's too tall for most power forwards.

Atlanta would benefit greatly from his veteran presence in the frontcourt.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers need some new blood on their squad, and Smith needs a change of scenery. These two are a match made in heaven.

Smith is often ragged on because of his low shooting percentages (46 percent from the floor this season). He has poor shot selection (28-of-109 from three-point land this year), and he's not a particularly good free-throw shooter. Those things probably aren't going to change, but he is still what Los Angeles needs.

Smith's physicality and raw athleticism would complement Bynum's brutality in the low post. Smith does take poor shots, but his ability to roam the perimeter would open the paint for Bynum's interior assault. He's a matchup nightmare, and the Lakers desperately need that.

Los Angeles would benefit from Smith's youth and upside. He's a notorious underachiever in the eyes of Atlanta fans, but he could reinvent himself under LA's bright lights.

You can only mention a player in trade rumors so often before a deal must happen. Gasol has reached that point and Smith isn't far behind.

Both teams would be wise to pull the trigger on this deal.