Pau Gasol: Houston Rockets Would Be a Playoff Team with New Big Man

The Houston Rockets are reportedly finalizing a three-team trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Hornets that would see them acquire star power forward Pau Gasol, according to Yahoo! Sports.

The deal also includes Chris Paul going from the Hornets to the Lakers, with Lamar Odom, Luis Scola, Goran Dragic and Kevin Martin headed to the Hornets.

This was a great move for the Rockets and Gasol is the big man the team has desperately needed since foot problems forced Yao Ming to retire.

With Gasol, the Rockets will make the NBA playoffs this season.

The Rockets met with Denver Nuggets free-agent center Nene, but it looks like he could sign a huge contract to remain in the Mile High City, according to Sports Illustrated.

With the likelihood of getting Nene appearing slim, the Rockets went out and got an even better player in Gasol.

Not only is Gasol a quality low-post scorer, he has a good mid-range shot too. Defenses must respect his outside shooting, and when they come out to challenge it, Gasol uses his quickness to take the ball to the basket.

Gasol also is not a soft player anymore, he is not afraid to bang in the paint. The Rockets need his tremendous rebounding, and with his 7'0" frame he will be a shot-blocking presence.

Houston gave up Luis Scola in this deal, but Gasol is an upgrade over him. Scola was a good offensive player, but he would not dominate the game in any way, and was not a player teams feared in the paint.

Gasol's career scoring average is 18.8 points per game and he has averaged 9.1 rebounds per game as well. Both those numbers are better than Scola's career averages, respectively.

Where Gasol will help Houston off the stat sheet is in his playoff experience. He has played in three NBA Finals series, winning two of them. He has averaged 17.9 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game in his playoff career.

The Rockets must find a perimeter scorer in free agency with the loss of Martin, but they have added a star big man who has many years of quality production left in him.

You cannot win in the NBA without great big men, and the Rockets now have one of the best power forwards in basketball who will excel at both ends of the floor.

Gasol will help lead the Rockets to the postseason this year.