Los Angeles Lakers: Why They Need More Than Chris Paul

It was inevitable that Chris Paul was going to be traded. The real question was where. It was rumored that Paul was demanding a trade to the New York Knicks so he could play with his buddies, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire.

There were also rumors that Paul was going to be shipped to Boston in exchange for Rajon Rondo. However, this deal was shot dead when it was reported that Paul would not sign an extension with Boston.

Moments ago Paul found his new home, and it wasn’t New York.

Paul was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team deal that will send All-Star big man Pau Gasol to Houston and Lamar Odom to New Orleans.

The immediate consensus will be that Los Angeles has become a significantly better team. However, that may not be the case.

Pau Gasol is among the most skilled big men in the NBA today. Unlike many of today’s players, he has the ability to score with his back to the basket and provides instant offense.

The big thing Gasol brings is size, which is huge in a league that lacks premier big men. Despite his struggles in last year’s postseason, Gasol is a proven big-game player, as evidenced by his performance during the Lakers back-to-back championship seasons.

Losing Gasol will prove to be a big hit as the Lakers will be forced to rely on Andrew Bynum as their lone low post presence. Bynum has shown flashes, but his durability issues combined with inconsistent play raises major questions.

The big question is whether Bynum can stay healthy for an entire season. If you look at his track record, the answer would be no.

Don’t forget about Lamar Odom in this trade, either. Odom was crucial to the Lakers success in recent years due to his elite versatility. Odom played both forward positions for the Lakers and at times would even bring the ball up the floor.

Paul will without a doubt help the Lakers. The team will go from having one of the worst point guard situations in the league to possibly the best.

Paul’s playmaking and scoring ability is something that will help them instantly, and with Paul at the point and Kobe at shooting guard, the Lakers possess the league’s best backcourt.

Reportedly the Lakers are still trying to acquire Dwight Howard from the Magic in a deal centered around Andrew Bynum. If the Lakers can get a deal for Howard done, shipping away Gasol and Odom will have been worth it.  

Still I have to believe the Magic will receive a better offer for Howard, so the chances of the Lakers getting him are remote.

The acquisition of Chris Paul will help the Lakers in many ways. However, losing Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom are major blows to the team's size and depth that may hurt the team more than help them.