NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Have No Choice but to Move Aging Pau Gasol

Even if it won't be for one of the superstars the Lakers have desired this offseason, they now have no choice but to move Pau Gasol.

It's impossible to think that all of the talk isn't getting to Gasol. He knows that he had one foot out the door last week when the Lakers had him traded, only to have David Stern step in and veto the move. Gasol knows that the Lakers bounced back up from that and tried to move him again, only for those discussions to fall through.

Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times wrote that in light of Chris Paul being traded to the Clippers, the Lakers need to offer Gasol and Andrew Bynum to the Magic for Dwight Howard.

Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register even quoted Gasol as saying that he's still aware that a trade is distinctly possible.

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The only thing that will make me feel better is when management approaches me and tells me that they want me to be here and that I can just focus on playing basketball and helping the team out, not worrying about anything else. I know that was one of the possibilities — I think there are others and things they are pursuing — but that's about it.

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More than just worrying about Gasol's feelings, this is a team that needs to get younger and deeper. Trading Gasol could solve both of those problems. Plenty of teams would give up a lot for a high scoring center with range.

Dwight Howard is obviously the biggest name to bring in, but the Lakers shouldn't be limiting themselves to just him. They need to put a deep team around Kobe Bryant to help him win. Right now, they old are anything but deep.

This team is a year older and thinner than the one that was too old and too thin to compete with the Mavericks a seasons ago. Father Time is an undefeated opponent. It's not going to get any better.  

Medina's rumored offer would bring in star power to the Lakers, but it goes beyond that. Gasol is not going to help this team win a championship anymore. The competition is too good at the top of each conference, and the Lakers are too old. 

But whether it's for Dwight Howard, or for other options, the Lakers need to move Pau Gasol. He knows that they have tried multiple times to move him. With the talent (or lack thereof) around him, Gasol doesn't bring enough to the court to bring the team any closer to a championship. 

The Lakers need to follow through on what they've wanted to do in the recent past and move Gasol. It's the right thing for all parties involved.

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