Marc Gasol is solid. They also got the Lakers 2008 and 2010 first round picks. I won't argue that the Lakers go the better end of the deal, but Memphis got a solid player in the younger Gasol and the future will tell us how the draft picks turn out.

 

I agree. Plus they got to dump Pau's salary. It doesn't make sense for small market teams who aren't in the playoffs to have high salary guys. Gasol wasn't getting it done by himself, and there probably wasn't much of a financial reason to keep him. Perhaps they saved money by just starting over and trying to get good young talent. At the end of the day the all mighty dollar is going to win.

It was a no-brainier type decision then and history has proved it. Shaq had more mileage, had put on a ton of weight and given up (despite what everyone cares to remember), and Kobe had the makings of a dynamic perimeter player for another 10 years.

While the Gasol trade was HUGE, no doubt, do not forget the Lakers were rolling through the '07-'08 season before he arrived. The emergence of the other complimentary players like Bynum, Ariza, Odom, Radmonovic, Turiaf, etc. along with the resigning of Fisher is what got the Lakers going and rejuvenated Bryant.

While the Gasol trade was HUGE, no doubt, do not forget the Lakers were rolling through the '07-'08 season before he arrived. The emergence of the other complimentary players like Bynum, Ariza, Odom, Radmonovic, Turiaf, etc. along with the resigning of Fisher is what got the Lakers going and rejuvenated Bryant.

 

Bynum was out for the season by that point, and the Lakers, who'd started 26-11, were 4-5 without him prior to Gasol getting there. The Lakers were 4th in the conference at the time by record, and would have been the 5 seed had the playoffs started that day. Even on the day Bynum went down the Lakers were tied for first but only a half game out of 6th. To be certain the Lakers were improved, but even with a healthy Bynum, it was no guarantee where they'd end up. Gasol was a huge jolt in the arm for them, and they haven't missed the NBA Finals since.

It was a great move by the Lakers. During their 3-peat was the pinnacle of Shaq's prime. They unloaded him when his stock was highest.

Bynum was out for the season by that point, and the Lakers, who'd started 26-11, were 4-5 without him prior to Gasol getting there. The Lakers were 4th in the conference at the time by record, and would have been the 5 seed had the playoffs started that day. Even on the day Bynum went down the Lakers were tied for first but only a half game out of 6th. To be certain the Lakers were improved, but even with a healthy Bynum, it was no guarantee where they'd end up. Gasol was a huge jolt in the arm for them, and they haven't missed the NBA Finals since.

No doubt, I am not disagreeing with anything you are saying. My point was that the Lakers had turned in to a lot better of a team. Before they were barely above .500 being eliminated in the first round. They were not sniffing 26-11. Gasol put them over the top.

No doubt, I am not disagreeing with anything you are saying. My point was that the Lakers had turned in to a lot better of a team. Before they were barely above .500 being eliminated in the first round. They were not sniffing 26-11. Gasol put them over the top.

 

Gasol was the final piece that made them an elite team and perennial title contender. Without him, they'd be just another team clawing and scratching for Western Conference supremacy and probably unable to get there.

Are we forgetting that Kobe bailed on them and demanded a trade? I'm pretty sure I remember that. If Gasol wasn't gift wrapped for them they wouldn't have seen the Finals and who knows how Kobe would have reacted.