Wow, did I just read that right? If so then The Blot must eat a slice of humble pie and renounce all of my previous criticism of Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak. According to ESPN.com the Memphis Grizzlies have traded former All-Star and the 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for former overall #1 pick Kwame Brown, rookie guard Javaris Grittenton and two future first round picks (2008 and 2010). (link) It is also being reported that to make the deal work, “the Lakers would need to arrange a sign-and-trade for Aaron McKie, who is not currently playing in the NBA, to make the salary cap math work for the deal.” (link)
Somebody pinch me, because right now The Blot is ecstatic. Somehow the Lakers have been able to trade a perennial under achiever in Brown and two future first round picks, which probably would be middle to late first round picks anyway, and finally get a proven all-star caliber second scorer for Kobe Bryant. Not only that, but once the Lakers are fully healthy again they will have a front line of Gasol, Lamar Odom and 20 year old sensation Andrew Bynum, which should now be able to compete with the best front courts in the NBA’s Western Conference. Things are definitely looking up for the Lakers who hit a dry spell earlier in the season with an injury to Bynum. Hopefully he will be back soon and the team will have time to gel before they make one final push for a Western Conference title and a trip to the NBA Finals.