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Mike Bresnahan of the LOS ANGELES TIMES reports this afternoon, “The Lakers have acquired forward-center Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies for center Kwame Brown, guard Javaris Crittenton and a series of draft picks between the two teams.”
The MEMPHIS COMMERCIAL APPEAL also is reporting the trade, adding that the Gristle will get the Lakers’ “first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2010.”
Despite Gasol’s production declining of late, this deal looks like it has the Lakers primed for a run to the NBA Finals. That is, if Andrew Bynum comes back healthy in 4-6 weeks. And they can find a position for Gasol.
Meanwhile, the Gristle probably did the best they could under the circumstances. Gasol made it clear he did not want to be in Memphis, so they lost leverage there. They get an expiring contract in Brown and Crittenton is a good prospect who was buried on the Lakers’ bench thanks to the emergence of Jordan Farmar. You’d like to think the first-round draft picks will help Memphis, but they’re likely to be low picks and not of much value.
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