The Los Angeles Lakers are considering putting center Pau Gasol on the trading block, according to ESPN sources.Gasol has struggled this year and can’t seem to find a real role in Mike D’Antoni’s offensive system, which has led to frustration on his part. The 33-year-old center has had a great NBA career, but the Lakers would be crazy to hang onto to Gasol if another team is offering a reasonable deal.
The Lakers are currently 11-12 on the season and are 12th place in the Western Conference. Los Angeles trails the Dallas Mavericks by two-and-a-half games for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Looking at the Lakers current roster, the biggest glaring hole on the team is at the point guard position. Steve Nash is 39 years old and has only played in six games this year.
Steve Blake has done a solid job filling in for Nash, but he isn’t the long-term answer for the Lakers. Blake is averaging 9.8 points and 7.7 assists per game, but he can’t stop any of the elite point guards in the Western Conference. He’s a very good backup point guard, but if he’s the point guard a team is relying on him to lead them to the playoffs, there’s an issue.
If the Lakers can exchange Gasol for a better point guard or a younger, more athletic center, they should pull the trigger immediately. Gasol doesn’t have a real spot on this team and the Lakers have other needs across the board.
If the value isn’t right, they can’t give him up.
But if the deal is there, the Lakers have to do it.
By Mike Lucas
