The tao of Pau could lead to an NBA crown
Gasol was the last key piece for the Lakers when acquired before 2008 trade deadline
The last time that Pau Gasol was traded, his new team hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy 16 months later.
That 2008-09 L.A. Lakers team, led of course by Kobe Bryant playing at his peak, had a lot of championship pieces in place before Gasol arrived. There was centre Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom at forward and future Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton behind him on the bench. They had plenty of guard depth by the time the next season rolled around, with Derek Fisher, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic. But it wasn’t until Gasol arrived in a blockbuster deal on Feb. 1, 2008 — 20 days before the trade deadline — that the Lakers’ championship hopes became an imminent reality.
Now 35 and a Chicago Bull, Gasol is seemingly up for grabs again, a big, difference-making name making noise against the ticking clock that counts down to Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. The seven-foot-three centre is coming off of his sixth allstar showing over the weekend in Toronto and if he went to the right team — the Raptors would be an intriguing match — he could very well raise his new club’s stature and their chances at post-season success.
Gasol can opt out of his contract this year to become a free agent. He’s had a very successful season with Chicago, where he has been putting up 17 points and almost 11 rebounds per night. If he were to find a home with a solid point guard and a team in need of a versatile and experienced centre — think Toronto, Boston, even Oklahoma City — it has the makings of a perfect match, depending on what has to be surrendered in the deal.
Just about every year, teams make deals ahead of the trade deadline, hoping for the gold that Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak struck in pulling Gasol to L.A. eight years ago. Those quick payoff deals are few and far between, though.
On February 19, 2004, the Detroit Pistons were able to take Rasheed Wallace from the Atlanta Hawks — a team Wallace called home for one game after being dealt by Portland — and went on to upset Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and the Lakers for the 2004 championship.
The Philadelphia 76ers snagged Dikembe Mutombo in 2001 and made it to the final that year, falling to a younger Lakers team with Bryant on it.
The Houston Rockets swung a February 14, 1995 deal with the Trail Blazers for Clyde Drexler, which fuelled their unlikely repeat championship run (the Rockets won as the No. 6 seed, the lowest-ranked champion ever).
Gasol has the experience to win and the poise required to join a team for its final stretch of the season and help take it to a level that it may not have been to yet. While the Rockets have reportedly tested the waters with one of their big name players in Dwight Howard, he lacks both of the intangibles that Gasol brings to a potential team.
The power structure atop the NBA likely won’t change on Thursday, regardless of what deals are done, but Gasol landing in the right situation could bring his team right onto the heels of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors.