Written by: Emily Wilson
What was a valid question then seems laughable now. “Was the Gasol Trade a Good Deal for the Lakers?” asked an ESPN.com article on February 3, 2008, just days after the Lakers traded Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and two first-round draft picks to Memphis for the versatile, 7’1” Pau Gasol.
At the time, the Lakers were in desperate need of size. Bynum was hurt and Kwame Brown was a non-factor. On paper, the trade seemed like a certain boon to the Lakers on both offense and defense.
But it would have been difficult to predict just how important Gasol would turn out to be within the trajectory of the Lakers’ success. In just three years with the Lakers, Gasol can celebrate three straight finals appearances and two consecutive championships.
Here’s to hoping that such a streak continues; four straight trips to the finals and three consecutive championships sound rather lovely. And why stop there? Next year, make it five and four!
I realize that’s getting overly excited and it’s better to live in the present, but when talking about Pau, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the idea of unrelenting consistency.
That’s because in terms of statistics, Gasol is doing exactly what he’s been doing for this team since he arrived those three seasons ago. In fact, his numbers have remained almost eerily consistent.