WOOOOO! It's Great to be a Laker Fan!

So I am sitting in class and I get a text from my Dad saying, "The Lakers are getting Gasol for Kwame, Crittenton, and draft picks!!! Wow!". Forgetting that I was still in class, being the Laker fan I am, I stood up and shouted a fairly loud, "YES!". I had been waiting for the Lakers to bring in Gasol for almost 2 years, and today, my wish came true.

According to Breaking News at ESPN.Com, the Lakers have acquired power forward Pau Gasol and a 2010 second round draft pick from the Memphis Grizzlies, in exchange for center Kwame Brown, rookie guard Jaravis Crittenton, guard Aaron McKie(re-signed earlier today), the draft rights to center Marc Gasol(Pau's brother), and first round draft picks in 2008 and 2010.

This has to of been the smartest trade by Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak since he has been the Lakers GM.

ASSESSING THE DEAL

The Memphis Grizzlies get a career underachiever in Kwame Brown, and a solid rookie in Jaravis Crittenton. However, since Kwame's contract(9.1 million) comes off the books after this season, this proves to be a huge boost in the Grizzlies hunt to sign free agents in the upcoming off season. Crittenton is also a nice boost for the Grizz, he is a extremely young and athletic combo guard, who should mesh nicely with Conley in a few years. They also get the draft rights to Pau Gasol's brother, Marc Gasol, a 7-0 center, who is clearly no where near his brothers level. However Marc should be a solid addition to the team if they can get him to come over from Spain in the upcoming years. Aaron McKie is of no value to the team, and will most likely be released in the upcoming week. The 2008 and 2010 first round picks should be some what valuable to the Grizzlies. Assuming the Lakers are not a lottery team for the next couple years, and that they finish in the top 5 among teams in the NBA for the upcoming years, the Grizzlies should still get some decent talent with those two picks.

The Los Angeles Lakers, with the addition of All-Star Pau Gasol, create one of the best starting 5's in the league. With Kobe and Fish/Farmar in the back court, and Odom, Gasol, and Bynum(When he returns from injury), in the front court, the Lakers look like they will be an elite team for the rest of the season, and many years to come. With 3 players on their roster each making at least 13 million dollars, and the up coming contract extension for Andrew Bynum, they will most likely be in salary cap hell for the next 3 or 4 years. However, the Lakers make more than the spend, and With a quad-squad of Bryant, Bynum, Gasol and Odom, the price is definitely worth it. Gasol brings experience, scoring ability, rebounding, interior defense, and excellent post skills to the Lakers, which should help them become the dominate team they once were in the early 2000's.

ALSO! Congratulations to Mitch Kupchak, for finally growing a pair and making a trade. I have bashed Mitch for the last 5 years and today, he has proven, he is not a complete dunder-head. So for now Mitch, you have my respect.

LET'S GO LAKERS! BRING HOME A CHAMPIONSHIP TO LOS ANGELES ONCE AGAIN!