Lakers Seek Pau Gasol Trade
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Trade Rumors Derailing Season
The Los Angeles Lakers have continued to play at a high-level at Staples Center, but their road woes have continued to suggest they are not an elite team in the western conference anymore. However, one of the primary reasons for their struggles could be attributed to the non-stop trade rumors surrounding one of the team's core players, Pau Gasol.
Gasol has had his name appear involved in a number of different trade scenarios, and almost all sports analysts believe that the chatter is impacting the Spanish forward's play on the court. And why wouldn't it? Gasol has a home and family in Southern California, and not knowing if you could be in Minnesota, Orlando or some other place the next day would cause stress upon any player, any person. The mental toll on Gasol is something that should not be understated because of the important role he serves on the team as a veteran leader. His team chemistry with Kobe Bryant and the bench players is vital to the team's success this season.
Clearly aware that the rumors were hurting the performance of the team, Bryant went on the offense against management, saying that they should resolve the matter as soon as possible. Bryant stated that if the team intends on trading him they should not prolong the process and work out a trade soon, or inform Gasol that he is no longer on the trading block so he can focus on finishing the remainder of the season in a purple and gold uniform. Bryant also made it clear that he would prefer the team keep Gasol, who was a key figure in helping the Lakers win two world championships only a few short years ago.
"When the Lakers get eliminated in the first round of the playoffs they will have nobody to blame but themselves for this mess", explained a sports writer for GPS Tracker Shop.
When the Chris Paul trade fell apart, it was evident that Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol were both hurt by the transaction. Odom requested an immediate out from Los Angeles, which the Lakers granted, but the team kept Gasol in hopes of landing a big fish via trade. The smart thing would have been to trade Gasol as soon as possible after the Paul trade failed since it was clear that the damage was done. Now, even if or when the Lakers trade Gasol, the team will need to build chemistry with the player acquired via trade, something that will take much longer than 20 games.
The Lakers management have sabotaged their own season by thinking the grass was greener on the other side. They should have waited until the lock-out shortened season ended, making a run at the big name players on the market during free agency. The suits don't understand what it is like to be a player. They don't understand how chemistry can beat talent. And they clearly don't understand that the failure to address an issue so significant that it requires the face of the franchise to lash out about it, can and will ruin an entire season.