Gasol for Gasol: Lakers to move up in the standings with Grizzlies trade

Paul Gasol for Marc Gasol.

Marc, the younger of the Gasol brothers was the 48th overall pick in the 2007 draft. And though he is not yet playing in the NBA (Marc is playing for Akasvayu Girona in Spain.) The younger Gasol is four years younger and an inch taller (at 7-1, 280 lbs.) than his more famous All-Star sibling.

Even Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson found this aspect of the Pau Gasol trade amusing when he said, "that's something you haven't seen before."

But seriously.

The acquisition of 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year Pau Gasol (career averages of 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 476 career games with Vancouver and Memphis) by the Los Angeles Lakers tonight clearly gives their front line a shot in the arm upon the return of 20-year-old center Andrew Bynum (who injured his left knee last January 13 against...guess who? The Memphis Grizzlies).

This would give the Lakers a starting five of Fisher/Farmar at point, Kobe at the two, Odom at shooting forward, Gasol at power forward, and Bynum manning the middle.

Wow.

It's like a big "thank you" prize by the Grizzlies.

"I'm sorry we injured your center. Here is our All-Star."

But I exaggerate.

The Grizzlies, amidst another losing season currently pegged at 13-33, wanted to clear cap space. Move their disgruntled forward. And it just so happened that the Lakers had the largest expiring contract currently in the league by the name of Kwame Brown.

Throw in fillers like rookie Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the rights to Marc Gasol, cash considerations, and two first-round draft picks (in 2008 and 2010) and Voia! You get Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round selection.

Kobe Bryant is sure to love L.A. now more than ever after this deal.

"I have to take my hat off to (owner Jerry) Buss and Mitch for going forward with this," Bryant said. "Now it's up to us to go out there and work hard."

Bryant added.

"Now it's time to walk the walk."

Walk the walk. Much like the Boston Celtics this season, the Lakers have no excuse to lose.

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Juan Carlos Navarro: Ties NBA rookie record for trey's in a game

November 16, 2007 (New Orleans at Memphis)

Juan Carlos Navarro, 27, the 6-foot-3 rookie guard out of S.F. Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain, is finally paying dividends for the Memphis Grizzlies who conveyed a future first-round selection this year to the Washington Wizards in order to get the rights to sign Navarro.

Despite a heart breaking loss in overtime to the visiting Memphis Grizzlies (120-118 OT), Navarro played his finest game as a member of the Grizzlies, finishing with "a career-high 28 points, going 8-of-9 from 3-point range, part of Memphis' 15-of-24 shooting outside the arc. Navarro tied the rookie record for 3s set by Jason Kidd in 1995 and Chris Duhon in 2005."

The Associated Press added:

"Navarro connected on his first seven shots from the field, the first five from 3-point range to kick-start the Memphis offense."

"I'm happy for my game, for my feeling, but if we lose, it doesn't matter,'' Navarro said. "The rim was very big for me. Some days it's very big; some days it's small.''

Superb shooting by Juan Carlos Navarro! Now all he has to do is prove to Grizzlies Head Coach Marc Iavaroni that he is worthy of more playing time.

However, I think that Villanova's Kyle Lowry, who is more athletic, seems to have the inside track among the Grizzlies glut at the point guard position (Damon Stoudamire, Lowry, and Navarro).

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