2008 Woodie Awards
The rich get richer
Lakers spark a storm of transactions
Tim Moore
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Opinion
When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired former all-star, Pau Gasol on February 1, in exchange for the underperforming Kwame Brown, rookie, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol, and two future draft picks, fans and analysts immediately set the bar high. The addition of the 7'0" Gasol, combined with the pending return of the injured Andrew Bynum lead some to crown the Lakers as potential Western Conference Champions, without Pau having played a single game in the purple and gold.
The Lakers have now played six games in the Gasol-era, winning all but one. Gasol is proving to be a major contributor in Los Angeles, averaging 20.5 points, and just over eight rebounds in the six games he has played in a Lakers uniform.
The Lakers organization expected such numbers from a proven NBA player, however, they may not have expected the barrage of trades and proposed trades to beef up the Western Conference in the weeks following.
Just six days following the Gasol deal, the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns drafted out a trade that sent 14-time All-Star and former Laker, Shaquille O'Neal back to the Pacific Division for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The move has been criticized by analysts because of the aging O'Neal's inability to easily fit in with the Suns' trademark high-speed offense.
Shaq, who has been sidelined with a hip injury, is expected to make his Phoenix debut on Thursday against the Lakers on ESPN.
Nine-time All-Star, Jason Kidd, who has voiced his desire to be traded from the New Jersey Nets for quite some time, may have just been granted his wish. After over a week of negotiations, proposals, and rumors with the Dallas Maverics, it appears that a deal has come to fruition that would send Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, and Maurice Ager to New Jersey in exchange for Kidd and forward, Malik Allen.
The Western Conference is already known as the powerhouse around the NBA, and with the addition of one of the best centers to ever to play the game (O'Neal) and the most prolific passer currently in the league (Kidd), the west is only getting stronger.
The Lakers have now played six games in the Gasol-era, winning all but one. Gasol is proving to be a major contributor in Los Angeles, averaging 20.5 points, and just over eight rebounds in the six games he has played in a Lakers uniform.
The Lakers organization expected such numbers from a proven NBA player, however, they may not have expected the barrage of trades and proposed trades to beef up the Western Conference in the weeks following.
Just six days following the Gasol deal, the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns drafted out a trade that sent 14-time All-Star and former Laker, Shaquille O'Neal back to the Pacific Division for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The move has been criticized by analysts because of the aging O'Neal's inability to easily fit in with the Suns' trademark high-speed offense.
Shaq, who has been sidelined with a hip injury, is expected to make his Phoenix debut on Thursday against the Lakers on ESPN.
Nine-time All-Star, Jason Kidd, who has voiced his desire to be traded from the New Jersey Nets for quite some time, may have just been granted his wish. After over a week of negotiations, proposals, and rumors with the Dallas Maverics, it appears that a deal has come to fruition that would send Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, and Maurice Ager to New Jersey in exchange for Kidd and forward, Malik Allen.
The Western Conference is already known as the powerhouse around the NBA, and with the addition of one of the best centers to ever to play the game (O'Neal) and the most prolific passer currently in the league (Kidd), the west is only getting stronger.
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