Unsettled West
The initial reaction among Western Conference executives to Friday's news that the Los Angeles Lakers had landed Pau Gasol?
Shock.
General reaction No. 2?
We've got problems.
The Memphis Grizzlies didn't make too many friends among their West peers after shipping Gasol to the Lakers for a package that included center Kwame Brown, rookie guard Javaris Crittenton and a pair of first-round draft choices. One GM who hadn't yet heard the news went silent when told details of the trade.
"Wow," he said finally. "Did that really just happen?"
The San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks have shared the conference's penthouse amongst themselves in recent seasons, but might now have to make room for one more tenant. Said another West executive: "I really think it's a Big Four now."
The Lakers certainly have their version of the Big Three to match up with the Tim Duncan-Manu Ginobili-Tony Parker, Steve Nash-Amare Stoudemire-Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki-Josh Howard-Jason Terry triumvirates of their rivals. Andrew Bynum had already developed into one of the league's best young centers before his knee injury. If he returns healthy midway through next month, the Lakers will have two skilled post players for Kobe Bryant to play off.
One GM was already dreading trying to match up with the Lakers' length: Gasol and Bynum stand 7 feet; Lamar Odom is 6-10; and Bryant 6-6. The Lakers still have questions to answer: Will Bynum completely recover from his knee injury in time to regain his rhythm before the playoffs? How is Gasol going to handle playing on a considerably larger stage? But they certainly like their position much more than they did two days ago.
"Give them credit," the executive said. "Having Kwame's expiring deal was huge for them and they took advantage of a team desperate to shed salary. Memphis basically gave Gasol away."
League sources said the trade also spurred a flurry of phone calls from more than a few West teams seeking to reassess their own options. Dallas was already involved in discussions with New Jersey regarding Jason Kidd, and though coach Avery Johnson told reporters in Boston Thursday that "we're moving forward with our team," league sources said the Mavericks haven't given up their pursuit of Kidd just yet.
"The Lakers just shook everything up," said a Western Conference player personnel director. "I think a lot of teams now think they need to do something.
"Look at Denver and Golden State. If you're just trying to do better than you did last season and get out of the first round and you draw the Lakers? You're going to have to bring more than what you got now."
