So I guess we might be a sports blog

Did y'all see, did y’all see that we got Pau Gasol? Did anybody see that? Did you see the move Mitch pulled off? Did anybody see what Mitch pulled off for the Los Angeles Lakers? Did anybody see what he did? We got Pau Gasol, so now we have a beast to throw the ball down to. They’re scared now, Yeah! We've got help now! We've got help now! We’ve got Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Whatsup! Talk to me! I aint even got to tell you, you already know, Andrew Bynum on one side. Then you got a left hand southpaw switch it up, you think he’s shooting left but he’s actually shooting right.

Wait, a second why does that seem strangely failure. Everything about today seems like déjà. A huge trade, a (borderline) all-star was traded for pennies on the dollar. Everyone has heralded the trade as a steal. Nothing of “substance” was given up for a substantial upgrade in talent. Parades are already been planned in LA as the Laker roster is now seen as one of the best in the league. Personally this feels a lot like one of the numerous moves that Isaiah has been getting killed for making in New York.

(Alleged) Upgrade in talent: Check
Trading away Financial Flexibility/ Expiring Contracts: Check
Trading Away young talent: Check
Trading away multiple first drafts picks: Check

(A quick note about the draft picks traded away, they traded away 2008 and 2010 draft picks because based on the collective bargaining agreement: you are not allowed to trade away consecutive first round draft picks. You should think about this rule as a safeguard against GM’s engaging in numerous Isaiah/ Mitch “genius” type trades.)

Henry Abbot of True Hoops notes that Gasol will be making $50MM over the next three years, and that the Lakers significantly limited their financial flexibility. (Good Bye Free Agent signings!) Instead of patterning their championship quest after the Spurs/ Trailblazers (good character guys, great drafting, and a little bit of luck) they decided to take the Boston/ Miami approach and try to create a championship out of thin air. While I know Mitch was under some pressure to build the team to win now, Kobe Bryant is not a general manager. His goals are not in line with the long term goals of the Laker organization.

Theoretically this trade could work out beautifully if Kobe is appeased by the moves, the Lakers (and Bynum) continue to develop as expected and they challenge and eventually win a championship (s) in the upcoming years. In this scenario the drafts picks that they lose are low first rounders and are thus less valuable.
Here’s my problem with this scenario

Kobe:

This trade only makes sense if it appeases Kobe. If not and he walks after next year, then LA mortgaged their future to appease a superstar that is no longer a part of their organization.

Gasol:

Is he an NBA player who can only put up numbers on a bad team? A stat monster? I would like to see Dave Berri of Wages of Win’s analysis of the trade.

Odom:

What should LA do with him? Doesn’t he replicate a lot of what Kobe and Gasol do best?

Bynum:

How will the arrival of Gasol affect Bynum’s development? What is the status of his injury?

Basically my final analysis of this trade is that it is way too early to tell how the Lakers did in this trade, but as a fan I am glad that Mitch made a move. Only time will tell if it was the right move, but at least the City of Angels has something its basketball team hasn’t had in a while. Hope.