Lakers Rumors: Possible trade returns for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
By Jason Reed
Marc Gasol may not be on anyone’s trade radar yet, but as the season transpires, the Memphis Grizzlies may realize that they cannot compete with just Gasol and Conley. Because of that, Memphis may just nip their problems in the butt and quickly start a drastic rebuild.
Bill Simmons, on The Bill Simmons Podcast, brought up a very good point regarding the Memphis Grizzlies. Simmons said:
"“If I’m starting there, as much as I like both of those guys (Conley and Gasol), and I can’t make round three if they’re my top two, I’m going the other way – I’m trading them.”"
Simmons has a point. As talented as Gasol and Conley are, the Grizzlies have no real shot to compete for anything in the top-heavy Western Conference. Without any young talent really on the roster, Memphis may be best suited to enter the rebuilding phase. With the losses of Tony Allen and Zach Randolph, what else can they really do?
One option, and perhaps we are being a bit optimistic in only trading Julius Randle, is to send Gasol to the Lakers to take over the big man legacy Pau Gasol left behind. Gasol has at least one more season under contract, with a player option following 2019.
As scary as player options are, a Lakers team with Ball, George, Ingram, Kuzma and Gasol would be absolutely deadly. If Ball and Ingram progress as they should, they would be serious title contenders. Why would Gasol want to opt out of that?
Plus, this then opens the door to flip Brook Lopez to a contender for potential draft picks, filling the void they are leaving behind by trading their own. All things considered, this is a win for the Lakers.