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Los Angeles Lakers: The trade to make for Marc Gasol

By Jason Reed

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 10: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies plays the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on December 10, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 10: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies plays the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on December 10, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly shopping both Mike Conley and Marc Gasol and the Los Angeles Lakers should definitely check in on the latter.

The Los Angeles Lakers are certainly going to be making a move at the NBA Trade Deadline, it is just a matter of who the team decides to target.

There are some interesting options out there, none of which are really a true superstar. However, with the Memphis Grizzlies now reportedly shopping both Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, the Lakers might have the trade to make.

Gasol is a three-time all-star and was actually drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. This would be coming full circle for the Lakers, who traded Gasol’s draft rights to the Grizzlies for his brother, Pau Gasol.

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And we all know how that turned out. Kobe Bryant finally got the perfect second star and the Los Angeles Lakers went on to win two NBA Championships.

Is LeBron James with Marc Gasol as his second option enough to win an NBA Championship? Maybe not in today’s NBA. Kobe and Pau did not have to go through a team that literally has five all-stars in their starting lineup, as the 2019 Lakers do with the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers could still form a super team as the team does have the young core to dip into to trade for a third star to join Gasol and LeBron, which leads into what the Lakers should pay for Gasol.

Albert Burneko of Deadspin wrote an article demanding the Lakers to trade for Gasol, which I agree, is a good move. However, unlike Burneko, I do not think that it would be worth trading Lonzo Ball or Brandon Ingram for Gasol.

I understand that Gasol is producing results today and Ingram and Ball might not be stars in time to win a title with LeBron. However, Gasol is still regressing and is not enough to put the Lakers over the edge. The front office has every reason to want to hold onto Ball and Ingram to land a third star, such as a Bradley Beal or Damian Lillard.

So, what should the Lakers be looking to pay for Gasol? There is still youth in the package but not anything that sets the team back.

The deal would consist of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Lance Stephenson for monetary reasons. Alongside them would be two young big men, 2018 first-rounder Moritz Wagner and breakout center Ivica Zubac.

Throw in a first-round pick, which will be in the mid to late 20s, and the Grizzlies are getting a fair return for Gasol, who they probably should have traded a year and a half ago.

Next. Will Kyrie come to LA?. dark

Gasol is still a better player than Zubac and Wagner is not playing regardless. This not only makes the Los Angeles Lakers better in 2019 but it keeps the door wide open for another massive move.

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