You know that sinking feeling you get in your stomach the moment you you realize something disastrous just happened? Well, I had that feeling most of Friday afternoon when the Grizzlies gave traded Pau Gasol to the Lakers for Kwame Brown. From the Grizzlies perspective, this trade only makes sense if GM Chris Wallace was worried that the disgruntled Pau could become a PR nightmare at any moment, complete with retirement threats, police records and fan beatings. Or maybe he accidentally clicked "accept" in Yahoo Fantasy NBA Trade Manager. Needless to say, the Lakers made off like bandits, but what did Memphis gain from this?

Kwame Brown is in a contract year, and apparently no one has told him this, since he's as bad as ever. The good news is that in three months they no longer have to pay him. Rookie PG Javaris Crittendon has barely played this year, so the jury is still out. He is shooting 49% in limited minutes, but 22 turnovers in 173 minutes is enough to earn a one-way ticket to the Dakota Wizards. Even if he does pan out, he won't be supplanting Mike Conley anytime soon.

In a half-hearted attempt to fool the fine citizens of Tennessee, Memphis also received Pau's brother Marc Gasol, who is still playing in Europe and sounds like the second coming of Bryant Reeves. If he's had any conversations with big brother Pau, there's no guarantee he will even come to play for Memphis. Chris Wallace thinks this is almost as good as a lottery pick. You know, kinda like how Harvey Grant was almost as good as Horace Grant.

The X-factor in this trade are the Lakers first-round picks in 2008 and 2010. Barring an implosion of Miami Heat proportions, both of these picks will be in the low 20's, giving the Grizz a chance to pick up some amazingly average role players. For every Kevin Martin (26th overall, 24 ppg), there are thousands of David Harrisons, Mardy Collins, and Viktor Krhyapas.

So, in summary, Pau Gasol went to Los Angeles for an expiring contract, a backup point guard, a slow-footed low-jumping center who may never set foot in the NBA, and two bench players to be named later. Not the best trade I've ever seen.

Labels: blockbuster trades, Memphis Grizzlies, Pau Gasol