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Lakers: A Bittersweet Return to STAPLES Center For Pau Gasol

By Hannah Kulik

Apr 16, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) watches from the bench against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at AT&T Center. The Lakers won 113-100. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) watches from the bench against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at AT&T Center. The Lakers won 113-100. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Thursday night, the Lakers will play the Chicago Bulls for the first time this season 

The Bulls are having another strong year thanks in no small part to the continued strong play of former Lakers star Pau Gasol. The fact that Gasol is playing at such a high level for another franchise, rather than finishing his outstanding career with the Lakers, is another frustrating reminder of how poorly the front office has managed the team over the past five years.

For those who wonder if Gasol would mesh today with the Lakers’ young players, answer this question: Who would you rather see at center right now, Gasol or Roy Hibbert? More so, Gasol has had no trouble playing with much younger players on the Bulls like Jimmy Butler and Derek Rose.

If it were not for Gasol and his incredible, versatile skill set, the Lakers might not have made three straight NBA finals appearances from 2008 to 2010, winning two of them. Those titles, the fourth and fifth of Kobe Bryant’s career, allowed Bryant to prove he could win a championship without Shaquille O’Neal.

Gasol has been a star since day one of his career. Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the third selection in the 2001 draft, his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzles where he earned rookie-of-the year honors. After seven seasons playing for the Grizzles, he held 12 separate franchise records (many of which he still holds) including most points scored, most rebounds, and most assists. Gasol is, and has always been, an astounding all-around player on both ends of the court.

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Gasol was traded to the Lakers on February 1, 2008, where he and Bryant clicked right away. In his first game with the Lakers, he scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a win over the Nets. With Gasol in the starting lineup, the Lakers finished the season on a run of 22 wins and 5 losses and was the top seed in the Western Conference.

In his first playoff game that season, Gasol had 36 points, 18 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 blocks. The Lakers went on to play the Boston Celtics in the finals, falling in six games. Of course, two seasons later, the team avenged that loss by defeating the Celtics in the 2010 championship game.

The Lakers have been in a downward spiral since that final championship year in 2010. The following season, Gasol still made the All-Star team and earned All-NBA honors for the season, but the Lakers were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs and Gasol’s post-season stats were unimpressive. Inexplicably, the trade rumors started almost immediately.

Then came the shocking news that Gasol and Lamar Odom had been traded in a three-way deal that paved the way for Chris Paul to join the Lakers. That deal was infamously vetoed by NBA commissioner David Stern, but irreparable damage had been inflicted on the Lakers’ franchise.

Odom was so upset that he demanded to be traded. The Lakers honored his request, and in that moment, Odom’s career, and his life for that matter, were virtually destroyed.

Gasol, however, handled the situation with the professionalism and intelligence for which he has always been known. He vowed that his disappointment over the trade situation would not affect his play on the court.

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However, things quickly turned ugly within the organization. The Steve Nash and Dwight Howard acquisitions did not work out.

Mike Brown was fired a few games into the 2012-13 season and replaced by Mike D’Antoni, who favored a fast-paced “run and gun” offense that did not play to Gasol’s strengths.

The coach did not appreciate Gasol’s skillset and benched him in the fourth quarter of close games. When the media questioned D’Antoni about the move, he shockingly responded that he benched Gasol  “because we wanted to try to win.”

As the Lakers’ fortunes sank, Gasol was made a scapegoat and treated very poorly by Mitch Kupchak and D’Antoni. He was finally demoted by D’Antoni, losing his starting job to of all people journeyman Earl Clark. Always the professional, Gasol never complained publically and just continued to play through serious injuries.

Gasol’s contract expired after the 2013-14 season and he opted to sign as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls. It is unclear whether Lakers’ management made much of an effort to re-sign him, but after treating him so badly and leaving the impression that Gasol was through as a player, it was no surprise that Gasol wanted to get a fresh start  elsewhere.

Since joining the Bulls, Gasol has made the Lakers “brain-trust” look foolish. He had plenty of high-level play left in his tank, earning All-Star and All-NBA honors last season. At age 35, he is playing well again this year, averaging 32 minutes while scoring 17 points per game on 47% shooting. He is also grabbing 11 rebounds (6th highest in the NBA) and, always the great passer, averaging three assists per contest.

Gasol deserves a resounding welcome Thursday night from appreciative Lakers fans who should remember his stellar play and very high character. It is sad that Gasol, who was so instrumental in bringing two championships to the franchise, was treated so poorly in the last three years of his time on the team.

Next: Shaq to Receive Statue Outside of STAPLES Center

He is a virtual monument to the classless, bungling the front office that has led to the squad we know today – a team that by season’s end is likely to finish with the worst record in the entire league and in the franchise’s history.

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