4. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol (2008-09) – 26.6 combined win shares, 23.3 average PER
One of the best trades in Lakers’ history is definitely their 2008 midseason trade for Pau Gasol. The best thing Memphis ended up getting out of the deal was ultimately Pau’s brother Marc, but the Lakers won two titles, so we know who won that deal.
The addition of Pau Gasol made the Lakers instant title contenders and they eventually were in the NBA finals in his first postseason with the squad.
They lost to the Celtics in six games, but then they went on to win the next two finals after that. Those two finals victories with Pau Gasol alongside him pretty much cemented his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play the game and maybe the greatest Laker of all-time.
The duo of Bryant and Pau was not the lightning and thunder combo like Shaq and Kobe were. They were more of a finesse tandem that was almost poetry in motion on the court. Bryant and Gasol knew each other so well at one point they were even speaking Spanish on the court so opponents had no idea what they were communicating.
Gasol was the perfect big man for Phil Jackson‘s triangle offense because he was such a great passer out of the high post. His versatility to go outside the paint and hit the fifteen footer consistently, also allowed Kobe to get whatever shot he wanted on offense.
The difference between Kobe and Shaq and Kobe and Pau Gasol was that the latter pair actually got along. Kobe has said on multiple occasions that Pau was one of his favorite teammates. Along with Derek Fisher, Gasol is always mentioned when Bryant is asked, who his favorite teammates were.