The LA Lakers is now very close to the NBA champion 2008 title after they have acquired forward-center Spanish Pau Gasol from the MEM Grizzlies for center Kwame Brown and guard Javaris Crittenton. “We’re extremely pleased to make this trade,” Lakers General Manger Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. “Pau is a proven player of All-Star caliber in this league who can score and rebound and he’s still a young player. We feel this move strengthens our team in the short term as well as the long term.” Pau Gasol, 27, is averaging 18.9 points and 8.8 rebounds this season for the Grizzlies. He has expressed discontent in the past year with the Grizzlies (13-33) who have not been in playoffs since 2006 and have never won a playoff game since he was drafted in 2001. He was the NBA’s rookie of the year in 2001-02 and made the All-Star team in 2006. Gasol has three more years and an estimated $49 million on his contract. Brown’s $9.1-million contract expires after this season and Crittenton is a rookie. Gasol would fill in at center until Andrew Bynum returns from a knee injury sometime in March. Gasol could then slide over to power forward when Bynum returns.
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