Analyzing Possible Gasol-Bynum Deal

Examining ways the trade could go down.

It’s a bit ironic, isn’t it? They won back-to-back championships together and displayed a level of chemistry in the paint that had not been seen since David Robinson left Tim Duncan all alone.

Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum were twin towers for the Los Angeles Lakers, and the entire NBA had no answer for their presence in the paint. They flowed together like peanut butter and chocolate. Bynum was rough and physical but had a sweet touch near the rim. Gasol was silky in the paint and could slip out to either knock down the mid-range jumper or lob it up to Bynum for  a monstrous slam.

Then disaster struck Bynum. He was shipped out of L.A. to bring Dwight Howard to “Tinsel Town” — no take-backsies, Mitch Kupchak. Bynum not only was dealt from the team and town he grew up with, but he lost a father figure in Phil Jackson as well. Don’t forget that Bynum had “character issues” in L.A. too. So all this talk about him not having the desire to play basketball isn’t new, but Jackson knew how to corral him and harness his skills.

Look how far we’ve come. Now the Cleveland Cavaliers are about $12 million in the hole (Bynum’s second year is a team option). They’re rustling with the reality they might have to flat out release the once-promising center.

Enter the Lakers.

There have been talks about a Gasol-Bynum trade. Whether or not the Lakers would ask for another piece, say a Dion Waiters perhaps, has yet to be revealed. Though Kupchak and the Lakers have a chance to fix their own leaky faucet.

Los Angeles is, yet again, without Kobe Bryant — take care of your boy, Gary Vitti. Gasol and Lakers Head Coach Mike D’Antoni have bumped heads more than conjoined twins. It’s clear that Gasol does not want to continue playing for D’Antoni. It’s no coincidence Howard had the same problem. However, it appears Kupchak and Jim Buss are married to the D’Antoni system. So the obvious solution would be to trade the 33-year-old Gasol.

Now if the deal were to be a Gasol for Bynum straight up swap, it works for both teams. Gasol is making about $19 million this year but is a free agent after this season. If Gasol and Kyrie Irving don’t mesh, hey, go ahead and let him walk. What’s the worst that happens for Cleveland? It ends up back in the lottery contending for Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins. Big whoop.

The Lakers should ask for Waiters or Thompson as well — maybe even both. Waiters and Thompson wouldn’t even combine to make $10 million next season, actually, they’d make a total of $9,200,430 next year. Los Angeles will have cap space, and with the idea of luring Carmelo Anthony and/or LeBron James to play alongside Bryant dwindling, maybe the rebuilding route is more realistic. Both have shown potential in Cleveland, but failing expectations of making the playoffs, despite being in the Eastern Conference, has the Cavaliers thinking they should ship some fellas out.

Again, worst case scenario for the Cavs is they end up at the top of the draft — “oh, drat,” he said sarcastically.

The worst case for L.A. is they don’t pick up Bynum’s option, but it’s possible a return to his former team could rejuvenate the 26-year old, who was once arguably the best center in the NBA.

Sending Bynum, Waiters and Thompson to Hollywood for Gasol would work out financially for both teams, and it seems as though it’s a low-risk, high-reward situation on both ends. Los Angeles wouldn’t have to sacrifice much cap space — unless it decided to retain Bynum. And Cleveland gets rid of a headache.

The only obstacle is Irving has gone on the record as saying he wants Bynum to stay in Cleveland. The trade could work for everyone except Uncle Drew.