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Los Angeles Lakers tried trading Pau Gasol for Anderson Varejao

By Josh Hill

Dec 17, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) and Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) talk after the game at FedExForum. Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 96-92 Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) and Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) talk after the game at FedExForum. Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 96-92 Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Lakers fans were sad to see Pau Gasol take his talents to Chicago this offseason, but the team had been sold on Gasol long before he decided to leave. For years, Gasol was to the Lakers and trade rumors what Rajon Rondo was to the Boston Celtics. You couldn’t throw a stone without hitting a Gasol trade rumor and the team played a large role in keep that idea alive.

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According to Lakers beat writer Dave McMenamin, Los Angeles was ready to trade Gasol to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Anderson Varejao last season. The only hang up ion the deal was the Cavaliers weren’t as stupid as the Lakers thought.

Gasol had been trade bait dangled in front of the NBA before, as the Dwight Howard trade was rumored to involve Gasol for the longest time. Then there was the Chris Paul trade which shipped Gasol to Houston — which never happened. Last season Gasol was all but certain to be traded to the Phoenix Suns in a deal that never came to fruition.

The constant trade rumors were something that stuck Gasol’s side but now he’s in Chicago where he will actually be appreciated. AS for the Lakers, trading Gasol for Varejao may have worked out but the injury concerns there likely would have come back to bite the Lakers in the end.

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