What trade involving Pau Gasol would make most sense for Lakers?

Lakers all-star Pau Gasol appears to be on the trading block. Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss which trade involving the two-time NBA champion would make the most sense. Feel free to join the conversation with a comment of your own.

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel

The best Pau Gasol trade?

Mike D’Antoni for any coach with enough common sense to find a way to make it work.

Once again, D’Antoni’s being so wedded to a system has compromised his ability to maximize his roster (see Carmelo Anthony, New York).

With a $19-million price tag, knee tendinitis, declining statistics, Gasol will not fetch anything close to reasonable value on the trade market. This sets up as a situation even worse than when the Lakers heisted Gasol from the Grizzlies in the first place.

With all due respect to Earl Clark, he is not Pau Gasol, cannot provide the type of big-to-big passing that made for such an efficient Gasol duo with Andrew Bynum.

Having already excised one coach, the Lakers essentially are in face-saving mode, certainly can’t move on to a third coach (fourth, if you count Bernie Bickerstaff).

But Pau Gasol hardly is the Lakers’ greatest concern at the moment, even as he is being cast as such.

Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The Lakers are crying out for help, and it’s as unbecoming as a Hollywood star wearing Target on the runway.

The solution? Trade Pau Gasol, of course.

The problem? He’s over the hill and overpaid, owed $19 million next season.

What might make sense: Send Pau back to Memphis, this time for Zach Randolph and defensive ace Tony Allen. Pau reunites with brother, Marc, whom L.A. sent to the Griz in the original heist.

Memphis can shed $34 million left on Randolph’s contract, plus play two seven-foot siblings. Desperate times, desperate measures for L.A. when Jack Nicholson is leaving games early.

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