LALReceived
PPau GasolLos Angeles Lakers
#2010 Memphis second-round pick
Championship catalyst · February 1, 2008
The Pau Gasol trade that changed two contenders
Los Angeles acquired Pau Gasol and a future second-round pick. Memphis received expiring money, two young players, two firsts and the draft rights to Pau's younger brother Marc.
See where this happened in the 2008 trade deadline →The original receipt
Every asset in the deal
The arrows show what each team received—not which direction a player left.
MEMReceived
PKwame BrownPJavaris CrittentonPAaron McKie+Draft rights to Marc Gasol · No. 48Memphis Grizzlies
#2008 Lakers first
#2010 Lakers first
+Cash considerations
Why it happened
The bet each side made
The Lakers needed an elite frontcourt partner for Kobe Bryant after Andrew Bynum's injury. Memphis chose cap relief, draft value and a long-term bet on Marc Gasol's development in Spain.
Why history remembers it
Pau helped Los Angeles reach three straight Finals and win two championships. Marc became a Defensive Player of the Year and the interior anchor of Memphis's Grit and Grind era.
The family tree
Where the picks and rights went
Selections, swaps and later trades are traced separately so a downstream player is not mistaken for a direct one-for-one return.
- 01
Draft rights to Marc Gasol · selected
Marc Gasol →Memphis signed Marc after his 2008 ACB MVP season; he became the franchise's longtime defensive anchor.
- 02
2008 Lakers first · selected
Donte Greene · No. 28
Memphis selected Greene before his rights continued through its draft-night trade activity.
- 03
2010 Lakers first · selected
Greivis Vásquez · No. 28
The second future first became the Maryland guard.
What changed
The consequences
- The Lakers reached the Finals immediately and won championships in 2009 and 2010.
- Pau earned three All-NBA selections during his Lakers tenure.
- Marc became Defensive Player of the Year and led Memphis to its first conference finals.
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