COMMENTARY | It seems like only a short while ago when Kobe Bryant was gushing with excitement following Pau Gasol's arrival in Los Angeles in 2008 and winning NBA titles alongside the 7-footer in 2009 and 2010.
To say that it's remarkable how much things can change in just two short years is an understatement as the two were clearly at odds over the course of the last two postseasons. This was after the Los Angeles Lakers fell well short of expectations in series losses to the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder in consecutive years.
Pau Gasol has been a model citizen off the court, and he's picking up accolades outside of Staples Center faster than his legendary teammate, Bryant, has done so on the hardwood. His latest award was the Kia Community Assist Award, which was presented to him on Monday, June 4, 2012, for his frequent involvement at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. He earned the NBA's J Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2012 as well, which was presented to him during the second-round series against the Thunder.
It's not a coincidence that he's being recognized for such significant communal contributions -- Gasol is a terrific humanitarian and selfless person, almost to a fault. It's that same selflessness that caused a key turnover in a critical Game 4 against the Thunder that saw the Lakers miss out on a golden opportunity to control the hard-fought series.
It's unfortunate that the business side of basketball will likely cause an end to Gasol's tenure as a member of the Lakers. If players were graded solely on their societal contributions, he would be in the team's Hall-of-Fame.
But the harsh reality of the NBA, especially in Laker-land, is that winning is a must. It's not always fair that Gasol is the target of harsh criticism from fans, but the truth is that he deserves at least part of the blame for an underachieving season. Combine that with the fact that he will be 32 years old at the start of the 2012-2013 season, and it's all but certain he will be the most heavily shopped player under contract.
Though fans are rightly concerned with Gasol's value declining in what will be a very active trade market over the summer, he is the type of player that can provide solid veteran leadership combined with a unique and versatile skill set. It's a rare combination, and the Lakers will certainly do all they can to sell that fact to potential trade partners.
If he's so valuable, why won't the Lakers retain him?
In certain cases, change is necessary, and the Lakers don't have a lot of options when it comes to the ability to shake up the roster. With only one late second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, there won't be an impact player available for the team to select at that spot. The Lakers need established pieces to bolster the sub-par second unit and a legitimate standout to join the starting rotation should they move Gasol.
It's a sad set of circumstances that things couldn't have ended up better, but Gasol and the Lakers have two NBA titles with one another, no matter what happens with the Spaniard's future in purple and gold. In a world of instant gratification and 'what-have-you-done-for-me-lately' rhetoric, the major successes of the recent past are easy to forget.
Pau Gasol the player will be hard to make up for, but it will be impossible to replace the person that has given so much of himself to those in need.
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