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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers bolstered their banged-up frontline Friday with a key acquisition — 7-footer Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Lakers gave up Kwame Brown, rookie Javaris Crittenton and two first-round draft picks for Gasol. The Spaniard is certain to help a Lakers team reeling from recent injuries to inside players, including blossoming center Andrew Bynum.

Gasol, averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.44 blocked shots in 39 games this season, can fill in at center until Bynum returns in mid-March and then move to power forward.

The Grizzlies will get the Lakers' first-round draft choices in 2008 and 2010; guard Aaron McKie, signed earlier Friday for salary cap purposes; cash considerations, and the rights to Gasol's brother Marc, a 2007 second-round pick of Los Angeles.

The Lakers also receive the Grizzlies' second-round pick in 2010.

"We're extremely pleased to be able to make this trade," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. "Pau is a proven player of All-Star caliber in this league who can score and rebound and is still a young player. We feel this strengthens our team in the short term as well as the long term."

Gasol, the NBA rookie of the year in 2002 and an All-Star four years later, has averaged 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 476 career games with Memphis. The 27-year-old forward-center, under contract for three more years, is the franchise leader in 12 statistical categories, including points, rebounds and blocks.

Labels: Los Angeles Lakers trade

# posted by Liquid Media : 3:51 PM  0 Comments

The All-Star Weekend event, the slam dunk contest has come to the internet community to search for coolest dunks of the year. Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies says on youtube "I will be competing in the 2008 Sprite Slam Dunk Competition on February 16th during All-Star Weekend, but I need your help to win. View my video, and if you are up to the challenge, upload yourself demonstrating your best dunk as a video response on this page. I will pick the one that I like the best and.....perform it during the competition. This is a rare opportunity to leave your mark on the NBA's...."

Click on http://www.youtube.com/rudygay22slamdunk, and get the simple directions and upload an idea for a dunk that Gay can use Feb. 16 in New Orleans. He's going to pick the best idea and perform it. Upload your videos and this is an opportunity to get your dunks to the world. All Powerdunk performers are encouraged to send the youtube video link to us and we will feature the best ones here at powerdunk.com

Labels: 2008 Sprite Slam Dunk contest, NBA dunk Contest, Power dunk, submit videos to Rudy Gay

# posted by Liquid Media : 10:14 AM  0 Comments