Los Angeles acquired Pau Gasol without breaking up its core and reached three straight NBA Finals, winning in 2009 and 2010; Memphis received the draft rights to Marc Gasol, two firsts, prospects and financial flexibility.
Los Angeles acquired Pau Gasol and a future second-round pick for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol, two first-round picks, and cash. The Lakers kept Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, and their primary rotation while adding an All-Star big man in his prime. Gasol's passing, finishing, rebounding, and ability to play either frontcourt position removed structural weaknesses immediately.
The Lakers reached the NBA Finals in Gasol's first partial season, then won championships in 2009 and 2010. His partnership with Bryant worked because Gasol could create from the post, facilitate the triangle, defend with length, and accept a secondary scoring role without becoming passive. Three consecutive Finals and two titles are the clearest possible validation of a win-now trade, supporting Los Angeles's A-plus.
The Grizzlies were not close to contention and needed salary flexibility, young assets, and draft capital. Brown's expiring contract helped reset the books, while Crittenton and the two firsts created additional possibilities. The decisive asset was Marc Gasol's draft rights. He arrived later than the rest of the package but became the player who transformed the return from a salary dump into a franchise-building trade.
Marc developed into a Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA center, elite passer, and central figure in the Grit and Grind era. Alongside Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen, he helped deliver the best sustained period in Grizzlies history. Memphis did not receive the immediate star Los Angeles acquired, but it eventually received a different Gasol brother whose prime anchored its own contender.
The included firsts mattered because they gave Memphis more chances to rebuild, but neither became a player as consequential as Marc. The trade's balance rests primarily on the two stars: Pau supplied Los Angeles with immediate championship value, while Marc provided Memphis with longer-term identity and elite two-way play. The other assets improved the package without changing which outcomes drove the grades.
Memphis earned an A because it converted an unhappy star and a stalled roster into a future franchise center and meaningful flexibility. Los Angeles earns the A-plus because the acquired player immediately completed a champion and helped win two titles. The Grizzlies built a beloved era; the Lakers achieved the league's ultimate objective twice. That difference supports a slight Lakers edge rather than calling either side a loser.
The Lakers won by a narrow margin. Pau Gasol arrived in his prime, fit Bryant and the triangle immediately, and helped Los Angeles reach three straight Finals with championships in 2009 and 2010. Memphis still earned an A because Marc Gasol became a Defensive Player of the Year and the connective star of the Grit and Grind era. The existing grades remain Los Angeles A-plus and Memphis A, with Slight Lakers Edge.