It's no secret the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to do some Christmas shopping.  While the team may publicly deny the rumors, there have been enough whispers about Pau Gasol to believe he is on the trading block.  However, it's all about what the Lakers can get in return.  And they want Ryan Anderson of the New Orleans Hornets.

According to Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers are interested in Anderson who played alongside Dwight Howard when they were both in Orlando, but it will be difficult to land the 24-year old forward.  Besides the difficulty, the team's front office wants to wait things out with Steve Nash's injury to see how Nash and Gasol look on the court together in Mike D'Antoni's system.


However, D'Antoni wants a forward who can shoot the three.  Anderson would provide that for Los Angeles.  He is shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc this season.  If the Lakers could somehow pry Anderson away from the Hornets, it could be a match made in heaven.  But they have to pry him away first.

New Orleans is in rebuilding mode ever since they lost Chris Paul.  The best way to rebuild is with young players.  Trading away a 24-year old forward who can shoot the three and is averaging 18.3 points per game doesn't make sense.

The deal likely won't ever come to fruition, but if the Lakers lose patience with Gasol, they could try to force the issue.

Gasol is averaging just 12.6 points per game.  It is his lowest total since he came into the league.  Gasol has battled minor injuries this season, but they are not sever enough to have caused his decline in production.
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