It happened a few days ago but with all the Super Bowl stuff this past weekend I never got around to the Laker key acquisition of Pau Gasol. The Lakers acquired the 27 year-old center last Friday sending Kwame Brown, rookie Javaris Crittenton, the rights to Gasol’s brother Marc along with two first round picks plus cash to the Grizzlies. The Lakers also received a 2010 second rounder.

Analysis: Are you kidding?!?!?!?!?! That’s all the Grizzlies could get back for the former 2002 NBA Rookie of The Year? What. Chris Mihm wasn’t available? Why not get two ex-high first round picks who never developed morphing into two-bit scrubs for an All-Star caliber big man?

This deal is an absolute joke. No wonder Kobe Bryant’s grinning ear to ear inside that Laker huddle in the above pic with Gasol also with a similar look. Can’t say I blame him. He got out of the NBA’s version of Siberia. Well not counting the Knicks, Memphis is.

Gasol will turn 28 this summer. In 39 games this season, he’s averaging 18.9 points-per-game (PPG) 8.8 rebounds and three assists- all right at the 7-0 center’s career averages. He’ll make his Laker debut later tonight when they visit the Nets. Figure him to get at least 20 and 10 with a couple of blocks in that one.

How pathetic are the Nets? My good California buddy Nate Sousa messaged me yesterday and noted how the Nets are basically promoting tonight’s home game by showing a photo of both Kobe and Gasol. Don’t believe it? See for yourself at the official Nets site.

What? Is the team that unwatchable? I’d still pay to watch a disgruntled Jason Kidd play. Even with half the effort, he’s more fun to watch ball than Vince Carter. The Nets have never exactly drawn well playing in that dump of an arena now called the Izod Center. Is it any wonder it’s called that since the Devils relocated to Newark and took all their championship banners with them? Sponsored by Andy Roddick’s label. Kind of seems fitting considering what’s become of Roddick’s tennis career.

So, how much better did the Lakers get with this one impact move? Well, considering that they subtracted nothing because that’s exactly what Kwame Brown and some guy whose name rhymes with crouton are. They added a capable big who can score the ball inside and out who should mesh well with Kobe and possibly Lamar Odom. Nate still refers to the former Christ The King star as scrotum. No comment.

Just wait till former Metuchen NJ product Andrew Bynum returns. Who’s going to want to deal with this team in the playoffs? They certainly look very formidable. Plus any team who has Derek Fisher automatically improves their chances of going deep into the Spring.

Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Trevor Ariza, Sasha Vujacic, Vladimir Radmanovic and Ronny Turiaf all are capable of contributing making the Lakers one of the deepest teams in the NBA.

So, who’s coming out of the West? It’s anyone’s guess between the Spurs, Mavs, Lakers, Suns, Hornets and Jazz. The Nuggets, Warriors, Rockets and Blazers aren’t exactly pushovers either.

Team To Watch: Sacramento Kings (22-24)-Finally healthy with starters Mike Bibby, Ron Artest and leading scorer Kevin Martin, look for this team to make a run at the final spot out West. Along with versatile scorers John Salmons, Bronx product Francisco Garcia plus versatile big man Brad Miller and underrated backup PG Beno Udrih, this team can score with anyone.

They currently sit 11th in the conference trailing eighth place Golden State by six games (five in loss column). With still 36 games remaining, there’s enough time for them to catch up. Only problem is they’ll have to leapfrog at least three solid teams to make the cut.