Today's Names to Know: Pau Gasol, Johan Santana, Roger Goodell, Chuck Knoblauch, Kobe Bryant, Brandon Roy and More!

Lakers Snag Pau Gasol, Cont'd: There's a new "Big Three" in the NBA.

Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

I would argue that trio is an even BETTER "Big Three" than Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce... at least if you want to win a title.

If the Lakers were in the East, they would now be favored to win the conference, ahead of the Celtics. As it is, they have moved from a second-tier contender in the West to the first tier, along with San Antonio and Phoenix. (Sorry, New Orleans.)

Why do Bryant, Bynum and Gasol form the better "Big Three?" Size, for one. Give me two bigs and Kobe over a jumpshooter, a bigger jumpshooter and KG.

The other factor? What's around the Big Three: Compare Lamar Odom to the Celtics' 4th-best player; that's not even a comparison. And the rising Jordan Farmar is a wash with Rajon Rondo.

What's amazing is that with this one move, the Lakers are so relevant... so now. Bethlehem Shoals and I were IM'ing about the deal shortly after it came out, and he said the Lakers were the "new Suns," the new team of fascinating, weird talents meshed together.

The wild thing is that we may get to see which "Big Three" rules: If the Celtics are the favorites to win the East, then the Lakers have to be considered a strong contender to win the West.

Celtics-Lakers might be the only thing that could save the NBA Finals. (Wow, just in time for Groundhog Day today, doesn't it seem like we're now re-living the 80s?)

Mets make a deal with Johan Santana for 6Y/$137.5M, the largest deal ever for a pitcher. What's ...

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