HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – You knew it wouldn’t take long for the Steve Nash-to-the-Lakers news to make its way around the world.

One extremely interested observer is Lakers power forward Pau Gasol, whose name continues to percolate in trade rumors. He made it clear that he’s "excited” about the prospect of teaming up with the two-time MVP,  per Marca.com:

"This is great news and a good time. Anyone would love to play with Steve Nash.”

The Lakers’ power forward has embraced the arrival of the Canadian …: "I’m excited to play with Steve and with all that brings. The player is more generous and less selfish than there are in the NBA. It is also one of the assists historical leaders. "

"Unfortunately I can not control my destiny but I would love to keep the Lakers and will fight the most to try to win another ring, "he said.

Gasol hasn’t been shy in stating his own case for remaining with the Lakers. A frontline crew of Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Metta World Peace with Nash and Bryant in the backcourt gives the Lakers one of the most formidable starting fives in the NBA. All five of them have been All-Stars at one time or another and all but Nash have championship rings.

Whether or not the Lakers are done reshaping their roster, however, remains a mystery as Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register points out. As long as Dwight Howard remains a trade option, both Bynum and Gasol cannot escape those trade-rumor crosshairs.