updated 5:53 p.m. ET Feb. 1, 2008

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Lakers bolstered their banged-up frontline Friday with a key acquisition — 7-footer Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.

“It shows a great deal of commitment from the organization,” All-Star Kobe Bryant said before the Lakers’ game at Toronto. “It’s a great step.

“It’s a matter of us just gelling now and putting it together,” added Bryant, who urged management to improve the team over the summer. “We’ve got a great bench. We have a lot of length, a lot of versatility. Now it’s time to walk the walk.”

The Lakers gave up Kwame Brown, rookie Javaris Crittenton and two first-round draft picks for Gasol. The Spaniard is certain to help a Lakers team reeling from recent injuries to inside players, including blossoming center Andrew Bynum.

“We need a little scoring inside without Andrew Bynum,” coach Phil Jackson said. “It gives us a post-up threat right now, and he’s a good passer. We like that.”

Jackson said Gasol could make his debut when the Lakers visit Washington on Sunday.

“We’d like him to play on Sunday,” Jackson said. “I don’t know if that’s possible or not. He’s got to go back to L.A. and have a physical tomorrow.”

Gasol, averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.44 blocked shots in 39 games this season, can fill in at center until Bynum returns in mid-March, then move to power forward.

“He’s a great player,” forward Lamar Odom said. “With him and Andrew down there, I’m really excited to see how that works out. We’ll protect the basket a little bit more. I’m looking forward to seeing those guys playing together.”

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The Grizzlies will get the Lakers’ first-round draft choices in 2008 and 2010; guard Aaron McKie, signed earlier Friday for salary cap purposes; cash considerations, and the rights to Gasol’s brother Marc, a 2007 second-round pick of Los Angeles.

“That’s something you haven’t seen before,” Jackson said with a chuckle.

The Lakers also receive the Grizzlies’ second-round pick in 2010.

Gasol, the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2002 and an All-Star four years later, has averaged 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 476 career games with Memphis. The 27-year-old forward-center, under contract for three more years, is the franchise leader in 12 statistical categories, including points, rebounds and blocks.

But the Grizzlies, 13-33 after finishing with the league’s worst record last season, decided to clear salary cap space knowing they aren’t in position to win in the next couple of years.

“We’re a 13-win team, so when you’re in that situation, you’ve got to make moves,” Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said. “Brown was the largest expiring contact we could find in the league where we also got back an attractive young player like Crittenton ... and multiple first-round picks.”

Gasol was the MVP of the 2006 world championships after helping Spain win the gold medal.

“I have to take my hat off to (owner Jerry) Buss and Mitch for going forward with this,” Bryant said. “Now it’s up to us to go out there and work hard.”

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