I don’t know which news is worse for the Suns — that the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol from Memphis today or that they were able to dump Kwame Brown on the Grizzlies in the deal.

 Just when it looked as though Phoenix was putting Los Angeles in its rear view mirror again, the Lakers pull the trigger on one of the most lopsided trades in recent NBA memory, getting Gasol (19 points, nine rebounds and much more consistent than Lamar Odom) for Brown, Javaris Crittenton and two first-round draft picks that likely won’t be worth much now that the Lakers have reasserted themselves as a player in the Western Conference.

 How will the Suns match up against a starting lineup of Gasol, Odom, Andrew Buynum (if he comes back healthy from a knee injury) Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant. Who do you leave open on a double team? Who does Grant Hill guard on the front line? What happens when Amare Stoudemire goes to the bench again with early foul trouble?

 If you don’t want to deal with those questions, try these: How many days until the trading deadline? Will Suns owner Robert Sarver rethink his stance and take on some luxury-taxed salary to get an extra big man? Or will Phoenix stand pat and convince themselves that a team that isn’t as quick or cohesive as it used to be can still navagate the Western playoff waters that continue to be more shark-infested?

 The Lakers aren’t going away now. New Orleans is legitimate. All that talk about the Spurs fading were answered Thursday night, when they beat the Suns without Tony Parker, without the newly acquired Damon Stoudamire and without playing a good game. Then you toss on Dallas, with or without Jason Kidd and a pool of five other teams (Denver, Golden State, Houston, Portland and Utah) who will fight for the right to make the first round of the playoff miserable for the top dogs.

 Things change fast in this league. On Tuesday night, the Suns looked sleek and formidable. Then the Spurs and Lakers made moves, the Suns wobbled and fell over in the fourth quarter Thursday and all eyes are suddenly on the Suns to see if they  can up the ante themselves.

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