Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak is trying. He doesn’t want to lose Pau Gasol for nothing.
The Lakers are talking to teams about moving Gasol at the trade deadline. However, finding a team that wants to rent a guy making $19.3 million (he is a free agent after this season) and give the Lakers anything of value in return has been very difficult. To put it mildly.
The latest talks were with the Charlotte Bobcats, reports Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, but those are unlikely as well.
The Charlotte Bobcats have been in contact with the Los Angeles Lakers concerning veteran big man Pau Gasol, but a source familiar with the discussion downplayed the likelihood Gasol would end up a Bobcat by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
Most likely after the trade deadline Gasol is a Laker.
First and foremost, teams are hesitant to deal for Gasol because he is not healthy, he has a lingering groin strain that has him out. He could potentially return and be showcased for one game before the trade deadline, that call has yet to be made, but is that really enough? Are teams going to make this kind of a deal for a guy battling a lingering issue?
To make this work Charlotte would have to send the expiring contract of Ben Gordon (unless Los Angeles wanted Al Jefferson) plus more out West. The Lakers are known to want a first round pick or a promising young player in any such deal, they want to jump start their rebuilding.
Charlotte has future picks from Portland and Detroit, but it want to slow its own rebuild down to have Gasol help them secure a low playoff seed? That shouldn’t be how they operate and Bonnell says it is not.
While adding Gasol could give the Bobcats the short-term boost to make the playoffs, giving up a first-round pick would make Gasol more of a long-term investment. That’s where the Bobcats would have pause.
Gasol turns 34 in July and is playing his 15th NBA season. Is he a long-term fit for the Bobcats, particularly the way Steve Clifford coaches defense? Would Gasol, a Spaniard who has played in Los Angeles the past six seasons, be receptive to finishing out his career in Charlotte?
The Suns are sort of in the same boat — they may have four first round picks this season to sweeten the deal (plus Emeka Okafor’s expiring deal) but is that worth it just to rent a banged-up Gasol for the playoffs? Phoenix is not giving up it’s protected top two first round picks (Minnesota’s and Washington’s), but maybe their bottom one (they own the Pacers’ pick) or their own with protections. Maybe.
Brandon Bass of the Celtics may be a more realistic option for Phoenix, reports Paul Coro at the Arizona Republic.
The Lakers are trying because Gasol is not going to be back with this team next season. Kobe Bryant may love him but he doesn’t fit with Mike D’Antoni’s system and he will get other offers (Chicago? Although they could have Nikola Mirotic coming) where the money and style of play suit him better. Both sides are ready to move on. We’ll see if the Lakers can get anything for him before he walks.
