Los Angeles Lakers hopeful of trading Pau Gasol in return for a top ten draft pick and a seasoned player
As of Wednesday afternoon, there have been reports that Los Angeles Lakers are looking around the league to measure up the trade value for their Spanish big man Pau Gasol, and are looking to materialize a major transfer.
According to sources close to the matter, the Lakers are hope full to trade Gasol for a top ten draft pick and are also expecting to lure in an established player along with it.
Even though no deal has been confirmed yet, there is however a minor dilemma involving Gasol’s move away from Hollywood. Not only do the Lakers want something in return for the Spaniard, they are also expecting any team who are
looking to sign with Gasol to take on the last two years of his contract which come with a high price of $38 million.
General manager Mitch Kupchak and president of basketball operations Jim Buss had hinted earlier in the month that no eminent deal is on the lookouts and they are most likely to keep Gasol for next season. However the Spanish captain
who will be playing in the Olympics in August is the favourite to be on his way out of LA, ever since the Lakers got knocked out of the second round by the NBA finalists Oklahoma City Thunder.
Gasol held an average of 17.4 points per game last season but his performances were comparatively very low in the playoffs. He could only manage an average of 12.5 points over the two rounds played in the post season and was at
time lethargic in his efforts on the paint.
There can be no doubt that Gasol was a key figure in the Lakers team and was one of the most instrumental pieces in bringing back to back championships in 2009-10. But because of the growing on-court chemistry issues with Kobe
Bryant and Andrew Bynum, he may be inclined towards leaving the team.
There have also been reports that Lakers are also looking to trade Metta World Peace in return for a late first round pick. However, they will have a hard time finding a team who would be willing to take up the remaining $15 million
of his contract and a trade kicker of 15 percent that comes along with it.
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