Over the last few years, Pau Gasol has been mentioned in trade rumors constantly. The Los Angeles Lakers are always an active team heading toward the NBA trade deadline and this season is no different.
Gasol is in the last year of his deal and may be headed elsewhere in the off-season, but as of right now, he sticking by his stance that he wants to remain a Laker according to Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times:
Pau Gasol on trade deadline next Thursday: My preference would be to stay." Said he might be able to play again next Wednesday.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) February 13, 2014
With the Gasol’s trade value nowhere near as high as it was in years past, the Lakers have struggled to find the right package in return for the four-time All-Star. Although Gasol has put up All-Star numbers recently, the veteran forward is currently battling through a groin injury making teams concerned about what kind of player they’d be receiving from the Lakers.
The most recent trade rumor involving Gasol has the two-time NBA champion headed to the Phoenix Suns. In exchange, Phoenix would send Emeka Okafor’s expiring deal to Los Angeles along with a potential first-round draft pick.
The Lakers have been pushing to trade Gasol in order to get draft picks in return, but have come up empty thus far with no deal coming to fruition.
It remains to be seen if the Lakers will be able to get a deal done before the deadline on Feb. 20. If not, Gasol will simply play out the rest of his contract with the team and may choose to sign elsewhere in the off-season once officially an unrestricted free agent.
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