With a Tuesday deadline to trade or waive center Andrew Bynum, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers continue to make progress in a deal centering around him and Pau Gasol.
There was a report last night that a deal was to be completed this afternoon, but the Lakers vehemently deny that. Meanwhile, Gasol was on the practice floor this morning as he prepares for tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets. Still, trade talks are heating up and according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Cavaliers are making this player off-limits in talks:
As Lakers push for assets in Gasol-Bynum discussions, Cavs have refused to include Dion Waiters in talks, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 5, 2014
Cavs understand Gasol could simply be half-season rental. Lakers want value in return — not just financial savings. There’s a gap to close.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 5, 2014
The Lakers are interested in doing the deal to save $20-$25 million in luxury tax savings as they’d waive Bynum if the deal is completed. While they’d get the salary relief, they want either a player or draft pick back in a trade.
Rookie Sergey Karasev was mentioned as a possible players coming back to LA in the deal, but it’s clear the Cavaliers aren’t giving up on Waiters just yet. The 22-year-old second-year player from Syracuse reportedly requested a trade out of Cleveland, but just three games out of a playoff spot, they can use his scoring.
Via Sam Amick of USA Today, the Cavaliers aren’t offering much to the Lakers in return:
Still, according to a person with knowledge of the talks between the two teams, the only asset Cleveland has offered as of Saturday night is a second-round pick, and that won’t be enough to get this deal done.
Still, many believe a deal will ultimately get done as the Lakers and Cavaliers try to agree on a second piece coming back to LA.
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