Pau Gasol is expected to become one of the main subjects of trade discussion as the 2014 NBA trade deadline approaches as the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly mulling parting ways with the All-Star forward.
Gasol previously expressed desire to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies again once he becomes a free agent. But are the Grizzlies also interested in acquiring him via free agency or through a trade before next month's deadline?
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported that the Grizzlies could be interested in reuniting Gasol with his younger brother, Marc, in Memphis -- but not through a trade.
Sources said that the Grizzlies are not interested in trading for Gasol before the deadline mainly because of his bloated $19-million contract this year.
And if Gasol really wants to return to where his career started, the veteran power forward, who spent his first six seasons in Memphis, should be willing to take a huge paycut, which is highly unlikely at this point.
"Let's stop the Pau wants to be in Memphis talk. They want no part of his $19 million contract. If he'll sign there as a free agent on the cheap they'd take him, but they are not trading for him," Kyler noted.
Gasol's name has been a constant fixture in trade rumors every season, and more trade talks involving the 33-year-old forward are expected to swirl now that deadline is less than a month away.
The Lakers are reportedly shopping the 13-year-veteran, but has yet to find a team willing to surrender future assets in exchange for Gasol.
Most NBA teams are also reluctant to give up assets, knowing that Gasol could just walk away next summer as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Previous rumors suggested that the Lakers want draft picks in any deal involving Gasol, and they appear unwilling to take back salaries that would affect their financial flexibility in the next few seasons.
Kyler noted that the Lakers are looking forward to making a splash via free agency in 2015 when big-name free agents like Kevin Love and Rajon Rondo hit the market.
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