Pau Gasol is making headlines once again as reports indicated that the veteran center could be traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Phoenix Suns before the annual NBA trade deadline on February 20.
ESPN reported that the Suns are seriously considering trading for Gasol as they are preparing to make a playoff run this season. This year was supposed to be a part of the Suns' multi-year rebuilding plan, but they have made strides this season that could push them to the playoffs, a scenario that was totally unexpected heading into the season.
Sources said that the Suns are planning to offer the $14.5-million expiring contract of Emeka Okafor for Gasol, who is earning $19.3 million this season. The Suns can directly absorb the salary of Gasol without adding another player since they have $5.6 million available cap space on their books.
The deal would save the Lakers $4.8 million in salary and it would put them $3-million away from getting out of the luxury tax line this season.
Los Angeles had a similar salary-dumping trade discussion with the Cleveland Cavaliers last month about a potential trade involving Gasol and Andrew Bynum.
The deal could have saved the Lakers more than $20 million in salary and taxes, but the talks went down as teams failed to reach a common ground when it comes to the other assets to be included in any deal. The Lakers reportedly asked for future picks or young players, but the Cavaliers declined.
The Lakers are expected to ask for another asset from the Suns as well, but unlike the Cavaliers, the Suns might be willing to include assets.
Suns general manager Ryan McDonough previously expressed desire to package their future picks in a trade for a superstar this season.
The Suns have their own first-round pick for 2014 along with protected first-round picks from the Washington Wizards (top-12 protected), Minnesota Timberwolves (top-13 protected), and Indiana Pacers (top-12 protected). The Suns also have the top-five protected pick of the Lakers for next year's draft.
"I think one of the things that's important for people to realize is that we may not draft four players even if we have four picks," McDonough said. "Our preference would probably be to maybe package a few of them. We're obviously all looking for stars and we feel like we can put together a package as good, if not better, than any other team in the league if and when a star becomes available."
