Pau Gasol is expected to be one of the main subjects of trade talks a week before the NBA trade deadline, but reports indicated that the Los Angeles Lakers might hold onto the veteran center for the remainder of the season.
The Lakers have been shopping Gasol all-season long, but they have yet to find a team willing to give into their demands. Sources said that the Lakers are looking to acquire first-round picks in exchange for Gasol - an asking price deemed too high by rival executives.
Rival teams are shying away from trading for Gasol, knowing that the 33-year-old center might turn out as a half-season rental because the 13-year-veteran will become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Sources also added that Gasol's $19-million contract this season is also a critical factor.
"I do not expect him to be traded, actually. I think $19 million is too hard for other teams to match in terms of outgoing value, and since the Lakers will already get cap relief if they keep him, it's not even like another expiring deal would get something done," Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders noted.
When asked about his thoughts about his situation heading into the Feb. 20 trade deadline, Gasol insisted that he prefers to stay and finish the season in Los Angeles before thinking about his future plans in the offseason.
"My preference would be to stay," Gasol told LA Times. "That's what I've been saying all year, though the circumstances are difficult right now for our team and nobody's too happy. But it's still my team and I still want to be here."
And should the Lakers decide to keep Gasol beyond next Thursday's trade deadline, sources said that veteran center Chris Kaman could be the odd man out in Los Angeles.
Jabari Davis of Basketball Insiders said that most executives are convinced that the Lakers will aggressively shop Kaman, who has been playing well as of late as he averaged 18.2 points and 7.6 rebounds in his last five games.
The Lakers will likely take advantage of Kaman's expiring contract in hopes of acquiring future picks or a young asset from a team looking to shore up their frontline rotation.
"I would be very surprised to see Kaman remain with the Lakers beyond the break...unless they have one of those unforeseen deals they are known for that would involve a combo of the other big men," Davis noted on his report.
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