Mike D'Antoni stepped down as Los Angeles Lakers coach on Wednesday after reportedly not getting his 2015-16 option exercised by the team.
With D'Antoni out, reports indicated on Thursday that veteran center Pau Gasol, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, could stay with the Lakers for another season.
"A coaching change also might make the Lakers more attractive to Gasol, an unrestricted free agent who intimated he wouldn't consider returning if D'Antoni still coached the team. Kupchak has said the Lakers are very interested in re-signing the 7-foot Spaniard," AP reported via USA Today.
Gasol made it no secret that D'Antoni's system has not been a good fit to his game over the past two seasons despite having a better season this year.
The 33-year-old center struggled mightily last season as he averaged career-lows 13.7 points on 46.6 percent shooting from the field.
Gasol posted better numbers this season - 17.4 points on 48.0 percent shooting - but the Spaniard admitted that D'Antoni style doesn't suit his playing style.
"There would have to be significant changes," Gasol said when asked about the possibility of staying with the Lakers. "I've never concealed the fact that D'Antoni's style doesn't suit my game. Everybody knows this. I don't know if my decision will be swayed by whether Mike stays or leaves. Obviously, the coach is a very important factor for any team."
Gasol is expected to become one of the top free agents this offseason, and several teams have already made their intentions known that they will pursue the All-Star center, including the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks.
The Grizzlies, the team where Gasol spent the first six seasons of his 13-year NBA career, will reportedly try to team Pau Gasol up with his younger brother, Marc, if Zach Randolph decides to sign elsewhere.
Rumors also indicated that the Knicks might make a push to sign Gasol, and the two-time NBA champion also expressed willingness to make a move to New York because of team president Phil Jackson, who previously coached Gasol to two NBA titles in Los Angeles.
"I'm happy for him and the position that he got," Gasol said of his former coach, via Yahoo Sports. "I'm always going to be a big fan and a friend. I would listen."
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