Pau Gasol Believes Los Angeles Lakers Want Him Back

April 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) reacts during the first half in game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

With Kobe Bryant entering the final year of his contract and Dwight Howard a free agent, the Los Angeles Lakers roster is full of question marks.

One such question mark is Pau Gasol, who like Bryant, will be embarking on the final year of his massive deal. Unlike Bryant though, Gasol has been the subject of many trade rumors, rumors that are unlikely to stop given Gasol’s large expiring contract.

That said, Gasol doesn’t seem himself as a trade chip, in fact, he thinks the Lakers will want him back for the 2013-14 season.

Per the Los Angeles Daily News:

"“I think the team has shown they would like to keep me,” Gasol said. “But I understand there’s a lot of other factors that come into place. Those factors cannot be ignored.”"

Gasol is one of the few tradeable assets the Laker organization possesses and there’s no doubt that he’ll be a bargaining chip for the front office, despite Pau’s feelings that he’s “wanted back”. He may not be moved, but you can be most assured the 2013-14 season will be one full of Gasol trade rumors.

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