Pau Gasol wants to stay with Los Angeles Lakers, but open to offers
By Bryan Rose
It seems as if Pau Gasol has been in the NBA forever, but the Los Angeles Lakers big man is still just 33-years-old. Not exactly young by any standards, but not old either. Still, it’s a bit shocking that Gasol could be embarking on the first free agency of his career this Summer.
So what’s to come for the Spaniard? That remains to be seen, though Gasol did recently suggest that he’d prefer to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers. Of course, he knows the franchise will be trying to re-tool the roster alongside Kobe Bryant and the money for Gasol to return may not be there, so he remains open to other situations as well:
"It’s going to be the first time I’m going be a free agent. I’m going to see what’s out there, what’s the best situation because my career, the years that I have left are very few. So I have to be conscientious of that and maximize my time and opportunities. At the same time, I’d love to stay and stay with a franchise that has given me so much. We’ve been through so many different things, and I want to continue. That’s kind of my desire."
In short, it seems as if Pau wants to stay with the Lakers, assuming they want him back. That’s not a given though as Gasol may not even make it through the season with Los Angeles if they’re not in playoff contention come the NBA’s trading deadline in February.