NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers still trying to trade Pau Gasol, expect more than cap relief in return
By Josh Hill
The Los Angeles Lakers have been in and out of trade rumors involving Pau Gasol for years now and despite talks intensifying, the Spaniard is still anchoring the Lakers frontcourt. But just because he’s still in Los Angeles doesn’t mean the team isn’t trying to trade him as ESPNLosAngeles reporter Ramona Shelburne states that the Lakers are still trying to deal Gasol, they’re just not interested in giving him up for mere cap relief.
Shelburne notes the trade talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Bynum, but reports that the Lakers can envision ways of beating the luxury tax without having to trade Gasol, so merely getting cap relief in return for him isn’t going to cut it in a trade.
Lakers have been determined to get value beyond cap relief for Gasol. Lot of time until February to do so if they don't deal with Cavs
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 4, 2014
There were rumors earlier in the day that the Lakers had shelved trade talks, but the reality seems to be that they’ve just shelved the stupid ones. Gasol is no doubt out on the trade block, even if the Lakers aren’t advertising him by sticking flares in his shorts. The Lakers can live with trading Gasol and they can live with keeping him but one thing they won’t tolerate is bad return in a Gasol trade, and they’ll only budge if they get an offer they really like.