NBA trade rumors: Cavs won’t give Lakers more than second round draft pick in Gasol trade
By Bryan Rose
On Saturday night, rumors broke suggesting the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers – despite talks suggesting otherwise – had agreed on a trade that would send Pau Gasol to Cleveland in exchange for Andrew Bynum and other assets.
The rumor, which broke via a ESPN owned radio station in Los Angeles was put in question and the tweet suggesting such a deal eventually was deleted.
That doesn’t mean the trade talks weren’t legit though as Sam Amick of USA Today says the two teams were talking but the Cavaliers wouldn’t give the Lakers anything more than a second round pick in such a trade:
"Still, according to a person with knowledge of the talks between the two teams, the only asset Cleveland has offered as of Saturday night is a second-round pick, and that won’t be enough to get this deal done."
Los Angeles has no reason to sell Gasol at such a discount so their desire to obtain a first round pick is understood. Of course, Gasol, who is a free agent at season end may not be worth such a price for the Cavaliers – though Cleveland does own Miami’s first round pick for 2015 and could offer that if they so desire.