NBA Rumors: Lakers not interested in trade with Suns as constructed?

May 8, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers fans pose in front of statue of former Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn (not pictured) before game five of the 2012 Western Conference quarterfinals against the Denver Nuggets at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports /

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly engaged themselves in trade scenarios with multiple teams in recent weeks – one of which includes the Phoenix Suns.

While we’ve yet to receive any official confirmation of the players involved, financially any deal that would send Pau Gasol to the Suns would include Emeka Okafor being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

That’s not a deal the Lakers are interested in – at least not in it’s base form as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders says the Lakers won’t do a straight-up-swap of the two players.

"Equally, the Lakers are not going to do a Gasol-for-Okafor trade, you are going to have to take someone else like Chris Kaman, Jordan Hill or Steve Blake in order for the Lakers to get under the tax line. So are the Lakers willing to give up two assets for whats going to amount to a lake first round pick? I don’t think LA does that deal. I think they can do better for Gasol than that."

Right now, the most valuable draft pick the Phoenix Suns possess is their own which is currently 17th overall. That of course can change (for good or bad) as the season continues on, but it doesn’t appear enough to get the Lakers to bite on a deal – at least not right now.

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