The Whiteboard: Is Marc Gasol about to fall into some team’s lap?

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This is pure speculation at this point, but it doesn’t take an NBA detective to deduce that Marc Gasol is not happy with the Los Angeles Lakers right now.

There have been no reports saying as much. Head coach Frank Vogel has denied any talk of a buyout, and there’s been zero buzz about a locker room rift, let alone any type of buyout. With that being said, it’s suddenly not so outlandish to envision such a scenario unfolding in the coming weeks.

Let’s look at the hard evidence, shall we?

For starters, there’s the obvious disappointment on LA’s side of the equation. Brought in as a defensive anchor, experienced veteran and gifted passer, Gasol was supposed to be the Lakers’ solution for losing both Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee in the offseason.

Big Spain started in all 38 of his appearances for Los Angeles until Wednesday night’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, but the returns were minimal: 4.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 blocks in just 19.8 minutes per game. And while he was making a mediocre 35.5 percent of his 3-pointers, he was shooting just 40.4 percent from the field, and the Lakers’ top-ranked defense has actually been ever so slightly better with him off the court.

His impact has been more negligible than expected, in other words, and it was no surprise to hear the team was feeling underwhelmed by the Marc Gasol experience thus far.

Their union hasn’t been kind to the 36-year-old veteran either, especially over the last few weeks. Gasol being a step slow wasn’t as glaring a problem for a Lakers squad that had a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis out there to help compensate, but now it’s becoming painfully obvious he may not be cut out for an NBA Finals run in such a prominent role.

That’s why the Lakers weren’t shy about searching for an upgrade at the center spot, why they signed Andre Drummond, and why Gasol is now, most likely, fairly pissed off.

According to multiple Lakers beat writers, Gasol declined to talk to the media after Wednesday’s loss — the team’s first game with Drummond in the starting lineup, during which Gasol only played six minutes in fourth quarter garbage time. He also declined to speak to the media after Sunday’s game, which makes it three straight times he’s done so ever since LA added Drummond.

Throw in the team’s recent 2-5 streak since LeBron James went down, as well as its 9-12 record since Davis got hurt, and it’s pretty clear being part of a losing situation isn’t rubbing off well on anyone.

The NBA trade deadline may have come and gone without any takers for Gasol, but it feels like we’re rapidly approaching buyout territory, even with AD still currently sidelined.

Again, this is all just speculation. Maybe Gasol is just going through a tough week and the Lakers are able to find some role for him that keeps him happy and satisfies the team’s desire to turn things around. Maybe Davis and LeBron return sooner than expected, and winning ultimately cures all ills after an extended rough patch. There’s also the possibility nothing happens simply because LA needs insurance in case Drummond’s toe injury is more serious than it seems.

But the timing of Gasol’s refusal to speak with the media aligns far too conveniently with Drummond’s arrival to be sheer coincidence. If he’s unhappy with his new role on a team that’s been losing quite a lot lately, and if the Lakers prefer to push forward with Drummond and Montrezl Harrell at the 5 given their disappointment in Gasol, it might not be long before we see a buyout and a flock of playoff contenders lining up for his services.

Whether they’d be able to offer him more than a third-string role is anyone’s guess, but it’s clear this union hasn’t worked out as planned. If that’s the case, the NBA’s buyout market may be heating up again sooner than expected.

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