The Lakers wisely ensured that Pau is going to be in SoCal for a little while longer. Talks between Kobe and the team also sound promising: “Lakers forward Pau Gasol has agreed in principle to an extension that would keep him under contract through 2013-14, and Kobe Bryant has had ever-improving discussions on a contract extension that would keep him with the Lakers for the same period. On Friday, Gasol smiled and said, ‘I haven’t signed anything yet,’ but it was merely semantics, the stroke of a pen probably completing his extension within a few days after the Lakers’ trip ends Sunday in Detroit, according to sources close to the negotiations but not authorized to speak publicly.”