by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni
Prior to the NBA stepping in and killing the blockbuster three-team trade, Pau Gasol was on his way out of Los Angeles. Gasol, of course, is still in Laker purple and gold, but he has no idea how much longer that will be the case.
As trade rumors continue to swirl around the big fella, Pau Gasol admits to keeping track of the chatter, and has no real feel for his standing within the organization.
Per ESPN:
With the NBA’s March 15 trade deadline now less than a month away, Lakers forward Pau Gasol admits he’s not sure if his future lies in Los Angeles. “There’s talks and rumors every day. Today I was reading it was Minnesota is really interested in trying to put a good package together,” he said. “[Other teams are] calling, and it seems like things are just waiting for the right offer to come along, for [the Lakers] to pull the trigger.” […] “It’s out of my hands. It is what it is. I’d like to be here,” he said. “I’d like to make this team better and get back to a championship level, but it’s not up to me.”
Asked when he thinks there will be a resolution to the trade rumors, Gasol said: “I’m not sure. I can’t tell. I wish I knew, so it would give me some peace, or more peace, but I don’t know.” […] “Every day I tell myself, try to let it go. Don’t think about it. Have fun, be the player you are out there,” he said. “That’s all that you can do.”
As one of the likeliest pieces to be moved should the Lakers’ front-office pull the proverbial trigger, Pau Gasol is in an uneviably tough spot.
It’s a testament to his dedication and professionalism that Gasol has played as well as he has this season, given the constant trade rumors, to say nothing of the difficult adjustment to coach Mike Brown’s new system.
