Pau Gasol said he wouldn’t take a pay cut to re-sign with the Lakers in the off-season, and it looks like he might not have to.
Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio is reporting that the Lakers “may try to trade center Pau Gasol before the regular season starts for a young point guard that can replace the declining Steve Nash.”
• One Eastern Conference executive told FOX Sports Ohio he’s heard from the Lakers recently, and word around the league is they may try to make a “substantial” trade before the regular season. Apparently, forward Pau Gasol remains far from untouchable.
• Many NBA talent-evaluators feel as if Steve Nash is no longer capable of playing at a high level for more than 15-20 minutes game. The Lakers, it is believed, are on the lookout for a younger point guard who’s a more potent scorer. But as everyone who deals in the trade market will tell you, that won’t be so easy to obtain.
It makes sense from both angles in my opinion. Steve Nash just doesn’t have the wheels anymore and his skills declined rather fast right in front of Lakers brass.
If L.A. truly feels like they won’t pay a 35 year old Gasol the money he’s seeking, and they should cut their losses and gain an asset while they still can.