So, color the 2013-14 campaign complete.
According to Fox Sports Ohio's Sam Amico, the Lakers are reportedly open to dealing Gasol before the regular season begins. He writes that Los Angeles may look to make a "substantial" trade in the near future and that Gasol is far from "untouchable."
Just for kicks, read that one more time while listening to this in the background:
Gasol has spent the better part of the last three years on "the block" and he's yet to be moved. The closest the Lakers came was in 2011, when David Stern prevented them from acquiring Chris Paul from the then New Orleans Hornets.
Circumstances have changed in the Land of Make Believe since then. Gasol is no longer expendable. As ESPN Los Angeles' Ramona Shelburne pointed out, he's important to what the Lakers are building both now and later:
Change is a fluid concept in The Association, so there's no guarantee the Lakers are humming the same song tomorrow. But general manager Mitch Kupchak and Co. are smart enough to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em, meaning they should understand there's little to gain by ditching Gasol now.
Who Ya Gonna Get?
Trading Gasol would be like trading Kobe Bryant. Lakers fans wouldn't be as enraged, but financially the plausible scenarios don't align with what the team's goals would be in any deal. Gasol's expiring pact, like Kobe's, is that massive.
The bouncy-haired Spaniard is slated to make $19.3 million this season. Los Angeles could attempt to move him for any number of reasons, none of which will make sense in the long run.
Saving money could be reason numero uno. Shedding Gasol's $19.3 million salary puts the Lakers under the luxury tax threshold...in theory.
