The Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors have presented trade offers to the Lakers in efforts to acquire Pau Gasol, but Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak is telling teams that the Lakers will not even consider dealing Gasol until Steve Nash returns to the lineup and a full roster can be evaluated.
Lakers reportedly rebuff Pau Gasol trade offers from Raptors, Timberwolves
Los Angeles Lakers big man Pau Gasol has struggled to adapt to new offensive systems this season, and he has battled knee tendinitis in both of his knees as well, but the Lakers aren’t yet ready to trade the four-time All-Star.
Kevork Djansezian
Marc Stein of ESPN says the Lakers aren't looking to trade the four-time All-Star forward, at least until they get a chance to assess how he fits in Mike D'Antoni's system alongside future Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash. Rich Bucher of CSN Bay Area reports that the Lakers may have promised Nash the chance to play with Gasol, as Bucher said this on Sulia: "Nash made it a prerequisite for passing on offers from Toronto and the Knicks that Pau would be around."
The Raptors are looking to build an offer around struggling big man and former No. 1 draft pick Andrea Bargnani, veteran point guard Jose Calderon and Linas Kleiza. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves want to put Gasol next to Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, and they are willing to part with former No. 2 pick Derrick Williams and Nikola Pekovic to get a deal done. New Orleans Hornets sharpshooter Ryan Anderson would be a perfect fit for D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense, and he is still considered the Lakers' top target in any Gasol deal, but the Hornets haven't expressed any interest in trading Anderson.
Meanwhile, Gasol is missing games with knee tendinitis in both knees, and he is also posting a career-low 12.6 points per game while shooting a career-worst 42.0 percent from the field.
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