Pau Gasol is by no means saying he's thinking past this season or wanting out of Los Angeles, but he does realize his future with the Lakers is up in the air. So when NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper asked Gasol if he'd consider a return to the Memphis Grizzlies, a team he played for in his first six-plus NBA seasons, it doesn't hurt the big man to think about it.
Pau Gasol says return to Grizzlies would be ‘appealing’
Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol only holds a card or two to his future, but he told NBA.com a return to Memphis could work.
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"It's appealing," Pau Gasol told NBA.com. "One of the best centers in the NBA, one of the best interior players, is my brother (Marc Gasol). There's a lot of attractive factors there. But who knows if that's even a possibility or if that will ever happen."
Both the financial situations in Los Angeles and Memphis are unclear. The Lakers signed Kobe Bryant to a hefty extension but left enough room to chase after a max contract free agent this summer. Gasol could be the second option should that wish fall through.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies will await forward Zach Randolph’s decision on whether or not to pick up a $16.5 million player option for next season, or chase after a longer deal.
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Gasol’s value is still a question mark considering he’s aging and his numbers have slipped. He’s averaging 14.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and three assists per game but shooting just 41.7 percent this season.
There’s a lot to happen before it’s clear whether Gasol should leave Los Angeles, and in the meantime he’ll be hoping to help the Lakers find their stride with Bryant back from a torn Achilles. But it doesn’t hurt for Gasol to realize -- and think about -- his options.
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