Gasol won’t demand trade, but demands ball
by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES – Pau Gasol looked defeated yet again on Friday night, and this had absolutely nothing to do with the 107-102 loss to the Clippers.
His Lakers could have won the latest turf war and his blank stares and despondent answers to the most puzzling of questions likely would have remained: How does a two-time NBA champion and international superstar disappear like this, his skills not called on in the fourth quarter yet again and his impact so underwhelming (two points, four rebounds in 27 minutes)? And why does it seem so obvious that Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni has no place in his spread-offense system for the four-time All-Star who spent last summer reminding us all how special he can be during his Olympic run with the Spanish team?
Gasol – who hit 1 of 6 shots in for two points and is now shooting just 40.3 percent (25 of 62) in the six games since Steve Nash returned from injury – was in no position to provide the answers after the Lakers fell to 15-17.
But as he spoke in front of his locker at the Staples Center following the loss to the Clippers, he made it clear his frustration hasn’t reached the boiling point just yet. While the Lakers may ultimately decide to trade Gasol and the contract that will pay him a combined $39 million for this season and next, he isn’t ready to give up just yet.
“No, no, no, no,” he said when asked if was considering asking for a trade. “That’s a bit radical. I still believe. I still have faith in what we have here, and still have faith that I can be a big part in helping this team succeed right now. I’m not really being able to do that very often.”
And as Gasol is well aware, every loss will come with added pressure to make a move.
“It’s pointless (to think about it),” said Gasol, who spent so much of last season reportedly on the trading block. “There’s always a chance (he’ll get traded), and I think the more a team … [For more on Gasol won't demand a trade, but he will demand the ball, click here.]
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