Trade talks are in full swing as the deadline is now just under 24 hours away. The Los Angeles Lakers have been included in multiple scenarios ranging from sending Jordan Hill to the Brooklyn Nets or Phoenix Suns, and of course, the obligatory trade Pau Gasol to any team rumors.
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One team that appeared to have their sights set on Gasol was the Suns. The two teams reportedly discussed a potential trade in early February, but a deal never manifested. Recent reports indicated the Lakers and Suns would revisit talks centered around the Spaniard but on Wednesday, David Aldridge of NBA.com, reports talks are fading:
Hearing that Gasol to Suns, if it ever was serious, dying quickly on the vine. PHX “looking at other stuff” now, per source.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) February 19, 2014
It is unclear if the Lakers and Suns have abandoned any thoughts of completing a trade for good. From the Suns’ perspective, the Lakers may make the best trade partner if they hope to deal Emeka Okafor. The Suns are currently in sixth place in the Western Conference and adding a piece like Gasol could help solidify a spot in the playoffs for them.
Gasol’s name has been included in trade talks since the NBA vetoed the Lakers’ attempt to trade for Chris Paul in 2011. In his seventh season with the Lakers, the seven-footer recently expressed his anticipation of reaching free agency this summer. Whether or not Gasol is still with the team by tip-off remains to be seen, but he has already been ruled out of Wednesday’s game against the Houston Rockets as he still recovers from a groin injury.
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