The Lakers are set to begin their playoff run on Sunday afternoon in San Antonio, but the latest rumor from Southern California states that the organization is considering using their Amnesty provision on Pau Gasol. According to Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times, the team might be considering using their one-time Amnesty option on the seven-foot big man out of Spain. Financially, the move to wipe Gasol off their books would save them a decent chunk of change.
Waiving Gasol via the “amnesty” provision in July could potentially save them more than $60 million in luxury taxes. They would still have to pay his $19.3-million salary, though he could be snapped up by a bidding team that would owe the Lakers millions to help with that cost.
When you consider the other Amnesty options, Gasol may be the most likely candidate.
The team won’t use their Amnesty clause on Kobe Bryant. And if Metta World Peace opts out of his deal like he’s alluded to before, that would eliminate that possibility as well. There’s still Steve Blake, but we haven’t heard many rumors surrounding that, either.
—–Check out the Lakers Nation store to get your LN gear and show off your Lakers pride!——
Regardless, if the team does look to move Gasol, which I believe they will, it would make sense for them to get some value out of him through a trade. I do believe the team will move Gasol one way or another this off-season, but how they end up doing it is (obviously) still up in the air.
Gasol’s Lakers will begin their playoff journey, sans Kobe, today against the Spurs.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
In case you missed it, be sure to check out what Pau Gasol had to say about visiting Kobe’s house!
Don’t forget to click here to subscribe to our Lakers Nation YouTube Channel!
