Just a day after news surfaced that the Lakers are reportedly not bringing back Pau Gasol, ESPN has reported that the Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers could be discussing a Gasol-for-Andrew Bynum swap.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers have had discussions about a trade that would involve Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, league sources told ESPN.com.
No deal is believed to be imminent, but both sides are mulling it ahead of a Jan. 7 deadline when the second half of Bynum’s $12.25 million salary would be guaranteed. The Cavs suspended Bynum for one game this weekend for conduct detrimental to the team and have excused him indefinitely from all activities, including games.
This story comes on the heels of the Lakers saying that Gasol is not on the trading block followed by a couple of editorials from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and Kevin Ding suggesting that Gasol has been dogging it in the last few weeks and could have played in the Lakers loss to the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.
Should a deal happen, there couldn’t just be a Gasol-for-Bynum swap. The Cavaliers would have to send the Lakers at least one other player to make it work under league rules. Considering Bynum’s current deal, the Lakers could save up to $20 million in salary in luxury taxes.
The Cavaliers are looking to move Bynum as soon as possible as his contract becomes fully guaranteed on Jan. 7. If Bynum is waived before Jan. 7, Cleveland would only have to pay $6 million of his deal, but the team would rather get something in return for the center rather than let him walk for nothing.
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