With so many rumors floating around the Lakers, many players were anxiously waiting to see if they would still be a Laker after today’s trade deadline.
Steve Blake was moved to the Golden State Warriors last night, but the Lakers stayed pat otherwise, not making any moves. This isn’t the first time Gasol has had to sweat out the deadline, but according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters, Gasol is happy to still be in Los Angeles:
When I asked Pau Gasol if not being traded was the best case scenario, he said, "That's what I wanted. That's what I preferred."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) February 20, 2014
Even though Gasol has had to deal with trade rumors for years, it’s apparent that he still loves being a part of the Lakers. He’s had his greatest success here, and will have his jersey hanging in the rafters one day.
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Gasol has dealt with the pressures of being shopped at the trade deadline for years now, and always seems to handle it with great professionalism. According to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters, he holds no hard feelings towards the team:
Pau had a similar sentiment as Hill agreeing that it's good to be wanted, but also holds "no hard feelings" against Lakers for shopping him
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) February 20, 2014
Gasol will definitely be a desired target this off-season as he is set to hit free agency after the season. There are sure to be a number of teams lining up for his services.
But for the rest of this season, Gasol remains a Laker.
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