Although the oft-injured Andrew Bynum helped shoulder the load at center during the two championship runs in the Gasol era, the international star was the main reason for the team’s success inside the paint when the Lakers were able to take down the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics in consecutive seasons.
Despite the fact this team no longer has the high expectation, Gasol has a chance to prove his worth as one of the best big men in the game. The four-time All-Star will be facing uncertainty in terms of his long-term future in Los Angeles with his contract with the team expiring. Gasol wants to re-sign with the team and ultimately retire with the Lakers, but will need to have a bounce back year following an injury plagued season in order to do so.
At this point in time, all indications point to Gasol having the opportunity to earn a new contract as the second half of a one-two punch with Steve Nash. Dwight’s inability to run the pick-and-roll last season really hurt this team’s chemistry and the play of Gasol. Now that Dwight will no longer be clogging up the paint, Nash and Gasol may become a dynamic duo as the team awaits the return of Kobe Bryant.
The pressure will be on Gasol heading into the upcoming season to turn some heads. There’s no doubt he’ll be prepared for the challenge while being more than capable of living up to expectations as the new starting center for this team moving forward.
Lakers Nation News
Lakers Trending Up And Down: New Guys Looking To Make Impact
Kareem: ‘Kobe Won’t Come Back As Quickly As He Would Like’
Lakers News: Kaman, Sacre Looking To Fill Void Left By Howard
Lakers News: Mike D’Antoni Describes Kobe’s First Shots In Practice
Lakers News: D’Antoni Says Farmar, Blake Are Great Guards For System
Lakers News: Pau Gasol Wants To Continue Career With Lakers
VIDEO Interview: Two Minutes With Lakers Forward Marcus Landry
Steve Nash Estimates When Kobe Bryant Will Return From Injury
Lakers News: James Worthy Receives Great Sports Legend Award
VIDEO Interview: One On One With Lakers Rookie Ryan Kelly
Michael Jordan Says Kobe Could Beat Him 1-On-1, Not LeBron
Lakers’ Mike D’Antoni Clears Air With Executive VP Jeanie Buss
VIDEO Interview: Lakers Guard Xavier Henry
Lakers News
Michael Jordan Says Lakers’ Kobe Bryant Would Beat Him One-On-One [Examiner]
Lakers News: Steve Nash Thinks Kobe Will Be Back Before Thanksgiving [Examiner]
Lakers News: Steve Nash Says ‘Vibe Is Really Positive’ With Current Squad [Examiner]
Lakers News: Jordan Hill Hasn’t Secured Starting Role At Power Forward [Examiner]
Lakers’ Kobe Bryant On Dwight’s Departure: ‘I Don’t Really Give A S—‘ [Examiner]
Pau Gasol Still A Laker, And Still Wants To Stay A Laker [LA Times]
Players’ Lack Of Long-Term Security Could Help Or Hinder Lakers [LA Times]
Many Questions But Few Answers At Lakers Media Day [LA Times]
Steve Nash, Oldest Player In NBA, Says ‘I’ve Got A Lot To Prove’ [LA Times]
Lakers’ Blake Ready For Team Effort [OC Register]
D’Antoni In Search Of Partners For Gasol [OC Register]
Gasol, Nash To Take It Easy Early On [OC Register]
Diamond In The Rough [Silver Screen & Roll]
Now This Might Actually Be Fun [Silver Screen & Roll]
The Next Stage Of Pau’s Career [Silver Screen & Roll]
Expiring Contracts Loom Over The Lakers In 2014 [Forum Blue & Gold]
NBA News
Ibaka Is The Thunder’s Key To Survival [SB Nation]
MJ Says He Could Beat LeBron 1-On-1 [SB Nation]
SportVU And The Future Of Video Games [SB Nation]
LeBron Bringing Back Pregame Chalk Toss [SB Nation]
The Point Is There Is No Point [SB Nation]
How NBA2K14 Uses Real Plays In Video Games [SB Nation]
LeBron James Tops NBA’s Worldwide Jersey Sales List [Pro Basketball Talk]
Knicks’ Woodson On J.R. Smith: “He’s Got To Grow Up” [Pro Basketball Talk]
Because Apparently You Can’t Get Enough, A Dwight Howard Documentary Is Coming [Pro Basketball Talk]