UPDATE: 6:07 p.m. PST
Talks with the Phoenix Suns might not be over according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN:
Lakers do not believe talks with Phoenix for Gasol are over, I'm told. Expect talks with Suns and other teams to cont until 2/20 deadline
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 5, 2014
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With the Los Angeles Lakers learning that Pau Gasol will miss another week after the three-game road trip, the Phoenix Suns appear to no longer be interested in the deal to acquire the four-time NBA All-Star according to Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times:
The Phoenix Suns have stopped talks to acquire Pau Gasol because they feel the Lakers want too much for the veteran post player, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Although reports surfaced about the Suns waiting for Gasol to recover from his groin injury before kicking the trade talks into high gear earlier on Tuesday, the Suns seem unwilling to part with a high draft pick for the two-time NBA champion.
With Gasol playing in the last year of his deal with the Lakers and more than likely testing the free agent market this summer, Phoenix has no assurance that the Spaniard will be back next season or for the foreseeable future.
The Suns may have broken off talks with the Lakers for the time being, but it doesn’t mean this deal is dead just yet. Phoenix will likely continue to keep tabs on Gasol with the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 20.
It’ll be interesting to see how things pan out moving forward. Gasol will continue to be involved in trade talks while the Lakers gauge interest around the league.
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