Lakers Rumors: Andre Drummond Addition 'Poisoned the Well' with Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol initially signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers before last season, but the veteran didn't plan to return in 2021-22 after a rough first season. 

According to Bill Oram, Shams Charania, and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Lakers "poisoned the well with Gasol" after the center was replaced in the starting lineup by midseason acquisition Andre Drummond.

Gasol had reportedly been promised a starting job when he signed.

"There's no way Gasol wants to be back nor do (the Lakers) want him back," a source told The Athletic. 

The 36-year-old was eventually traded to the Memphis Grizzlies and waived, allowing him to finish his professional career at home in Spain, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. 

Gasol didn't exactly light up the stat sheet last season with Los Angeles, averaging 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 52 appearances. Both numbers were career lows for the three-time All-Star.

The center still provided help on the defensive end with 1.1 blocks per game while spreading the floor with his 41.0 percent three-point shooting.

The Lakers were 1.7 points per 100 possessions better when Gasol was on the court last season, per Basketball Reference, fourth among rotation regulars behind only LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Alex Caruso. Drummond was minus-2.4 in his on/off-court rating over 21 games after signing with the team on March 28.

Gasol still saw limited playing time down the stretch and didn't appear in the team's first playoff game against the Phoenix Suns. He ultimately averaged 17.5 minutes per game during the first-round series loss.

Drummond signed with the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent. Los Angeles will now look to replace the production at center with veterans Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan.