Lakers Rumors: Pau Gasol's Sprained Shoulder Will Keep Dwight Howard with Magic

Just when things have finally gotten going for this Los Angeles Lakers team, there is now a significant setback brewing in L.A.

According to Sportsfanlive.com's Lakers Blog,  All-Star Forward Pau Gasol has been playing through a sprained shoulder through the first six games of the season, as the Lakers stand at just 3-3 on the year as a result. 

If Gasol is dealing with a shoulder sprain, not only does the hurt the team's chances to win games going forward, but in turn, eliminates any possibility of a trade for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard this season.

Aside from struggling through the pain, Gasol said that he has had to fight through the pain and it is ultimately beginning to interfere with his rest.

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“You’ve just got to go through it and suck it up and just hope that one day it gets better somehow,” Gasol said. “I’m fighting through it. I’m used to it now. You get used to it. It’s not getting worse."

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The Magic would inevitably pursue both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. Yet a Gasol injury clearly makes the deal all the less appealing. According to NBC Sports, the Magic are a team in search of veterans, as the addition of Gasol would be a step in the right direction on paper.

A costly injury to Gasol will only worsen if he fails to sit out for a number of practices or games. This is a veteran who needs his rest to begin with, as adding an injury to the equation only hurts this his production for this Lakers team.

Gasol has averaged 17.3 points and 8.6 rebounds in the first six games, both significantly less than his 18.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game he was able to put up last season.

Expect the Lakers to begin to suffer as a team if Gasol continues to play 36 minutes per game, as his injury will only worsen. Not to mention, it hurts his marketability as well.

According to the L.A. Times, Lakers owner Jim Buss has made clear he has no interest in Dwight Howard if it means the departure of both Bynum and Gasol. Yet even if the trade was being pursued at the moment behind closed doors, the Magic are a team that undoubtedly will show little to no interest in the move.

A continued effort to have Gasol playing injured will worsen the team's chances at acquiring Dwight Howard as well, as the Magic will not look to add a veteran that is suffering from a lingering shoulder injury.