Lakers Rumors: L.A. Has Passed Point of No Return with Pau Gasol

The Lakers have forced themselves into having to trade Pau Gasol. This is no longer a luxury. They can't sit around and only trade him if the right deal comes around. They have to trade him for the best trade package they can get. 

Gasol has been involved in too many trade rumors. It is becoming a distraction, not just to him, but to the entire team. 

Questions of Gasol's future are thrown at everyone involved with the Lakers. 

Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times recently had this take on the subject by Kobe Bryant:

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Bryant believes reports linking Gasol in a trade has made it "an emotional couple of days for him."

"Personally I don't understand that crap," Bryant said regarding the Lakers' effort to trade Gasol. "But it is what it is. It's important for him to know we support him. I support him especially. I just want him to go out there and play hard and do what he does best for us."

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Kobe is certainly saying all the right things, but it is never good to have the face of your franchise saying things like "personally I don't understand that crap." 

This doesn't set a good tone for the organization, and the longer Gasol remains a Laker, the more these kinds of comments will surface. 

Meanwhile, Gasol admits that it crosses his mind, although he certainly doesn't admit to carrying those thoughts onto the court. Medina offers this quote from Gasol. 

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At times it crosses your mind, but not exactly when you're playing. Obviously when you're playing, you're focused and you try to do the best that you can. It's something you have to shake off regardless at any time at any point.

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Gasol's comments aside, it is difficult to believe that he is not carrying residuals of all these rumors with him on the court. This next quote hints at that much. 

Brian Kamenetzky of ESPN L.A. offers up this quote from Gasol: 

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There has been so much going on from talks, from rumors, situations that have changed. That makes it more challenging than usual, the amount of games that we’ve played now this season. That makes it a little more complicated. I want to have as much fun as possible doing well and doing my part, but it’s been difficult at times.

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Gasol's happiness is not going to return as long as he is with the Lakers—even if the trade deadline passes and he gets a temporary reprieve from the rumors. He does not feel valued there. 

It is clear that the Lakers have been willing and trying to trade him. This is taking a toll, and it is now hanging like a cloud over the entire organization. 

The only way that cloud will leave is when Gasol is gone.