Lakers Rumors: L.A. Wisely Sits Down with Pau Gasol as Trade Deadline Nears

There is approximately one week remaining before the NBA trade deadline and the Los Angeles Lakers are still very much a threat to make a deadline deal.

It won't be for Dwight Howard, the one day Lakers fans have been pining for since the failed Chris Paul trade, but it could involve Pau Gasol.

Or maybe not.

Gasol finally sat down with Lakers brass and "cleared the air" with regards to the trade rumors that have been circling above for some time now.

How much there is to take away from those rumors is up for debate, though.

ESPN L.A.'s Ramona Shelburne writes, and quotes the Lakers' star forward:

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But after months of silence, worry and uncertainty, Gasol and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak did indeed speak to clear the air about the Spaniard's future with the team.

"I have an understanding of where things are," Gasol said after the Lakers' shootaround in Detroit on Tuesday, "where they stand and where he stands and where I stand. He [Kupchak] told me to just keep doing what you do, keep playing hard and playing on and from that point on, we'll see."

"I told him, 'When there's something real on the table, just let me know'...But March 15 is closer. I know it's coming. It's only, what, nine days? So no matter what in nine days, we'll have an answer."

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That nine days has since become seven days and the Lakers—a 23-15 team with troublesome road issues—are coming off a disappointing loss in Detroit two nights ago and another loss to the Wizards last night.

Their biggest needs are at point guard and small forward, where they are getting almost no production at all from their current players. Metta World Peace is so streaky that sometimes you forget he's on the team at all.

Last night, he scored three on 1-of-6 shooting with three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Two nights ago, he scored only four points on 2-of-9 shooting with six rebounds. The previous game, a monster win over the Heat, World Peace scored 17 points, seven boards, three assists, one block and four steals.

He's basically two completely different players night in and night out and the Lakers cannot trust that whatsoever.

Gasol is their most tradeable asset and teams like the Timberwolves and Rockets are very interested.

L.A. has interest in Rockets point guard Kyle Lowry and Minnesota small forward Michael Beasley, but neither of them add to a Gasol-worthy trade. Something else would have to factor in and the Lakers aren't one of those teams looking for first-round picks or anything else that won't help them immediately.

More likely than not, Gasol will remain in L.A. Rather than sitting around being worried about a trade over the next week, Kupchak was wise to at least get in the ear of the big Spanish forward and clarify things.

Like Gasol said himself, soon enough we'll have an answer and none of it will matter. The trade deadline simply can't come soon enough.