Lakers Trade Rumors: Timberwolves' and Rockets' Interest in Pau Gasol Is in Vain

Pau Gasol likely isn't going anywhere. Neither are the trade rumors with his name as the marquee.

It would appear that teams still have interest in acquiring the Spaniard, namely the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets. We get the following from Ken Berger of CBS:

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Houston, whose acquisition of Pau Gasol in the ill-fated trade that would've sent Chris Paul to the Lakers, also remains in hot pursuit of the Spaniard, sources say. So are the Timberwolves, who would like to pair Gasol with Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio. The Lakers, however, are unwilling to trade Gasol unless they get a comparable All-Star in return—preferably one who could provide the guard penetration they're so sorely lacking.

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Let's eliminate Minnesota right off the bat—they won't give up either Kevin Love or Ricky Rubio, and those are probably the only two players the Los Angeles Lakers would entertain moving Gasol for.

It's a little trickier when we talk about Houston. I've long thought that given Houston's love for Gasol and the fact that they have Jonny Flynn on their roster, a deal swapping Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola for Gasol made sense for each team.

The Lakers get the playmaker they desperately need in Lowry and a solid replacement for Gasol. The Rockets get Gasol, whom they seem to covet.

The thing is, I just don't think it is going to happen. I think the Lakers are resigned to the fact that they will only move Gasol for a player like Rajon Rondo or as a part of a Dwight Howard deal. And, of course, it is always possible that the Rockets simply won't part with Lowry as a part of the deal.

But more and more, it simply seems unlikely that Gasol will be going anywhere, and truthfully, that isn't a bad thing for the Lakers. Gasol is one of the best power forwards in the game, and just because the rumors are floating around out there doesn't mean the Lakers should take cents on the dollar to move him.

Just don't expect the rumors to go away until March 15th passes.

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