Gasol, Kupchak Spoke About Trade Rumors

Kobe Bryant's plea to the Lakers to provide the team's players with some clarity on the trade rumors swirling around the club didn't go unanswered. While the Lakers didn't definitively decide to trade or retain Pau Gasol, as Kobe suggested they should, GM Mitch Kupchak called Gasol to discuss the situation, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles.

"I have an understanding of where things are," Gasol said. "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…. It was kind of calming to have that feedback. Since before training camp, it was the first time I was approached by them."

Although Kupchak didn't make any guarantees to Gasol about where he'd be playing after the trade deadline, Gasol understands why such a guarantee wouldn't be in the team's best interest. The Spaniard asked the Lakers GM to let him know when "something real" was on the table, and recognized why Kupchak wouldn't necessarily keep him updated more frequently.

"It's hard because when an organization is going to pull the trigger, I guess the less involvement and the less contact, the easier it is," Gasol said. "That was the point if you watched that movie 'Moneyball' where Brad Pitt doesn't want to be involved with players. I don't know if that's the case or not, but you could see that kind of factor."

The Rockets, Timberwolves, Celtics, and Bulls are among the clubs that have been linked to Gasol in the last few weeks. For his part, Gasol told Shelburne he doesn't have a sense of whether he'll be traded, and is looking forward to putting the March 15th deadline behind him so he'll have an answer one way or another.

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