Jan 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guards Nick Young (0) and Jodie Meeks (20) and forward Pau Gasol (16) embrace during the game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
After nearly a week of speculation and negotiations between the Lakers and Cavs discussing a potential Andrew Bynum-Pau Gasol swap, the Cavs finally pulled the trigger, but not on an offer by the Lakers. The Bulls flew in under the radar in the 11th hour and sent Luol Deng to Cleveland for multiple draft picks and Bynum.
Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Bynum and draft picks, league source tells RealGM.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 7, 2014
As expected in LA, the Bulls will waive Bynum before tomorrow evening, clearing nearly $20 million in cap space in the process. And similar to the Lakers, this puts the Bulls into the Parker-Wiggins-Randle mix.
For the Lakers, Gasol remains with the team, but for how long? The Lakers reportedly weren’t discussing a trade solely with Cleveland, but with a hard stance of wanting a young prospect or draft pick in return, will any team offer that up? Either way, what we do know i that Gasol will handle the situation with the utmost professionalism we’ve come to expect out of the Spaniard.