January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) dunks past Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (1) in the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
A month after pulling out of trade talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers over Pau Gasol, the Lakers find themselves in the same boat, this time with the Phoenix Suns. Insistent on getting back what they determine is equal value for the Spaniard, the Lakers have scared away yet another suitor.
Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times is reporting that the Suns stopped negotiating with the Lakers, citing the steep asking price as the main reason. The Lakers feel that Gasol is worth at least a first round pick or young asset. Despite owning as many as four draft picks this summer, the Suns felt that a four-month rental of Gasol was not worth surrendering one of those draft picks.
With 16 days remaining before the trade deadline, the two sides could certainly make a deal still, and this could be nothing more than leverage move, but it’s an all-too-eery feeling for a Lakers team that has already seen many opportunities come and pass that could have lead to a Gasol deal.