Pau Gasol enticed by final campaign with Los Angeles Lakers or Spain

Pau Gasol is intrigued by the idea of returning to the Los Angeles Lakers or Spain.

The Los Angeles Lakers and their fanbase could not be any hungrier at the moment. Once the NBA season resumes at the end of July, the Lakers will continue their quest for an illustrious 17th world championship.

Alas, the purple and gold have not won a title in a decade and by the team’s lofty standards, that is a long, long time. Fans are impatient and the coronavirus pandemic has subsequently resulted in a further delay.

Incidentally, a former Laker from that last title team is enticed by the idea of coming back to the team next year. In all likelihood, it would be his final season in the league if he opts to do so.

The player in question is big man Pau Gasol, who was a key cog for L.A. during the late 2000s. Let alone helping the Lakers capture a chip over the stacked Boston Celtics in 2010, Gasol was every bit as instrumental to the team winning a title in 2009.

No one will ever take for granted the monumental impact No. 16 made on the team. Combined with the sensational talents of the late great Kobe Bryant, the pair became one of the NBA’s most lethal one-two punches over a several year stretch.

RELATED: How Kobe Bryant used language to connect with Pau Gasol

To switch over back to Pau, the seasoned veteran is seriously mulling over whether to return to basketball. According to Tales Azzoni of The Associated Press, Gasol conceded that playing one final season with the Lakers is an “attractive” option.

On the other hand, it is worth noting the Lakers are not the only team under consideration. Gasol also admitted that he is thinking about finishing his basketball career overseas, specifically for Barcelona in Spain.

Gasol was born in Barcelona and originally played basketball there as well. On account of that factor, it makes total sense that the 7-footer is unsure in terms of how to proceed with his future.

Provided that Gasol is 39 years old, some folks may be curious as to how much the Spaniard has left in the tank. The age factor is not the only piece of the puzzle, though.

Per Christian Rivas of Silver Screen & Roll, a nagging foot injury has hampered the big man since March 2019. At the time, Pau was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks and ultimately participated in just three games for the squad.

The two-time champion was expected to help the Portland Trail Blazers down low this season, but those plans did not work out too well, either. As Rivas indicated, the injury continued to affect Gasol and Portland eventually had no other logical choice but to waive the Barcelona native.

Given that information, a fair part of Gasol’s decision will be contingent upon his health. Despite the valid health concerns, though, Pau told Azzoni that the recovery process has gone smoothly.

"“I’m feeling good. I’ve had more time to recover,” he was quoted as saying by Spanish media. “When I can start running and jumping I will have a lot more information to know for sure if the foot and the bone are consolidated for me to be playing professional basketball again.”"

On that note, that has certainly been a silver lining amid the pandemic. Players, let alone Pau, have gotten extra time to recover if anything injury-wise was there. It could very well play in the Spaniard’s favor due to one last basketball goal he has in mind.

Via Tim Daniels of Bleacher Report, returning for one final season of basketball whether he chooses the Lakers or Barcelona would increase his odds of making it to the Olympics one more time. A few months back, the Summer Olympics were postponed until 2021 by virtue of the pandemic.

Daniels also shared (originally via Azzoni) that the former Laker will probably make up his mind by September or October.

Gasol was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of the 2007-2008 campaign. Gasol was crucial in helping L.A. make three straight Finals appearances, and in winning the Larry O’Brien trophy on two of those occasions.

In addition to his two rings, the international talent is a six-time All-Star. He captured the Rookie of the Year Award back in the 2001-02 season.

During his six and a half years with Los Angeles, Pau nearly averaged a double-double in accumulating 17.7 points and 9.9 boards per contest. He also averaged 3.5 dimes a night to go along with 1.4 blocks.

If Gasol tries his hand at basketball one last time, it will largely depend upon his health as was said before. Nothing is guaranteed at this juncture, and there is a reason he used the word “if” in his public statement.

The thought of whether the Los Angeles Lakers should sign their old pal is curious. Pau Gasol is getting no younger, but he definitely means a lot to the franchise. Only time will tell where the big fella winds up if he chooses to lace up his sneakers for one final hurrah.