Report: Heat, Spurs show interest in Lakers C Pau Gasol
The reigning NBA champion San Antonio Spurs reached out to the agent for Lakers center Pau Gasol on the same day the seven-footer had a phone conversation with Pat Riley of the Miami Heat, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
The Spurs inquired with Gasol's agent, Arn Tellem, about the free agent possibly joining San Antonio for next season, but the move from Los Angeles would require the four-time All-Star to take a significant pay cut from the $19 million he made in the final year of his deal with the Lakers. The two-time NBA champion, who turns 34 next week, is reportedly asking for $10-12 million per year. He met with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak on Tuesday about the team retaining him, which could be his best chance at earning that salary. Last year for the Lakers, Gasol averaged 17.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 blocks in 60 games.
The Knicks are also reported to be interested in signing Gasol, but likely won't have the flexibility to offer him $12 million. Instead, New York could likely offer him somewhere in the ballpark of $4 million for next year. The Mavericks are also in the hunt for the Spaniard, Tim MacMahon and Marc Stein of ESPN reported.
-- Marc Weinreich
