Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to trade Marc Gasol to Memphis for a 2024 second round pick and cash. Sources told ESPN that the Grizzlies will work with ESPN to negotiate Gasol's waiver and release so that he can remain in Spain with his family.
The Lakers will be able to save $10 million on salary and luxury taxes and also acquire the draft rights for Memphis' Wang Zhelin. 13 contracts are guaranteed by the Lakers before training camp begins this month.
Sources said that Gasol decided to stay with his family in Spain during the 2021-2022 season after the turmoil of the Orlando bubble and COVID-19 restrictions.
His professional career began in 2003 in Spain with FC Barcelona. He started his NBA career in 2008 with Memphis. His 11-year-long run with the Grizzlies was made possible by a Lakers-Grizzlies deal that included his older brother, Pau.
Gasol, 36, won an NBA championship and two Olympic silver medals. He also made three All-Star teams and was awarded the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award as well as All-NBA First-Team honors. Gasol's role in the Lakers signing of DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard, two former All-Star centers, was made more difficult by their decision to sign Gasol.
Gasol signed a $2.7million deal for the 2021-2022 seasons. After Gasol spent more than a season with the Toronto Raptors, where his 2019 NBA championship team was formed, the Lakers signed him to an exclusive two-year deal.
