Report: Lakers have explored signing other centers with Marc Gasol’s status unclear
Most of the Los Angeles Lakers roster for the 2021-22 season seems sorted out, except for center Marc Gasol.
Gasol, who has one year left on his initial two-year deal he signed last offseason, has been up-and-down with his status for next season.
After the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he confirmed he would return to the Lakers and complete his contract.
READ: NBA 2K22 reveals Lakers’ Marc Gasol’s rating
However, in recent weeks, he reportedly has backtracked on that initial commitment and is “not a lock” to return.
Considering Gasol is one of just two true centers on the team, along with Dwight Howard, whether Gasol will return is a crucial component to the team’s roster considering the lack of big man depth.
Since the 36-year-old center’s status is unclear, the Lakers have begun exploring the availability of centers in the market for a possible replacement, according to NBA insider Marc Stein:
“As discussed in a recent This Week In Basketball column, league sources say that L.A. has explored the pursuit of other centers even though Gasol has one year left on his original two-year deal.”
Some possible names include DeMarcus Cousins and Ersan Ilyasova, who both bring the pop factor from the perimeter as Gasol, a 40% 3-point shooter, did last year.
Another possibility is Brooklyn Nets center DeAndre Jordan. The Nets have recently signed Paul Millsap, and LaMarcus Aldridge’s return could be on the horizon.
That could push Jordan, who already fell out of the rotation, completely out of the equation. Brooklyn has already discussed a buyout for Jordan, and the Lakers are a team to watch if he’s available, even though the fit isn’t optimal.
