Kobe Bryant is officially set to finish out his career with the Los Angeles Lakers after the star signed a two-year, $48.5 million extension on Monday. He will continue his reign as the highest paid player in the league and continue letting the Los Angeles spotlight shine down upon him. So what is the next move for the franchise? According to Pau Gasol, he has no idea if he is included or not.
Gasol is currently playing out the final year of a contract that pays him $19 million. As the Lakers continue to open their wallets, Gasol is not about to assume he is the next to get paid.
"I try not to make that assumption," Gasol said, via the Los Angeles Times. "I'm just focused on trying to play as well as I can and finish this season as good as I can so I'm in the best position as possible for next year."
The issue appears to be that Bryant's contract extension leaves very little room for other players to sign large deals as well. The Lakers have just about $22.2 million in available space to work with this summer. They can sign one more player to a max contract and could free up another $6 million if they use the stretch on Steve Nash. Los Angeles has not been shy about their intentions to rebuild this summer and Gasol is not considered a major factor in that. A pay cut could be in his future if he intends on remaining with the team.
"Generally speaking, I think we all at some point have to make sacrifices, but we'll see," Gasol said. "I don't know what my situation's going to be, or the team's interest moving forward. I'm playing well as of late. I'm going to try to continue to extend my game, and that's what's going to help me."
Gasol is right in that he is playing well lately. Last season the center was riddled with injuries that hurt his productivity, but this season Gasol looks healthy and is the center piece of the Lakers with Bryant and Nash on the bench. The past three games he has carried the team. He is averaging 14.3 points per game with 10.6 rebounds, shooting 42 percent from the floor.
Gasol told reporters that management has not approached him about beginning negotiations for a contract extension. While he is happy his teammate received the new deal he has been waiting for, Gasol is well-aware this hurts his future with the team.
Since being traded to the Lakers in 2008, the center has been a key part of three straight NBA Finals appearances as well as back-to-back championships. However his return is a big question.
