The stalled trade talks between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly started up again with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum and the teams are hoping to get a deal done by Sunday to get it through in time to get some big financial savings on Bynum's contract.
The talks between the two sides officially came up last week in reports, but those quickly stalled with the Lakers wanting a young player or a draft pick and now, according to ESPN.com, the deal for the former teammates appears to be back on. The endgame for the Lakers is to save $20 million by getting rid of Gasol's expiring contract and then losing Bynum before the other half of his contract kicks in on Tuesday and that would get the team under the luxury tax for the first time in years and could set them up for moves over the next two offseasons.
The other reported option for a Bynum deal is with the Utah Jazz for Richard Jefferson and right now those appear to be the two most likely options for a trade. Bynum has a deal that is worth over $12 million, but six of that has been paid by the Cavaliers and the other half does not become guaranteed until Thursday and while it would seem odd for the Lakers to trade for a player they traded away before last season, it makes sense for the team because Bynum has a contract unlike anyone else's in the NBA and the Lakers would love to use the opportunity to their advantage when it comes to salary cap issues and other financials.
The team has to debate on what they want to do this season, as trading Gasol could mean their is no shot at the playoffs and with Kobe Bryant out for a couple more weeks, he may not be too happy to see his good friend traded. The Lakers have to weigh their options and they are working on getting a draft pick or a young player in the deal to make things worth it and the team is hoping to get that since they have a prime player in Gasol despite his age.
