The Los Angeles Lakers are finalizing a two-year deal with center Marc Gasol, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.
L.A. is trading center JaVale McGee and a future second-round pick to the Cavaliers to help make room for Gasol, a source told Wojnarowski. Cleveland is sending Jordan Bell and Alfonzo McKinnie to the Lakers in the deal, sources said.
Gasol was drafted by the Lakers in 2007, but had his rights traded to Memphis for his brother, Pau, before he ever played an NBA game.
On the Lakers, Gasol will be looking to win his second NBA championship. He won his first with the Raptors two seasons ago after Toronto pried him away from the Grizzlies in a midseason trade.
Gasol spent the first 10 seasons of his career with Memphis and was one of the founding fathers of the “Grit and Grind” Grizzlies who catapulted the franchise to new heights.
The 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year, Gasol remains a stalwart on that end of the floor. The Raptors allowed a measly 98.9 points per 100 possessions when Gasol was on the court last season.
While his days as an offensive fulcrum are behind him, the 35-year-old averaged 3.3 assists in 26.4 minutes per game last season while stretching the floor as an effective 3-point shooter on a healthy number of attempts.
Gasol struggled to stay on the court in the playoffs, however, which could be a sign that Father Time is catching up to the 12-year veteran.
