NBA Rumors: Lakers Could Give Gasol More Than Just Sweaters This Offseason

Marc Gasol has been a revelation for the Toronto Raptors even at the age of 34.

The Spaniard has a player option this coming summer and the 7-foot-1 center could end up hitting NBA free agency to get a longer lease. One team that could come forward are the Los Angeles Lakers -- the same team that drafted him back in 2007.

For those who may not know, the younger brother of former Laker Pau Gasol was selected 48th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft. The Lakers ended up sending the rights of the three-time NBA All-Star to the Memphis Grizzlies along with Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron Mckie, and two first-round picks to the Memphis Grizzlies for Pau Gasol.

The move paid off for the Lakers, winning the NBA title in 2009 and 2010. But at the same time, the younger Gasol was already started to make some noise when he officially signed a deal with the Grizzlies on July 9, 2008.

Since then, Gasol has shown that he can be a force to reckon with. He won NBA Defensive of the Year honors in 2013 and the All-NBA First Team in 2015. Fast forward to the current season and with the Grizzlies having one of their worst seasons, Gasol was traded to the Raptors in exchange for Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, C.J. Miles and a 2024 second-round pick, USA Today reported.

So far, Gasol has proven to be a good acquisition for the Raptors. With Kawhi Leonard leading the offensive parade, the Spaniard has added that defensive presence for head coach Nick Nurse on the other end. His options will depend on his current deal. If he should decide to check out the market, the Lakers are a possible stop.

One department that the Lakers could improve on is the middle. LeBron James could thrive well playing alongside Marc Gasol if Los Angeles can adjust their salary budget properly. Most know that they are after another NBA star with the likes of Leonard, Jimmy Butler, and Kyrie Irving Butler mentioned in a previous post. At his age, Gasol could be an option where he could get at least a two-year deal.

If so, Gasol would be getting more than oversized sweaters when he was briefly with the Lakers, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun reported. He never really got the chance to spend a single day or paid a dime by the Lakers before that trade with Memphis back in 2007. If he ends up in the free agent market, expect the purple and gold to consider getting the three-time NBA All-Star to bolster their roster.