In the NBA, trade rumors can ruin a player's game. Pau Gasol has had the worst of it. He was actually traded in 2011, but the league rebuked it. He has been a rumor staple ever since.

The most recent rumor was probably the most humbling. The Lakers would reportedly trade Pau Gasol for virtually nothing but former teammate Andrew Bynum's bowling ball. However, this was not the case, as LA allegedly asked for more value for their center who was once the most skilled 7-footer on the planet. From Yahoo Sports: "The Cleveland Cavaliers have refused to include Dion Waiters in Andrew Bynum-Pau Gasol trade talks and remain reluctant on sending a future first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Lakers."

Thus, the allegation that all LA wants to do is to dump his salary is false. Come to think of it, the Lakers actually think the world of Pau Gasol. This was supported in a revealing interview with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak in Lakers.com. About Gasol:

"I think he's had a great year. I do. He had a procedure done on his knees during the offseason. People don't talk about that, and how invasive it was. It wasn't just some modules and ultrasound exams. He had some stuff taken out of his hip. He did not play or train the whole summer. He worked hard in camp, but has had to deal with the rumor mill, an infection that lasted a long time. But I think he's playing some of his best basketball right now with a group of players that he did not expect to be playing with. I'm sure he thought Kobe Bryant was going to come back and stay back. I'm sure he thought Steve Nash was going to be here. So he looks around and sees himself with a bunch of young guys he doesn't have experience playing with. Even Steve Blake, he thought he'd play with. Under the circumstances I think Pau's done great.

Pau is going to be a free agent this summer. He's playing at a high level right now, and there's no reason why he can't play at a high level and finish this season as a Laker. Once July 1st rolls around, we're going to have an option to extend him, and he's going to have options to move on to other teams. Years and money will probably be a factor, and I don't know how that will play out. I do know that he has tremendous loyalty to this city and this franchise, and I think if all things were constant, he'd love to continue to play here, and we'd love to have him here. ... Pau is a great player and he is a future Hall of Famer."

Kupchak's answers were very diplomatic, yet it dodged the bullet on whether Pau will stay as a Laker. If no team seeks to overpay Pau, then the Lakers see a possible negotiation. Gasol is still 7 feet, and much better than half the players of the same height. The Lakers would still want the option of having him rather than the other players rumored for the trade.