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Late last night, it was reported that the Lakers and Cavaliers had completed a trade involving Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum by ESPNLA 710 Radio. That ultimately proved to be a false report, and conversations are still ongoing. Here's where they are as of 2:40 PM on Sunday:
- Ramona Shelburne, also of ESPNLA, said late last night that the Lakers are not budging from the stance that they want an asset in return for Gasol.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Lakers vehemently deny Pau trade is done. Vehemently deny. Aren't budging from stance that they want asset for Gasol</p>— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) <a href="https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/statuses/419726395099471872">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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- She also mentioned that a second round pick does not qualify as an asset from the Lakers' standpoint.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Lakers remain adamant they will only consider trading Pau Gasol for an asset of value. A second round pick doesn't qualify</p>— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) <a href="https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/statuses/419761524316446720">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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- Marc Stein of ESPN said that the Cavs "would love to get a deal done Sunday," which makes them seem more inclined to get this done than the Lakers are.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Cavs would love to get deal done Sunday. But NOT there yet. Lakers still looking for extra asset + Pau-for-Bynum alone doesn't work cap-wise</p>— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/419727111348187136">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
- Sam Amick of USA Today then reported that the sides are still far enough apart that they haven't yet even discussed who the salary pieces will be that go along with Bynum in order to make the trade cap compliant.
Still, according to a person with knowledge of the talks between the two teams, the only asset Cleveland has offered as of Saturday night is a second-round pick, and that won't be enough to get this deal done. The person strongly refuted a news media report indicating a deal had been agreed upon and said the second-rounder simply wouldn't be enough to get the deal done. What's more, the two sides were far enough apart in talks that the necessary details of the deal regarding other involved players had not been discussed.
- So we know what the Cavaliers had been willing to include so far, but not what the Lakers' asking price was. Luckily, Adrian Wojnarowski filled us in with that little tidbit.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>As Lakers push for assets in Gasol-Bynum discussions, Cavs have refused to include Dion Waiters in talks, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/419908041559928832">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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So that's where the Cavaliers and Lakers stand right now. Obviously, the Cavaliers aren't going to give up Waiters in this deal. His play over the last month or so has been very encouraging for a second year player. Also, it's good to find out that a second round pick clearly isn't going to get this done. The Lakers believe they have a real, valuable asset in Gasol and want to be paid as such. It doesn't seem like they're going to back down from that demand.
It's also worth mentioning a lot of these reports seem to be coming from the Lakers' side. They could simply be posturing in order to try to get Grant to blink and include a young asset. Gasol is included in the Lakers' early starting lineup tonight -- according to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLA -- meaning this will likely come to a conclusion by the time that game rolls around at 9:30 P.M. EST.
Having said that, my guess is that Chris Grant blinks slightly or there is no trade. The Lakers can save money by getting out of the luxury tax, but ultimately I don't think that is as important to them as just getting real assets to fill in around Kobe Bryant for next season. They can simply keep Gasol and attempt to deal him at the deadline for something more tangible, or they can just allow him and his $19 million salary to expire and bank that money for free agency.
Fear the Sword will be around all day to keep you updated as a conclusion to these trade talks occurs.