Lakers get Gasol, Harrell, Matthews amid shake- up
The Los Angeles Lakers and three- time All- Star center Marc Gasol agreed to a two- year deal as the reigning National Basketball Association continue to revamp their squad with just a month left until the season gets under way.
The Lakers reportedly opened up cap room for Gasol by trading center JaVale McGee and a second- round draft choice to the Cleveland Cavaliers for forwards Jordan Bell and Alfonzo McKinnie. Both players have non- guaranteed contracts, so the Lakers may keep both players or choose to waive one or both.
The 35- year- old Gasol is on the downside of his career after being a stalwart for the Memphis Grizzlies for 10 ½ seasons. He spent the past 1 ½ seasons with the Toronto Raptors and was a key figure on the club's 2019 championship team.
Gasol averaged 7.5 points and 6.3 rebounds in 44 games ( 43 starts) last season.
Gasol was initially a secondround draft choice by the Lakers in 2007 but was playing in Spain when he was shipped to Memphis in February 2008 in a deal that brought his older brother Pau to Los Angeles.
Gasol was a first- team AllNBA selection for the 2014/ 15 season and a second- team choice the following season. He was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the 201213 campaign.
Over 12 NBA seasons, Gasol has career averages of 14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 839 career games ( 824 starts). He has blocked 1,196 shots, eighth among active players.
McGee spent the past two seasons with the Lakers. The 32- year- old averaged 6.6 points and 5.7 rebounds while starting 68 games last season. He has 1,077 blocked shots, which rank 10th among active NBA players.
Overall, McGee has career averages of 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 701 games ( 317 starts) over 12 seasons with the Washington Wizards, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Lakers.
The Lakers also signed NBA “Sixth Man of the Year” Montrezl Harrell from the Clippers, after having earlier acquired Oklahoma City Thunder's 27- year- old guard Dennis Schroder, who was second in the Sixth Man award voting, as well as Milwaukee Bucks guard Wes Matthews Jr.
. The switch comes after a stellar season from Harrell, who averaged career- highs of 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
The 26- year- old led the league with 11 double- doubles off the bench as he helped the Clippers earn the second seed in the Western Conference before they were knocked out by the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals.
Harrell, who provides the Lakers with an option at both power forward and center, arrives after eight- time NBA All Star Dwight Howard moved east to the Philadelphia 76ers.
“With the additions of Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schroder and Wes Matthews Jr, the Lakers will be younger and more talented than last seasons's championship team and on their way to a repeat,” Laker great Magic Johnson said on Twitter.
In other news, free- agent guard Austin Rivers agreed to a three- year deal with the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat officially announced the re- signing Sunday of veteran guard Goran Dragic. ( Reuters)