» Though unhappy with his role, Gasol denies seeking trade.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Though he expressed displeasure Tuesday with his reduced role, reserve center Pau Gasol denied a report that he asked the Spurs to trade him.
Without citing a source, ESPN Deportes reported recently that Gasol requested a trade before last week’s deadline.
“What’s the source?” Gasol said of the story. “What’s the validity of that story? I don’t know. I didn’t request to be traded.”
Still, Gasol made clear that he yearns for a bigger role.
The 38-year-old six-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion has started only six times this season and played in 26 games. He entered Tuesday’s game averaging 12.5 minutes 4.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists, all career lows in a season in which he missed 26 games with a foot injury.
“I think people understand or can figure out that my situation is not what was expected for me,” Gasol said. “My only wish and desire is to be able to contribute to the team and be able to be on the floor and do what I am supposed to do and do what I signed here to do, and kind of live up to what I am paid for.
“I’m waiting and hoping that that will happen. I’m staying positive. But don’t believe everything that is out there.”
The Spurs have explored ways to rid themselves of what remains of the three-year, $48 million deal Gasol signed in summer 2017. He’s owed $16 million next season, but only $6.7 million of it is guaranteed.
There also have been reports Gasol is seeking a buyout to become a free agent and sign with another club before the March 1 deadline for playoff eligibility.
“There are a lot of rumors, a lot of stories,” Gasol said. “Who knows where that comes from? ... It didn’t come from me, so ask (where) that outlet found that information. Go ask them. I think that’s just fair. Or ask management, right?”
Despite all that, the 18th-year pro believes he can still contribute given the chance.
“I love this game,” Gasol said. “I love what I do. I work hard to be able to do what I do, and I want to continue to do it. I know I may not be in my prime, but I think I can still contribute at a very high level and be an important impact for my team and make my team better.”
Asked how he thinks Gasol has handled what has been a frustrating season, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, “I think he’s been great.”
Breaking barriers: For Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Black History Month is a time to reflect on what his father, Bernie Bickerstaff, had to overcome to be a head coach in the NBA.
“It’s an honor to be able to follow in his footsteps, understanding all the barriers he had to break,” the younger Bickerstaff said. “He wasn’t given a ton of opportunities. He was overlooked, passed over numerous times, and instead of becoming bitter, he just continued to work and take steps forward. And then you look at the people he brought along with him, the Mike Browns of the world — he gave opportunities to young black coaches that people just weren’t getting.
“Sometimes in that situation, people tend to say, ‘Well, I didn’t get a chance. Why would I give anybody else a chance?’ But he was so open to giving people opportunities because he knew the struggle that he went through.”
Bernie Bickersstaff spent 12 seasons as an assistant with the Washington Bullets before Lenny Wilkens hired him as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics in 1985.
“He was an assistant coach in the same place for 12 years under three head coaches (in the days) when you only had one assistant coach,” J.B. Bickerstaff said. “In that spot, he wasn’t given the opportunity to be a head coach. He was good enough, obviously … but not given the opportunity. The thought of having to outwork everybody and not just be able to be equal but having to be better no matter what it is in life, that’s the way we were raised. Not gonna be fair. (But) you can’t complain, you can’t cry. You just have to continue to work and prove your worth two times over.”