Portland signed Pau Gasol to a one-year contract this summer, hoping the aging Spaniard could help the team stay afloat while Jusuf Nurkic recovers from surgery on his leg.
It didn’t work out that way. Gasol suffered a foot injury that required surgery and he has yet to recover enough to get back on the court. Meanwhile, an injury to Zach Collins left Portland even more shorthanded up front. Wednesday, the Trail Blazers waived Gasol, something the player confirmed.
As of today, I will no longer be a member of the @TrailBlazers player roster, so I can focus all my energy on my rehabilitation. 📹💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/JlXWJ73B23
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) November 20, 2019
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN broke the news and had more details.
Portland has waived F/C Pau Gasol, per Gasol. He’s been unable to successfully rehab left foot following surgery. Blazers had protections in 1-year deal. Gasol, Blazers working on details of coaching role as future HOFer remains in Portland to rehab.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 20, 2019
Is this the end of Gasol’s Hall of Fame career? He’s 39 years old, and last season with the Bucks he looked like a shell of the All-NBA big man who joined forces with Kobe Bryant to win the Lakers a couple of titles. Injuries limited him to 30 games last season, he doesn’t move like he once did, and he averaged a career-low 3.9 points per game.
If so, one of the good guys of the NBA will be missed.
If not, if he can get healthy, some teams certainly would be interested in having him for depth and his locker room presence during a playoff run.