Joining the Lakers in free agency was the right thing to do



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Despite being drafted by the Lakers in 2007, Marc Gasol never had a chance to run for the Lakers as he was quickly traded to Memphis.

Now, 13 years later, Gasol is finally heading to Los Angeles for real.

Gasol signed a two-year, $ 5.3 million deal with the Lakers this offseason, after his two-year stint with the Toronto Raptors.

“It was hard. It was very difficult, ”Gasol said Wednesday via ESPN. “The first days [of free agency] were a bit difficult for me, but once you’ve decided, ‘OK, what [do] you want to do next? Or? How? ‘Or’ What [do] do you want to embark on your next challenge? I thought the right thing to do was go with the Lakers. “

Gasol averaged 7.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season with the Raptors, a season after helping lead them to the franchise’s first-ever NBA title.

While he could have stayed in Toronto and played a major role in their rotation, the 35-year-old opted instead to team up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Southern California.

“To have a chance to be part of a great team and to see how the coach [Frank Vogel] and the GM [Rob Pelinka] and everyone thought I could contribute to it, that meant a lot to me, “Gasol said via ESPN.” A team that just won a championship by presenting these ideas to you, and that for me was great.

Pau has no Lakers advice

Although Gasol has a lot of experience under his belt – he is preparing to start his 13th season in the league – he has the added benefit of having a brother who has spent much of his career with the Lakers.

Pau Gasol played for the Lakers from 2007 to 2014 and won two titles there in 2009 and 2010.

Although it is believed that Gasol’s older brother would have some advice for him ahead of his Los Angeles jump, he said the two had not spoken about it.

“He didn’t give me any advice,” Marc Gasol said of Pau, via ESPN. “They’re a completely different team than they are now. I don’t think there are any players left from then, and a whole different coaching staff, so it’s up to me to make it work. over all.”

Marc Gasol of the Toronto Raptors
Marc Gasol landed with the Lakers last week after a two-year stint with the Raptors. (AP / Matt Slocum)

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