LA Lakers News And Rumors: No Contract Extension Discussions Yet With Pau Gasol

Kobe Bryant has already secured his future with the Los Angeles Lakers, but general manager Mitch Kupchak said on Tuesday that they have yet to talk to Pau Gasol about a possible contract extension.

"We have not had any discussions with Pau," Kupchak said in a conference call as reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN. "I'm sure I will and where that leads I'm not sure right now. A lot has to do with different variables. I'm not saying that something won't be considered and I'm not saying that something will be."

Gasol, who is averaging 14.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season, previously expressed his desire to stay with the Lakers, but he is also making himself ready if the Lakers decide to go into a different direction.

The 33-year-old forward/center is often called by Bryant as a "brother" but when asked if Bryant's extension means that the Lakers will automatically offer an extension to him, Gasol said that he does not want to speculate, saying that he is just focused on playing the best he can.

"I try not to make that assumption," Gasol said. "If I am, I will. If I'm not, I'm just focusing on trying to play as well as I can and finish the season as good as I can so I'm in the best position as possible for next year. That's just my mindset about it."

Bryant is set to take $23.5 million of the $62.9 salary cap space next offseason.

The Lakers could still sign Gasol and sign another superstar from the free agent market, but it could mean that Gasol would take a huge pay cut. And when asked if he is willing to take a pay cut just to stay with the Lakers, Gasol did not give a definite answer but said that there will come a point in which he needs to make sacrifices.

"Generally speaking, I guess we all at some point have to make sacrifices," Gasol said. "But we'll see. I don't know what my situation is going to be or the team interest going forward."