NBA Trade Rumors 2014: Could Pau Gasol Remain With LA Lakers Beyond Trade Deadline?

Pau Gasol is expected to become a subject of numerous NBA trade rumors in the next few weeks, but Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak hinted recently that the veteran forward could finish the season with the team.

Kupchak, who was asked about the upcoming trade deadline and free agency status of Gasol in an interview with NBA.com, said that he was impressed with the way Gasol is playing this season and he looks bound to stay with the Lakers -- at least for the remainder of the season.

"Pau is going to be a free agent this summer. He's playing at a high level right now, and there's no reason why he can't play at a high level and finish this season as a Laker," said Kupchak on Gasol, who is averaging 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this season.

Gasol will become a free agent after the current season and will have the option to sign with another team or stay in Los Angeles. Kupchak admitted that Gasol will be one of the most coveted free agents next summer, but he is still hoping that loyalty will be a factor when the 33-year-old center makes his decision in the offseason.

"We're going to have an option to extend him, and he's going to have options to move on to other teams," Kupchak said. "Years and money will probably be a factor, and I don't know how that will play out. I do know that he has tremendous loyalty to this city and this franchise, and I think if all things were constant, he'd love to continue to play here, and we'd love to have him here."

Gasol, whose name has floated in numerous trade talks in the past few seasons, was almost traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this month for Andrew Bynum. The Lakers and the Cavs engaged in deep talks about a potential trade, but they failed to strike a deal before the Cavaliers eventually traded Bynum to the Chicago Bulls for Luol Deng.

Last month, Gasol declined to talk about his free agency plans, but when forced to comment about a potential return to Memphis, the 13-year-veteran admitted that playing alongside his brother, Grizzlies star center Marc Gasol, is an opportunity that is too good to pass up.