clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

The Lakers will reportedly sign Marc Gasol

The Lakers just added some depth at center by adding one of the top big men available in free agency: Marc Gasol

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Graphic via Kendrew Abueg / Silver Screen and Roll

After clearing space by salary dumping JaVale McGee on the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to terms on a deal that will see them bring in one of the best centers available in NBA free agency. According to multiple reports, Marc Gasol is going to follow in his older brother Pau’s footsteps and become a Laker:

The contract will be for two years, according to ESPN.

The Lakers first showed interest in Gasol — who they drafted in 2007 but traded the rights to before ever signing — on the first night of free agency after Dwight Howard left for the Philadelphia 76ers. They then began investigating ways to trade McGee to free up room to sign him, and within hours, they had found a deal that allowed them to bring the seven-foot Spaniard to Los Angeles.

Now that he’s in a Lakers uniform, Gasol can instantly provide some of the physicality the Lakers lost with Howard’s departure, and is a deft and creative passer that will help the Lakers with his offensive skills as well. Even if he is not what he once was on either end of the floor, he’s still, really, really good.

Gasol averaged 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per contest last season, all while shooting 38.5% from deep on 3.4 attempts per game. He hasn’t lost much on defense, either, as his defensive box plus-minus of +2.8 was the second-best of his career, and other advanced metrics still love him on both ends.

This is a great signing considering the Lakers’ current cap situation, a cheap addition that gets them a player who is a clear upgrade on McGee — and probably on Howard, too. This is yet another move that makes the Lakers better on paper in an offseason full of them, and another great get for Rob Pelinka as he gets his roster ready to defend its title.

This developing story will be updated with more information. For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow Harrison on Twitter at @hmfaigen.

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Silver Screen & Roll Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of Los Angeles Lakers news from Silver Screen & Roll