Editing Pau Gasol (section)

==== 2011–2014: Failed trade and final years with Lakers ====
During the [[2011–12 NBA season]], Gasol and teammate [[Lamar Odom]] were subjected to trade rumors involving former [[New Orleans Hornets]] guard [[Chris Paul]]. After the trade fell through, Gasol vowed that it would not affect the way he played. Odom, on the other hand, was angry at the Lakers and was traded to the 2010–11 NBA champion [[Dallas Mavericks]] for a future first round pick. After Lakers co-[[captain (sports)|captain]] [[Derek Fisher]] was traded in March 2012, Gasol joined Bryant as co-captains of the team.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Deveney |first=Sean |date=March 20, 2012 |title=Pau Gasol says he's ready to take co-captain mantle from departed Derek Fisher |work=SportingNews.com |url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-03-20/lakers-news-pau-gasol-derek-fisher-kobe-bryant-co-captain-mike-brown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706055421/http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-03-20/lakers-news-pau-gasol-derek-fisher-kobe-bryant-co-captain-mike-brown |archive-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> He won the 2011–12 seasonlong [[NBA Community Assist Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pau Gasol Awarded NBA's Season Long Community Assist Award |url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/120604_pau-community-assist |access-date=March 3, 2014 |website=Los Angeles Lakers |archive-date=June 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606060127/http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/120604_pau-community-assist |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Lakers vs Nuggets 2013-01-06 (22).JPG|thumb|left|Gasol in 2013 came off the bench after starting 345 games for the Lakers.]]
After a 1–4 start to the [[2012–13 Los Angeles Lakers season|2012–13 season]], the Lakers replaced head coach [[Mike Brown (basketball, born 1970)|Mike Brown]] with [[Mike D'Antoni]]. Gasol was struggling after seven games under D'Antoni, averaging 10.1 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 38.8 percent, and he was benched in the fourth quarter in multiple games.<ref name="golliver">{{Cite news |last=Golliver |first=Ben |date=December 4, 2012 |title=Lakers reportedly tell Gasol to adjust to D'Antoni's system or face trade |work=SI.com |url=http://nba.si.com/2012/12/04/pau-gasol-trade-talks-los-angeles-lakers-mitch-kupchak/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205230834/http://nba.si.com/2012/12/04/pau-gasol-trade-talks-los-angeles-lakers-mitch-kupchak/ |archive-date=December 5, 2012}}</ref><ref name=mcmenamin_12042012/> The team had difficulties getting Gasol involved in D'Antoni's offense, which historically had not had post players playing forward.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shelburne |first=Ramona |date=November 24, 2012 |title=Mike D'Antoni looks at offense |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8672356/mike-dantoni-los-angeles-lakers-coach-hopes-get-pau-gasol-dwight-howard-involved |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125054454/http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8672356/mike-dantoni-los-angeles-lakers-coach-hopes-get-pau-gasol-dwight-howard-involved |archive-date=November 25, 2012}}</ref> Gasol ranked only 27th in the league in [[post up|post-up]] points with 2.7 per game, down from prior seasons when he was fifth in 2010–11 and ninth in 2011–12.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shelburne |first=Ramona |date=December 10, 2012 |title=Lakers, Gasol still searching for fit |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8732931/the-los-angeles-lakers-pau-gasol-looking-right-fit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211174826/http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8732931/the-los-angeles-lakers-pau-gasol-looking-right-fit |archive-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> On November 18, 2012, in a win against the Houston Rockets, Gasol scored his 15,000th career point. Bothered by [[tendinitis]] in both knees since training camp, Gasol sat out eight games in December before returning to the starting lineup.<ref name="mcmenamin_12042012">{{Cite news |last=McMenamin |first=Dave |date=December 4, 2012 |title=Lakers F Pau Gasol out Tuesday |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8709159/pau-gasol-los-angeles-lakers-tuesday-houston-rockets-tendinitis-knees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204222654/http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8709159/pau-gasol-los-angeles-lakers-tuesday-houston-rockets-tendinitis-knees |archive-date=December 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bolch |first=Ben |date=December 18, 2012 |title=Lakers hang on to edge Bobcats, 101–100 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-bobcats-20121219,0,3084796.story |access-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219121405/http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-bobcats-20121219,0,3084796.story |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shelburne |first=Ramona |date=December 18, 2012 |title=Pau Gasol to start vs. Bobcats |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8759524/pau-gasol-los-angeles-lakers-forward-start-charlotte-bobcats |access-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218225843/http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8759524/pau-gasol-los-angeles-lakers-forward-start-charlotte-bobcats |url-status=live }}</ref> Later, he was diagnosed with [[plantar fasciitis]], but continued playing.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pincus |first=Eric |date=December 27, 2012 |title=Pau Gasol diagnosed with plantar fasciitis |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-xpm-2012-dec-27-la-sp-ln-pau-gasol-diagnosed-plantar-fasciitis-20121227-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514213433/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/27/sports/la-sp-ln-pau-gasol-diagnosed-plantar-fasciitis-20121227 |archive-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Elliot |first=Helene |date=December 28, 2012 |title=Pau Gasol shows his versatility in Laker win over Portland |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-dec-28-la-sp-elliott-lakers-20121229-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130233658/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/28/sports/la-sp-elliott-lakers-20121229 |archive-date=January 30, 2013}}</ref> General manager [[Mitch Kupchak]] told Lakers season-ticket holders the team needed Gasol to be more involved.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pincus |first=Eric |date=January 6, 2013 |title=GM Mitch Kupchak tells fans he's disappointed in team |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-fyi-20130107,0,4833654.story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107182545/http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-fyi-20130107,0,4833654.story |archive-date=January 7, 2013}}</ref> On January 7, 2013, Gasol received a blow to the face from Denver's [[JaVale McGee]] in the fourth quarter of a 112–105 loss. He suffered a concussion, forcing him to miss the next five games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McMenamin |first=Dave |date=January 7, 2013 |title=Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol out |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8821787/injured-los-angeles-lakers-dwight-howard-pau-gasol-indefinitely |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107235054/http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8821787/injured-los-angeles-lakers-dwight-howard-pau-gasol-indefinitely |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="mcmenamin_01182013">{{Cite news |last=McMenamin |first=Dave |date=January 18, 2013 |title=Pau Gasol may come off bench |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8858553/mike-dantoni-los-angeles-lakers-considers-bringing-pau-gasol-bench |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119070235/http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8858553/mike-dantoni-los-angeles-lakers-considers-bringing-pau-gasol-bench |archive-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref> In his first game back, he came off the bench after having started his first 345 games with the Lakers.<ref name=mcmenamin_01182013/> In the next game, he returned to the starting lineup and scored 25 points against Toronto, only his second 20-point game of the season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McMenamin |first=Dave |date=January 21, 2013 |title=Gasol gets his touches, and Kobe's happy |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/35519/gasol-gets-his-touches-and-kobes-happy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122223038/http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/35519/gasol-gets-his-touches-and-kobes-happy |archive-date=January 22, 2013}}</ref> However, in the next game on January 21, D'Antoni moved Gasol to a reserve role and started [[Earl Clark]], a change the coach considered permanent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McMenamin |first=Dave |date=January 22, 2013 |title=Pau Gasol to be reserve for Lakers |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8867466/pau-gasol-los-angeles-lakers-come-bench |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122171117/http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8867466/pau-gasol-los-angeles-lakers-come-bench |archive-date=January 22, 2013}}</ref> On February 5 against the [[Brooklyn Nets]], Gasol tore the [[plantar fascia]] of his right foot. Gasol had tweaked the fascia in the first half, but played through the soreness until he felt it pop when he tried to block a shot by [[Brook Lopez]] towards the end of the game.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 6, 2013 |title=Pau Gasol has tear in plantar fascia |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8923175/pau-gasol-los-angeles-lakers-tear-plantar-fascia-right-foot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206234624/http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8923175/pau-gasol-los-angeles-lakers-tear-plantar-fascia-right-foot |archive-date=February 6, 2013}}</ref> He returned over six weeks later on March 22 after missing 20 games, with D'Antoni returning him to the starting lineup over Clark.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pincus |first=Eric |date=March 23, 2013 |title=Trevor Ariza bests his former teammate Kobe Bryant |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-ariza-bests-former-teammate-kobe-20130323,0,1184038.story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328095557/http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-ariza-bests-former-teammate-kobe-20130323,0,1184038.story |archive-date=March 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name="trudell_04102013">{{Cite news |last=Trudell |first=Mike |date=April 10, 2013 |title=Gasol Returning To Form |work=Lakers.com |url=http://blog.lakers.com/lakers/2013/04/10/gasol-returning-to-form/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413125039/http://blog.lakers.com/lakers/2013/04/10/gasol-returning-to-form/ |archive-date=April 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pincus |first=Eric |date=March 20, 2013 |title=Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol 'hopefully' to play Friday |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2013-mar-20-la-sp-lakers-fyi-20130321-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401060859/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/mar/20/sports/la-sp-lakers-fyi-20130321 |archive-date=April 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pincus |first=Eric |date=March 26, 2013 |title=Reintegrating Pau Gasol has made the Lakers vulnerable |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-pau-gasol-lakers-20130326,0,2116793.story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331041321/http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-pau-gasol-lakers-20130326,0,2116793.story |archive-date=March 31, 2013}}</ref> After a two-game adjustment period, Gasol's play was solid, and Bryant insisted that Gasol receive the ball in the post.<ref name=trudell_04102013/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rohlin |first=Melissa |date=April 10, 2013 |title=Kobe Bryant makes Lakers give it to Pau Gasol |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2013-apr-10-la-sp-0411-lakers-web-20130411-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412172126/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/10/sports/la-sp-0411-lakers-web-20130411 |archive-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref> D'Antoni stated that Gasol had played well since January, and attributed the forward's earlier struggles to injuries and the team's evolving offensive system. "I have a lot more confidence in him now, and he's playing great", D'Antoni said.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nowell |first=Danny |date=April 11, 2013 |title=Lakers Majoring In Drama For This Playoff Push |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/dailydime |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329020122/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime |archive-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> He finished the season with career lows in points (13.7) and field-goal percentage (.466), and his rebounds (8.6) were his lowest since his first season with Los Angeles. He was limited to a career-low 49 games.<ref name=bolch_04282013/> However, he had three triple-doubles in his last seven games including the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McMenamin |first=Dave |date=January 4, 2014 |title=D'Antoni leans on Pau Gasol |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/38428/dantoni-leans-on-pau-gasol |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105043839/http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/38428/dantoni-leans-on-pau-gasol |archive-date=January 5, 2014}}</ref>

Gasol was owed $19.3 million in [[2013–14 Los Angeles Lakers season|2013–14]] in the final year of his contract, which cost the Lakers around $50 million including [[Luxury tax (sports)|luxury taxes]].<ref name="bolch_04282013">{{Cite news |last=Bolch |first=Ben |date=April 28, 2013 |title=Lakers' Pau Gasol is steady as he goes ... away? |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2013-apr-28-la-sp-bolch-lakers-20130429-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503223552/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/28/sports/la-sp-bolch-lakers-20130429 |archive-date=May 3, 2013}}</ref> He became a free agent after the season.