December 24, 2009
NBA- Lakers signed Gasol for a 3 year Contract Extension
By Audrey Nolan
The Los Angeles Lakers officially announced this Wednesday that they have signed Spanish forward Pau Gasol to a three year contract extension worth $57 million and can be up to $64.5 million. He will earn $18,714,150 in 2011-12, $19,000,000 in 2012-13 and $19,285,850 in 2013-14 plus he will earn $16.4 million this season and $17.8 next season.
This agreement has not taken anyone by surprise since the Spaniard has expressed many times that he wanted to stay and play with the Lakers in his future. He feels very happy with the team and staff and is grateful of the opportunities he has been given these two years with the team.
With two years to go in his initial contract, the Lakers decided to offer Gasol the extension right now since he has become a very valued player.
"With the way we play, with the players we have on our team, I can't imagine a big man who would be better to play for this team than Pau," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said.
Gasol has stated that he has a tremendous peace of mind. What he has to do now is work hard with the team make the Lakers one of the best teams in the league.
Gasol had a very difficult start in his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies and was traded in 2008. Since then he has played in two different finals with the Lakers. Gasol came as a breath of fresh air for the Lakers giving the team the balance that they needed.
His skills and abilities as a solid low-post defender and a dependable No. 2 scoring option alongside Bryant have converted him in a necessary player in all aspects. The duplet that he makes with Kobe Bryant has given him a starting position in the team. He has a tremendous chemistry with Kobe and the rest of the team, a trait that sometimes is very difficult to find.
Despite missing the first 11 games of the season with the Lakers due to a right hamstring injury, the Lakers are 15-1 since he is back.
Gasol has also led the Spanish national team to a FIBA world championship and the European title of this year. On both tournaments he was honored with the MVP title.
Gasol also stated that he feels much more mature since he is playing with the Lakers and that he prefers the Los Angeles lifestyle since it is more like Barcelona, his home town rather than Memphis his last NBA team.
The Los Angeles team is finalizing some other contract extension with their players, including Kobe Bryant whose extension –rumor has it- is valued in $80 million. Center Andrew Bynum is signed through 2012 with a club option for the following season, while Gasol, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest all agreed to extensions or new contracts in the last few months.
About the Author
Audrey Nolan is a top senior copy writer on NBA games and sports action for the online sports betting site: http://www.instantactionsports.com
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