Gasol did acknowledge to ESPN.com that he has received a level of clarification about his status from Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak since Bryant's speech ... but wouldn't describe it as any stronger than "some" indication of L.A.'s plans for him. Sources say that the Houston Rockets remain adamant that they won't surrender Kyle Lowry for Gasol, no matter how much they like the big man, but it's likewise still true that L.A. lusts for an elite point guard to pair with Bryant and has made it known around the league that it's willing to surrender Gasol to get one.
"There's no guarantees still," Gasol said. "The Lakers' [recent public] statement said it pretty clearly. There's no guarantees."
Asked how much he's looking forward to March 16, Gasol said: "When that day comes along and nothing happens, I know for sure I'll have the security that I will be here at least for this season. After that? Who knows? Obviously it'll be an important day in order just to put everything behind me for another month or two or three."
Which is to say that Gasol is well aware he'll be subjected to renewed speculation about being shopped even if he's still a Laker two weeks from now. After his near-trade to Houston in the collapsed three-team deal from December that nearly brought Chris Paul to the Lakers, it's inevitable that he'll be at the heart of every significant Lakers trade rumor from here.
Say this for him, though. Amid all the tension in Lakerland that Bryant was trying to short-circuit with his public show of support for his teammate, Gasol averaged 18 points and 12.2 boards in February.
