Retired Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson is eager to help his former team recruit free agents this summer. Pau Gasol, meanwhile, may stay in Los Angeles after all - the Lakers' reported asking price for the veteran has the Phoenix Suns thinking twice about making the trade.
The Lakers are a far cry from the championship-caliber team they once were. Wanting to see his former team contending for titles again, Johnson is more than willing to help general manager Mitch Kupchak recruit free agents in the summer.
"I've done that in the past," Johnson told the L.A. Times on Wednesday. "I told Mitch Kupchak that last week. First they have to make up their mind on who they want, and then they tell me, just like I recruited Ron Artest, I talked to Lamar Odom. ...
"I've been a lot of different things with the Lakers, but it's up to them - (owner Jim Buss), Mitch, Coach D'Antoni - to decide who they want. Once they make their decision, they say, 'Hey, Earvin, can you put in a call to so-and-so?'"
Gasol, who's been sidelined since Jan. 31 with a groin injury, could end up finishing the season as a Laker. Phoenix pulled away from trade discussions after feeling Los Angeles wanted too much for the 33-year-old veteran.
"The Phoenix Suns have stopped talks to acquire Pau Gasol because they feel the Lakers want too much for the veteran post player, according to a person familiar with the situation," Mike Bresnahan of The Times wrote on Tuesday.
Los Angeles is believed to want at least one first-round pick for Gasol. The Suns could have as many as four first-round picks in the upcoming draft.
Phoenix emerged earlier in the week as the top suitor for the Spaniard. ESPN initially reported on Tuesday the Suns wanted to wait and see how Gasol recovers from his groin injury.
