Gasol wants to stay with Lakers

Spanish forward Pau Gasol, who has been linked with a move to the Minnesota Timberwolves, said he wants to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers for “as many years as I can”.

The Timberwolves have reportedly been strongly pursuing Gasol to pair with Barcelona guard Ricky Rubio, who will play for the NBA side next season.

“My desire is to stay with the Lakers. I don’t have control over it but I want to stay with the Lakers for as many years as I can to be able to remain eligible for the maximum possible championships,” Gasol told reporters in the northeastern city of Alicante.

The reports linking Gasol to a move to the Tiberwolves came after the Dallas Mavericks swept the Lakers 4-0 in the conference semi-finals of the NBA play-offs.