Veteran power forward/center Pau Gasol will re-join the Portland Trail Blazers after being waived by the Western Conference team—but in a very different role. The 39-year-old will join Terry Stott's coaching staff following his return from Gasol's home country of Spain, per Blazers reporter Casey Holdahl on Twitter.
Terry Stotts said pregame that Pau Gasol is currently in Spain, but when he returns, he’ll join the coaching staff, which has been the plan since he was waived last week.
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) December 4, 2019
Gasol signed with Portland this past offseason as a free agent, inking a one-year, league minimum contract with the Blazers before finding himself waived last week. Gasol appeared to display positive emotions after being waived, calling it an opportunity to help him heal from a foot injury, which he expressed wasn't possible in his role with Portland.
Last that was heard from Gasol was the future Hall of Famer would attempt to play for Barcelona in the Spanish professional league.
Gasol’s goal is to remain in the NBA but Barcelona is ready to talk to the Spanish big man to understand if he is interested in returning to Europe to play and be ready for Tokyo 2020 when he will retire from International basketball.
Gasol was brought in as frontcourt depth for Portland with center Jusuf Nurkic fracturing his leg last March, which will sideline the Bosnian center until the new year.
A two-time NBA champion and six-time All-Star along with winning Rookie of the Year in 2002, Gasol's window of opportunity to keep playing professionally may be closing.
However, the Spanish great could start a new career by sitting on the bench as an assistant coach.
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