Pau Gasol's Playing Career All But Over Due to Foot Injury But Could Assume Blazers Coaching Role

Remember how bad the Lakers were between Shaq's departure in summer 2004 and their return to the NBA Finals four years later? Yeah, it's not like they were begging for relegation to the G League, but compared to the typical Phil Jackson standard, things were rough. And while you may be tempted to credit their 2007-08 turnaround and subsquent back-to-back titles to Kobe Bryant, there's one moment in particular that really started the resurgence: their trade for Pau Gasol.

Unfortunately, Pau is old now. Like, really old, to the point that his injured foot just isn't healing very fast. With that in mind, it appears that his playing days are effectively over. As of today, he's no longer a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.

It won't quite feel the same knowing that Pau won't be putting up numbers on both ends of the floor for contending teams anymore, but the time has clearly come, at age 39, to hang 'em up.

Fortunately, per Woj, his next gig is already lined up.

Coach Pau? That's got a ring to it. And Hassan Whiteside could use someone locked onto him all the time, constantly reminding him what defense is.

For his career, Gasol has made six All-Star teams and four All-NBA teams, won two championship rings, and averaged 17 points and 9.2 rebounds. He's third among all active players in win shares. He has three Olympic medals with Spain. The dude is going to the Hall of Fame.

And Terry Stotts and Co. sound like they're about to score themselves a coup by installing him on their bench.