Andre Drummond signing with the Lakers during the 2020-21 season caused a rift between Marc Gasol and the Lakers.
When the Los Angeles Lakers signed free agent, Andre Drummond, in March of 2021, it did not sit right with then starting center Marc Gasol. Knowing it would send him to the bench and cut into his overall playing time, Gasol expressed his discontent to the media.
Although it looked as if Gasol and the Lakers were able to repair things with Gasol, finishing the season out and initially set to return for this upcoming season, the two parties were never able to move past the disconnect the Drummond signing created, according to NBC Sports.
How Andre Drummond affected Marc Gasol’s playing time
Prior to Drummond joining the team, Gasol started 38 of the 38 games he played, averaging19.8 minutes a game. After the signing, Gasol only saw action in 14 games, starting in four of them, playing 17.1 minutes a game.
In Los Angeles’ six-game playoff series with the Phoenix Suns, Gasol only played in the last five, starting the final game. He averaged 17.5 minutes over the five games.
Where this leaves the Lakers
Nearly six months after the Drummond signing, the Lakers are preparing to enter the 2021-22 season without Drummond or Gasol on the roster. Drummond signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Gasol was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, where they will work together on a release. Los Angeles will go with veterans Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan.