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The Portland Trail Blazers have waived injured big man Pau Gasol, it was announced today via Gasol’s Instagram. Gasol plans to focus on recovering from surgery he had on his left foot last March to repair a stress fracture.
In the video Gasol released on Instagram, he said that protections were put in his contract so Portland would have flexibility to move on if his recovery didn’t progress.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Gasol and the Blazers are working out a possible coaching role for the 18-year veteran while he rehabs.
Update 1: Jason Quick of The Athletic says the Blazers will not add an additional player “for the time being.”
Source: For the time being, Blazers will carry 14 players, meaning no signing is imminent in wake of Pau Gasol being waived.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) November 20, 2019
Update 2: ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes that the Blazers had an Exhibit 3-Prior Injury Exclusion protection in Gasol’s contract that covered both his left ankle and foot.