Kobe Bryant welcomes Howard, says Lakers 'locked and loaded'
Peterson allowed to keep IBF title; mandated to fight Judah

Gasol welcomes Howard, happy he's not traded

By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY

With Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol's name mentioned in so many trade talks, Gasol wasn't sure if he would be involved in the deal that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers.

"For a while, I've been able to block it out," he said after Spain defeated Russia Friday and advanced to Sunday's gold-medal game.

But with Kobe Bryant in London playing for the U.S., Gasol had a talk with his friend and teammate.

"We knew yesterday the rumor came out, and I might have also been involved in it," Gasol said. "I talked to Kobe and he knew more things than I did. It was relieving to talk to him because he had good insight.

"I'm anxious and excited to be back with our team fully committed, fully focused and just working extremely hard and helping our team as much as I can."

Bryant has said Gasol will remain a Laker as long as he has a say in it, and Gasol is happy he isn't leaving the Lakers.

"There's a lot of emotions nowadays because I'm playing in the Olympics, being in this moment with my team and then obviously exciting news from back home, back in L.A," he said. "It's a lot going on, but I'm excited about how things are looking.

"It's been hard for to block it out completely because I like to be concentrated and focused 100% on what I'm doing and going through with my national team," Gasol said. "Obviously this came out. It's something that puts us in position of being a truly powerful team and a team with all the chances to go for the ring."

Kobe Bryant welcomes Howard, says Lakers 'locked and loaded'
Peterson allowed to keep IBF title; mandated to fight Judah