Pau Gasol has been hearing potential trade rumors about himself for the past couple of seasons, the forward could have every right to feel unwanted by the Los Angeles Lakers the way things have panned out so far but another Spaniard, Ricky Rubio, told reporters that if the Lakers decide to trade away his national teammate, he wants Gasol on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"[Gasol] proved to the league he is one of the best," Rubio said. "He can pass. He can shoot. He can rebound. He can do a lot of things. I think if you use him in the right way, he is a top player in this league. If they don't want him, we are more than welcome to get him.

"It's been the last two years that it seems like they don't want him, but actually they need him, he's a great player. He can do a lot of things and he had some issues with the knees too. It's been a lot of years without resting for him. But he's a veteran. He knows how to play."

Gasol has been vocal with his displeasure at being benched consistently by Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni in the fourth quarters of games, leading many to wonder if the coach has any use for the versatile Gasol within his system.

Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn, USA TODAY Sports