NBA Trade Rumors 2013: Los Angeles Lakers Likely To Trade Pau Gasol, Steve Nash in Pursuit of Point Guard of Future: Report

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly trying to make substantial trades, and Pau Gasol is far from untouchable from these negotiations before the start of the 2013-14 NBA season, a source close to situation reported on Tuesday.

The Lakers are expected to be an aggressive team on the trading floor this year, and Gasol will be in the forefront of every trade rumor from now on.

Gasol, who is expected to assume his old role as the man in the middle for the Lakers following the departure of Dwight Howard to the Houston Rockets last summer, is viewed as the centerpiece of a trade that could give the purple-and-gold their replacement for Steve Nash.

According to Bret Poirier of Sheridan Hoops, the Lakers are looking for a trade partner that would help them unload some contracts and gain assets, whether these would be in the form of draft picks or a young player with great upside.

"One Eastern Conference executive told FOX Sports Ohio he's heard from the Lakers recently, and word around the league is they may try to make a "substantial" trade before the regular season. Apparently, forward Pau Gasol remains far from untouchable," according to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.

Amico added the Lakers front office is trying to land a young point guard that would steer the ship for them in future campaigns. In short, even Steve Nash can be traded. With his production declining every season, trading the 40-year former MVP could be another option for the rebuilding Lakers team.

Gasol's name has been on the trading block since the Lakers' failed attempt to get Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets a couple of years ago. However, the Lakers continued to lean on the 7-foot Spaniard, who helped the franchise win its last two championships in 2010 and 2011.

Gasol, who will earn $19.3 million this season, has already said that he's unwilling to take a paycut just to stay with the Lakers. This alone might be the reason why Gasol is far from being untouchable from trade negotiations.

However, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported that the Lakers have no plans on trading Gasol and they even consider the big man a very important part of the team's campaign this season.

"Lakers insist @paugasol is still very much their guy for this year. See him as a key for them this year," Shelburne posted on her Twitter account.

Yet anything can happen as the season approaches. In the blink of an eye, teams can make bold moves that quickly change the NBA landscape.