Gasol on starting off bench when Drummond returns: I’ll stay ready, fully committed to the team

Marc Gasol had one of his best games for the Lakers in win against the Raptors.
The Spanish big man scored 13 points but when Andre Drummond will be back, he will take the starting role.

Per ESPN, “No, we’re going to start Andre. That’s what we signed him here for,” Vogel said. “We need to get [Drummond] a ton of minutes to get him acclimated to our system with only X amount of games before the playoffs, and he’ll be our starter. … [Gasol’s performance] doesn’t change that.”

Gasol, who initially balked at a role change, telling reporters last week that Drummond’s addition was “a hard pill to swallow,” was fully on board with the idea of making room for the buyout market addition after the Raptors game.

“I’ll stay ready. I’m going to tell you this: I’m fully committed to the team. I’ll stay ready when my number is called,” Gasol said. “I understand we have to get Andre acclimated to what we’re trying to do. We have to get back our two main guys — Bron [LeBron James] and AD [Anthony Davis] whenever they come back — and they have to get that group going and get some chemistry going with the first unit for them. I’ll be ready no matter what happens. No matter if it’s five minutes, 10 minutes, if it’s whatever position. If it’s some nights, I might not play. But I’ll stay ready, no matter what. I made that commitment.

“It’s been a process for me to reassess this situation a little bit, but like I said, I’m fully committed to this team. So, whatever is thrown at me, I’ll be ready.”