Pau Gasol says contract talks haven’t started yet

Pau Gasol is interviewed by former Laker and current NBA TV reporter Rick Fox.Pau Gasol is interviewed by former Laker and current NBA TV reporter Rick Fox.The Los Angeles Lakers held a media day at their El Segundo practice facility. Players were photographed for team materials, and interviewed by the press. El Segundo, CA. 9/27/2013. photo by (John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News)

Pau Gasol is interviewed by former Laker and current NBA TV reporter Rick Fox.Pau Gasol is interviewed by former Laker and current NBA TV reporter Rick Fox.The Los Angeles Lakers held a media day at their El Segundo practice facility. Players were photographed for team materials, and interviewed by the press. El Segundo, CA. 9/27/2013. photo by (John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News)

Pau Gasol survived yet another season where the Lakers didn’t trade him, but uncertainties still remain.

Those go beyond Gasol’s health after spending this offseason recovering from a knee procedure that entailed reducing the pain in his tendons. After the nixed Chris Paul deal two years ago opened up a floodgate of Gasol offers that the Lakers have rejected, will they want to keep him once his $19 million contract expires after this season?

Not that it’s surprising. But Gasol admitted that the Lakers haven’t begun any formal talks with his agent, Arn Tellum, on a possible extension.

“At some point, if the team is interested, they will approach me and there will be some meeting,” Gasol said. “But I’m not sure when or how. I’m sure it will depend how I perform during the season. The better I perform, the more interested they will be to sign me.”

The Lakers haven’t started negotiating either with Kobe Bryant’s representatives despite the Lakers’ star having one year left on his contract worth $30.45 million. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak conceded the delay partly reflects a mutual logic that Bryant’s value will have more clarity once they see how he performs once he fully heals from his surgically repaired left tendon. As for Gasol, Kupchak envisions him earning his fifth NBA All-Star appearance because of improved health and Dwight Howard’s departure will give the Lakers forward a larger role.

Last season, Gasol played mostly as a facilitator and missed a combined 33 games because of various ailments, two factors that played into averaging a career-low 13.7 points on 46.6 percent shooting.

“You don’t really think about it. But it’s a reality and factor to keep in mind,” Gasol said. Guys are going to go all out. That’s the positive part about it. There’s no security for next season. There’s an uncertainty. But you’re in a position to give it your best and give it your all and earn your next paycheck.”

It’s likely Gasol would have to take a relative paycut because of the Lakers’ hope to retain financial flexibility to attract possible big-name free agents, including LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. But the Lakers have more resources after Howard passed up a five-year offer worth $118 million to play with them.

Before his departure, the Lakers put up billboards around various Los Angeles landmarks pleading him to stay. At the time, Gasol jokingly told the Spanish media he hopes the Lakers would unveil a similar campaign for him.

“I was messing them a little bit,” Gasol said. “I don’t expect that or need that at all.”

Instead, Gasol simply needs to play the same way that helped the Lakers to two NBA titles and three consecutive NBA Finals appearances. Otherwise, this might mark his last season with the Lakers. Then again, many predicted the same thing regarding Gasol’s fate the last two years.

“I don’t look at it as the last ride. But you never know,” Gasol said. “That’s why you have to fully commit to the present and to the season and make the best out of it and see what comes out.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com