NBA trades 2021: LA Lakers trade Marc Gasol for Chinese star Wang Zhelin

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Wang Zhelin joins LA Lakers in an interesting deal

It has recently been announced that the Los Angeles Lakers have signed a deal for the Chinese star Wang Zhelin.

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Wang Zhelin (NewsCN)

The 17 times NBA Champions have got Zhelin by trading Marc Gasol and a future second round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies. Moreover, some cash considerations are also part of the deal. No further details have been revealed as of yet about the cash considerations.

Marc Gasol had an average season last year for the LA Lakers. He started in 42 games and appeared in 52 games total in which he averaged 5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks.

This is also the second time Gasol has been traded by the Lakers to the Grizzlies

Who is Wang Zhelin?

Zhelin is a 27 year old Chinese international basketball player. He drafted in the second round as the Memphis Grizzlies’ 57th pick of 2016.

Upon being drafted he was not called up by the Grizzlies and he returned to China to play for Fujian Sturgeons of the CBA. Zhelin is one of the most promising talents to come out of China.

Zhelin won the CBA Rookie of the year award in 2013 and he was also the CBA Domestic MVP 2019. He also has two gold medals while playing for China. One at FIBA Asian Championship 2015 and also one at the Asian games 2018.

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Zhelin for China (Getty)

He has yet to make an appearance in the NBA. With LA Lakers getting his draft rights it will be interesting to see whether he makes an appearance or Lakers also send him back to China to improve.

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