EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP)—Pau Gasol felt simultaneously hurt and hopeful Saturday as he left the Los Angeles Lakers’ training complex for maybe the final time—or maybe just the final time until Sunday.

Although Gasol has no idea whether his first practice of training camp will be his last with the Lakers, he’s still hoping something will happen to keep him with the club that seems determined to trade him.

“It’s not been easy,” Gasol said. “Mentally and emotionally, it’s a hard situation to deal with because the situation is out of your control. Even knowing that, it’s still hard.”

The four-time All-Star is the centerpiece of the Lakers’ pursuit of Chris Paul, New Orleans’ superstar point guard. The NBA stunningly rejected a megatrade on Thursday that would have sent Gasol to Houston and Lamar Odom to the Hornets, yet the three teams went back into negotiations a day later in hopes of salvaging the deal—and sending Gasol and Odom away from their beloved club just when they thought they had a reprieve.

“If the NBA hadn’t stopped it, I would be gone,” Gasol said. “I wouldn’t be here. It’s tough to keep your balance. At the same time, I’m happy it hasn’t happened, because my heart is here, my mind is here. I want to be here. That’s the reality. I heard it was back on the table again. Everything is possible again.”

Odom didn’t report to practice at the Lakers’ training complex on Saturday, instead getting a physical elsewhere. Gasol showed up and worked out with his longtime teammates at what’s turning into an awfully awkward training camp for new coach Mike Brown.

So why would a player with Gasol’s accomplishments and pedigree stick by a team that apparently doesn’t want him? Just in case the deal can’t be completed, Gasol wants to learn about Brown’s new tactics while forming a bond with teammates who might be his opponents this season.

“Because I love to. This is what I love to do,” Gasol said. “I’ve been through so much here. We won two championships in 3 1/2 seasons. I was looking forward to winning another one, making another run. I love practicing with my teammates. It was hard for me to sit down with my quad, just watching and sitting. Today I wanted to try it, and I was able to go and practice without too much soreness.”- http://sports.yahoo.com