Lakers’ Pau Gasol to have procedure on knees

Pau Gasol will undergo a minimally invasive procedure Thursday to try to combat tendinitis in his knees.

Gasol sat out eight Lakers games this season because of tendon soreness in both knees. The procedure is called Fasciotomy and Surgical Tenotomy (FAST) and is an effort to eliminate scar tissue by inserting into each knee a probe that emits ultrasonic energy. Healthy tendon tissue is not disturbed in the procedure.

A timetable will be released Thursday for Gasol, who has one more season and $19.3 million remaining on his contract. Steven Yoon of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Group will perform the procedure.

Gasol, who turns 33 in July, sat out 33 games this season, including 20 because of a torn plantar fascia in his right foot and five because of a concussion.

Gasol is one of many Lakers to have consulted doctors in recent weeks.

Dwight Howard was told he would not need surgery despite a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Antawn Jamison, who is not expected back with the Lakers, underwent surgery on his right wrist last week.

Kobe Bryant had surgery April 13 for a torn left Achilles’ tendon and posted a picture Tuesday on Twitter in which he proclaimed “Foot on the ground!”, a reference to being able to put some weight on it. He is not expected to return until at least October, and possibly as late as January.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

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