Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Trade Rumors: Best Options for Available Pau Gasol

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward center Pau Gasol (16) warms up before the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward center Pau Gasol (16) warms up before the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 11
Next

The Chicago Bulls have reportedly made Pau Gasol available in trade talks. Where would be best spot for the two-time NBA champion to land?

Nov 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward center Pau Gasol (16) warms up before the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward center Pau Gasol (16) warms up before the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

In 2014-15, Pau Gasol resurrected his career as the interior anchor of the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 blocks in 78 games played, thus leading to an All-Star Game appearance and an All-NBA Second Team nod.

That doesn’t appear to have secured him much job security.

Gasol struggled out of the gates in 2015-16, but has since turned it around and returned to his productive ways. After leading the league in double-doubles a season ago, he’s up to 14 in 25 games with a ranking of No. 5 in rebounds per game.

According to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, that resurgence has resulted in the Bulls taking calls from teams interested in trading for Gasol.

"Gasol has a player option at the end of this season, and there continues to be more whispers that he’s done with the Bulls experiment, while Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Brooks each come off the books when this season comes to an end. The likes of Gibson, Noah and Gasol might not even see the end of their current contracts, as several sources indicated that the Bulls are taking calls on all three players as the trade deadline draws near."

Gasol’s appeal is quite obvious.

Gasol is a two-time NBA champion with four All-NBA appearances and five All-Star Game selections. There are reasonable concerns about his age, 35, but he’s currently averaging 15.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.2 blocks on 45.2 percent shooting from the field.

The question is, which teams would best fit Gasol as he pursues a third NBA championship?

Next: Unpopular Option

Home/NBA Rumors