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Pau Gasol: Top 5 Free Agency Destinations

By Gerald Bourguet

March 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) moves to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) moves to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pau Gasol
Nov 22, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) drives against Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Golden State Warriors

The power forward Golden State really wants is in Minnesota, but since the Warriors still haven’t relented on their “off limits” stance on Klay Thompson, Kevin Love is staying put for the time being. In the meantime, Gasol represents one of the best options available for the stretch-4 position the Warriors have been coveting for awhile now.

Unfortunately, that just means the Warriors are getting caught up in the big name instead of realizing a guy like Channing Frye would suit them far better, especially since Gasol shot less than 40 percent on midrange shots last season. We saw what happened to Gasol’s game with Dwight Howard in LA, when the Spaniard was moved out of his comfort zone to the four spot. Andrew Bogut would probably make up for a lot of Gasol’s problems on the defensive end, but Gasol is most effective at the five spot offensively.

Gasol would also have to be willing to take a steep discount since the acquisition of Shaun Livingston has the Dubs hard capped at $81 million. Golden State would likely need a sign-and-trade using a $9.7 million trade exception to make Gasol a legitimate possibility, but there’s a chance the Lakers would be willing to take David Lee and his oversized contract in return. All in all, however, the Warriors would benefit far more from just trading Klay Thompson in a Kevin Love deal than they would trying to get Gasol to Golden State.

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