NBA free agency: 5 teams for Pau Gasol
By John Buhler
Pau Gasol declined his option with the Chicago Bulls for the 2016-17 NBA season, thus making him a free agent. Here are five new teams he should consider.
Certain Basketball Hall of Famer two-time NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and most recently with the Chicago Bulls power forward/center Pau Gasol has done what was expected out of him and has opted out of his contract with the Bulls to become an unrestricted free agent.
Chicago seems poised for a rebuilding effort and already has a massive logjam in the front court should Gasol and fellow free agent big man Joakim Noah return in 2016-17. They won’t, as Chicago head coach Fred Hoiberg already has Nikola Mirotic, Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis, and
Brook
Robin Lopez.
Gasol is in the twilight of his soon-to-be Hall of Fame career. He’s starred with all three NBA franchises he has played for from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Lakers and the Bulls. However, Gasol can still be an effective front court player for a championship caliber team in 2016-17.
He’s not able to be the second best player on one of those teams aspiring for an NBA Championship, but could find a role with a strong team as its third or fourth-best option. Entering 2016 NBA free agency, here are five different teams besides Chicago that it would be wise for Gasol to consider.
Next: 5. San Antonio Spurs.