Chicago Bulls Rumors: Pau Gasol will not be acquired via sign-and-trade
By Josh Hill
The Chicago Bulls are nearing a deal with free agent forward Pau Gasol but he won’t be acquired through the means that have been reported earlier.
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According to Brian Windhorst from ESPN.com, the Chicago Bulls will indeed be acquiring Pau Gasol but it just won’t be through the route of a sign-and-trade like has been reported all afternoon.
Bulls in the process of finalizing a free agent deal with Pau Gasol. Will not be a sign-and-trade with Lakers, sources told ESPN.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 12, 2014
Sam Amick from USA Today confirms that the Bulls are on the verge of acquiring Gasol but isn’t positive about the means of the acquisition.
Bulls are indeed close to landing Pau Gasol, but unclear on my end how it'll get done. @WindhorstESPN says no S&T - http://t.co/3j2lC5UTvC
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 12, 2014
@WindhorstESPN reporting Gasol deal, which is imminent, won't be S&T. That of course limits what else Bulls can do.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) July 12, 2014
The Bulls will indeed be limited to what they can do if a sign-and-trade doesn’t ship assets or salary away from Chicago but it’s not the end of the world if they just sign Gasol straight off the open market.
Gasol coming to the Bulls is something that has already polarized fans, as it has the chnace of being an excellent signing or one that pans out like the ones with Carlos Boozer or Rip Hamilton. Either way, Gasol appears on his way to the Bulls but not by way of a sign-and-trade.