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NBA Free Agency: Top 5 significant free agent signings

By Jeff Weisinger

Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) handles the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first quarter in game five of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) handles the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first quarter in game five of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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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 /

3. Pau Gasol
This time, he won’t have Kobe and, if recent history say anything, possibly not the other star player on his new team as well.

Gasol, 34, will be a part of a sign-and-trade deal that will send him to the Chicago Bulls, (possibly) pairing his with Derrick Rose in the Windy City.


Gasol’s deal via the sign-and-trade will give him $10 million a year, however if it doesn’t come together, the Bulls plan to sign him with a salary starting around $6.5 million per year. The Bulls plan to make salary-cap room for Gasol by trading center Greg Smith to Dallas and are considering using the amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer.

He turned down a two-year, $22 million deal to stay in L.A. earlier in the week.

The Bulls went after Gasol after they lost out on their number one target Carmelo Anthony earlier in the week.

Gasol joins All-Star Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and (again possibly) Rose, giving Chicago a very solid frontline in 2014-15. He averaged 17.4 points and 9.7 rebounds-per-game last year with the Lakers, rebounding from an injury plagued 2012-13 season where he averaged just 13.7 points per game (a career-low) in just 49 games.