NBA Trade Rumors: Bulls may not deal Pau Gasol to Kings

The Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings have been discussing a Pau Gasol deal, but the Bulls appear skeptical as the NBA trade deadline approaches.

The Chicago Bulls have appeared in NBA trade rumors for quite some time due to the amount of talent in their frontcourt. Their transition with new head coach Fred Hoiberg hasn’t gone smoothly and the possibility of trading either Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson or Pau Gasol has been around for a while now. Yet, after Noah’s shoulder injury and Nikola Mirotic being out due to appendix surgery, the likelihood of such a deal happening has decreased.

However, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports actually reported yesterday that the Sacramento Kings had been in discussions with the Bulls over a possible Gasol trade:

"The Bulls have discussed deals with multiple NBA teams on Gasol, but one discussion lingered on Wednesday, league sources told The Vertical’s Wojnarowski and Chris Mannix: Gasol and Tony Snell to the Sacramento Kings for Kosta Koufos, Ben McLemore and a lowering of the lottery protections on the 2016 first-round pick that Sacramento owes the Bulls."

Now, though, there has been another update which makes a Gasol deal look less imminent. Sam Amick of USA Today Sports has reported that the Bulls are skeptical about this trade taking place:

With their now depleted frontcourt, it makes sense that the Bulls are going to be hesitant about trading a vital piece like Gasol. As an All-Star with averages of 17 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and two blocks per game, they should be hesitant. Seeing as he’s such an integral part of their team, a trade to acquire someone like Ben McLemore and draft picks would clearly be taking their future into consideration instead of contending.

Although, if they’re honest, there’s no way they’re passing the Toronto Raptors or Cleveland Cavaliers in the East.

Meanwhile, the Kings want to make a push to improve their team right now and increase their chances to makes the playoffs. Young talent isn’t their focus, as Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee has reported:

"Divac said he thought he would be able to make a trade Wednesday. The Kings are only interested in making moves that could help get the Kings into the playoffs. Stockpiling young talent and draft picks are not the priorities."

Even if the Kings make the playoffs as an 8th seed, they won’t do more than get demolished by the Golden State Warriors in a first round exit. This should add some hesitancy to trade for a 35-year-old like Gasol on their part, as he won’t be an All-Star forever. But if they want to improve now and form an elite frontcourt duo of Gasol and DeMarcus Cousins, it’s not hard to see their thought process.

Regardless of their interest, though, perhaps this deal won’t happen after all.