Fansided

5 free agency destinations for Pau Gasol

By Patrick Morgan

Mar 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) shoots over Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) shoots over Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 7, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) and forward David Lee (42) watch from the bench during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at the American Airlines Center. The Clippers defeat the Mavericks 109-90. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) and forward David Lee (42) watch from the bench during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at the American Airlines Center. The Clippers defeat the Mavericks 109-90. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Dallas Mavericks

Chandler Parsons may or may not stick around in Dallas this offseason, and if he does indeed fly the coop, it will open up a huge void that Gasol could fill in the Mavericks‘ frontcourt. Mark Cuban has proven in the past that he’s not afraid to open up the purse strings for the right talent, and he’s certainly admired Gasol as a basketball player over the course of his career (particularly with the Lakers during the 2000s).

Pairing Gasol with Dirk Nowitzki would create major offensive mismatches for opponents seeking to contain the two European giants, and both players are effective post threats as well as solid shooters from inside the arc. The only downside with this combination is that neither are particularly adept defensively, and both are clearly in the twilight of their careers. But allowing the two legends to finish their NBA lifetimes together would be a boon for Dallas fans seeking one last championship run from Nowitzki.

One final note: Cuban is probably still smarting from the DeAndre Jordan free agency soap opera he had to endure last summer. Pau Gasol is a respected vet who is a man of integrity and his word – if he committed to the Mavs, Cuban could rest easy knowing the deal was ironclad.

Next: 4. Miami Heat

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