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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Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Eastern Conference forward Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat (1) looks on during practice for the NBA All Star game at Ricoh Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Eastern Conference forward Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat (1) looks on during practice for the NBA All Star game at Ricoh Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Miami Heat

Chris Bosh’s health saga continues to be one of the biggest mysteries in the NBA these days. After missing the second half of the 2015 season with a blood clot in one of his lungs, Bosh returned this year at what was presumably full-strength. Now he’s battling a blood clot in his leg, and no one knows for sure what his ongoing physical issues will mean for the future of his career or the Heat franchise.

This is a team still in transition from the LeBron days – a team that will one day soon see its greatest player ever retire (Dwyane Wade) and could lose another even sooner than that if Bosh decides it’s just not safe to continue playing professional basketball with his current health conditions. Hassan Whiteside has given Heat fans reason for optimism since his breakout campaign last season, but he can’t shoulder the team alone.

Pat Riley convincing Gasol to come in and finish his career in South Beach just seems like a plausible scenario, and one that would benefit both parties moving forward. Riley is a master motivator and true visionary when it comes to stockpiling some of the best talent in basketball – Gasol fits the bill as someone he would target in free agency.

Next: 3. Houston Rockets

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