Recent reports emerged that the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings are currently discussing a potential trade centered on NBA champion big man Pau Gasol with Kosta Koufos and Ben McLemore the possible assets to be given in return.
Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski mentioned in his report at The Vertical that "one discussion lingered on Wednesday" despite all the current reported negotiations Chicago is currently involved in and it is the Gasol and Tony Snell to Sacramento in exchange for Kosta Koufos, Ben McLemore, and the "lowering of the lottery protections on the 2016 first-round pick that Sacramento owes the Bulls".
The said pick is protected from the first to the 10th, but the condition is that the protection will be lowered further down the draft to give the Bulls a better chance of getting it during the NBA Draft this summer.
Sacramento has "reached out" to Philadelphia on Wednesday as well, the report also said, because the Sixers "have the right to swap picks with the Kings" on the said pick. The Kings and Sixers should reach an agreement first before Sacramento can include that pick in the deal with Chicago.
SB Nation noted that the Kings will most likely have Gasol for the rest of the season "on rental" if they do agree on the trade.
The 35-year-old Spaniard is allegedly keen on exercising his player option in the summer to become an unrestricted free agent and "take advantage" of the anticipated big-money free agency market this coming offseason.
Sacramento is said to be keen on landing Gasol despite that risk as the management and owners are reportedly pushing for the team to make the playoffs and go deeper in the postseason as much as possible.
The Kings have recently fired assistant coach Vance Walberg despite the opposition of head coach George Karl, which is an indication that the present team officials are not afraid to make aggressive decisions for the benefit of the franchise.
With Gasol and a primed DeMarcus Cousins up front, Rudy Gay and Marco Belinelli in the wings, and Rajon Rondo and Darren Collison swapping details at the point guard spot, the Kings will surely be a threat in the postseason to whoever they will be paired with.