Incoming free agent center Pau Gasol recently admitted that he is "interested" to join the San Antonio Spurs as the five-time NBA champions will reportedly make the six-time All-Star a "priority" signing this summer.
The 35-year-old Gasol just finished the second season of his three-year, $22.3 million deal with the Chicago Bulls that came with a player option in the second year. Gasol recently opted out of the contract which means that he will become an unrestricted free agent on Friday, July 1.
Several teams are said to be interested in acquiring his services for next season, such as the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and even his former club Los Angeles Lakers, but the two-time NBA champion looked fascinated to the opportunity of teaming up with Tim Duncan and head coach Gregg Popovich in San Antonio.
"There's talk about passing of the torch with San Antonio and a hypothetical passing of the torch with Duncan," said Gasol, via Hoops Hype. "For starters, nobody knows if Tim is retiring and he's somebody whom I have maximum respect for."
"In closing, I have to admit the Spurs would be an interesting option for me. I recognize I'm a fan of the way the franchise has done things over the years and the way they play basketball on the court," Gasol added.
The two-time All-NBA Second Teamer would clearly be a force with San Antonio moving forward as Duncan contemplates on retiring or returning for one more season. His passing and low post plays are said to be fit in Popovich's system that could propel the team to another deep run in the playoffs next year.
Gasol had been targeted by the Spurs before, in the summer of 2014, but he chose to join the Bulls instead.
This summer, San Antonio is reportedly making Gasol a priority signing once again as they want to team him up with LaMarcus Aldridge "to create a formidable front line", as per Fox Sports.
There is still no official word whether Duncan and his old international partner Manu Ginobili are going to come back next season. If the two mainstays decide to retire then the Spurs will have plenty of cap room to try and acquire more free agents.