The Washington Wizards are rumored to have a plan B in case they miss out on OKC Thunder star Kevin Durant next summer.
According to J. Michael of CSN Mid-Atlantic, the Wizards could target Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol if all else fails in the team's chances of landing Durant in the 2016 free agency.
With Gasol announcing that he is "very likely" to opt out of the final year of his three-year $22.3 million deal, there is a growing possibility that Gasol will head elsewhere next year, when the salary cap of NBA teams are expected to balloon.
The towering Spaniard is averaging 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds, while only playing 29.4 minutes a game. While Gasol is not as athletic as other big men in the league, his crafty skills in the post and mid-range jumpers make him a solid acquisition for any team.
However, Gasol would probably be a bad fit for the Wizards.
It may excite fans to see John Wall play pick-and-roll with Gasol, or the Wizards creating a European frontcourt tandem with Marcin Gortat and the two-time NBA champ.
But, technically, Gasol does not make the Wizards a better team. The Wizards are lacking an athletic big man, and Gasol is certainly not that type of player.
According to ESPN, Washington is 25th in the league in most scored scored by opponent's per game, with an average of 104.2 points per contest. This may be attributed to the Wizards' lack of interior defense.
Gortat is not considered an elite defender, but he has a decent reputation on the defensive end, given his length, size, and mobility. But the Wizards' frontcourt backups are yet to be found playing solid defense.
Nene's constant injury setbacks have drained him of his elite form, and DeJuan Blair has not renewed any of his potential, as well as Kris Humphries, who has been ineffective for the Wizards as he tries to expand his role as a stretch four.
The Wizards should probably chase a young talented big man who can defend and score well like Philadelphia 76ers' Nerlens Noel or Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets.
The Wizards' still have plenty of options left if their bid for Durant and Gasol fails, but their chances are limited against other NBA teams that are ready to shell a huge chunk of money for a marquee signing next summer.