Pau Gasol vs. Marc Gasol (Photo : Jonathan Daniel | Getty Images Sport)
The NBA free agency speculation continues and one player still on the fence is Pau Gasol.
Pau Gasol chose the Chicago Bulls over other notable contenders but when coach Tom Thibodeau was replaced, the Spanish center did not seem to jell with Fred Hoiberg's system.
Still, the Bulls mentioned that they have the intention to re-sign him. However, recent reports have the Chicago front office backtracking from that declaration. From KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
"Sources said the Bulls are softening on the public stance general manager Gar Forman issued at the trade deadline that Gasol 'is part of the core,' not to mention Gasol is open-minded to entertaining rival offers."
Gasol is on the last stage of his career. He has stated that he wants to win a championship again, but there could also be other considerations for him. It is presumed he would go for one last big payday before retiring. There's a big chance he would be overpaid by teams who miss out on target free agents and have salary cap space to spare.
In a post by Fansided, some interesting teams could offer Pau Gasol including the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks and the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Miami Heat are closely monitoring Chris Bosh's health situation. It is a very sensitive issue as his condition may even force him to retire prematurely. Pau Gasol is a very capable replacement and the type of player Pat Riley wants to pursue. The Spaniard is a winner and there are many advantages for Miami. The weather and the fact that they are possible contenders in the East would make Gasol consider.
The Atlanta Hawks are dealing with their own free agent, Al Horford. The Dominican Republic native is one of the top free agents up for grabs in the summer. While the Hawks have every intention to keep him, they need insurance if he does decide to bolt. Gasol would fit in the Hawks system which is often called "Spurs East" because it's run by Coach Mike Budenholzer, the lead Spurs assistant for more than a decade.
Last but not least, the Memphis Grizzlies. This is the team that drafted Pau although they did trade him for the Lakers. One of the players they got in return was Marc Gasol, Pau's brother who is now one of the best centers in the league.
A Grizzlies return could be considered a storybook ending for Pau, as his career comes full circle and he'll get a chance to play alongside his brother in the NBA. Also, it would be a great fit, basketball-wise.
