Cavaliers, Bobcats and Grizzlies also linked with move.
Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol has had a tough time in the last two years, but with free agency ahead this summer, he is reportedly being courted by a number of teams.
With the Lakers struggling and hoping to avoid finishing with the worst record in the Western Conference this season, Gasol has had his troubles both on and off the court.
While the entire roster has been decimated by injuries, the Spaniard has also suffered from various ailments throughout the year, and has had a clash of opinion with coach Mike D’Antoni on how he is being utilised when played.
As a result, with the franchise looking to rebuild in the coming years, Gasol could be the first casualty despite long-time team-mate Kobe Bryant previously insisting that his friend would form a fundamental part of the team moving forward.
However, the latest speculation has reiterated the point that there will not be a shortage of interest in Gasol who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and is likely to look for a better deal and better situation for next year.
“Gasol, though, will have options. A poll of NBA executives on Gasol’s future returned many of the same answers: Chicago. Cleveland. Charlotte, if the Bobcats believe a Gasol-Al Jefferson front line can stop anybody. Memphis, if Zach Randolph opts out,” Chris Mannix of SI.com wrote.
“Even after a disappointing season — and with the understanding that Gasol has never been a strap-a-team-on-his-back kind of player — Gasol will be among the most sought after free agents on the market.”
Given their financial situation, it doesn’t appear as though Chicago will be a realistic landing spot for the veteran, who still arguably has a few years left in the tank before he can be deemed a risk.
While Carlos Boozer is likely to be amnestied, the Bulls have been strongly linked with a move for New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, and so it would appear as though Cleveland and Charlotte remain more viable options.
However, Gasol has insisted that he wants to join a team with championship ambitions and that money is not his priority. Therefore a possible reunion with his brother, Marc, with the Grizzlies could be the solution to his problem.
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