Pau Gasol is out of Chicago after this season. The Bulls are trying to build a more athletic lineup, and you can’t blame him for wanting to chase a ring — and likely a healthy paycheck with the flood of cash hitting the market — somewhere else.
But where? Gasol has offensive skills but also weaknesses (perimeter defense, for one) that can be exploited, and there are a limited number of teams who could use him to put them over the top as contenders. Pau’s brother Marc Gasol was on Peter Edmiston’s radio show on Sports 56 WHBQ in Memphis and had this advice for Pau:
Marc Gasol: "My advice to Pau, at his age with the things he cares about, not that (we've talked); my advice would be to go to San Antonio."
— Peter Edmiston (@peteredmiston) April 25, 2016
Marc Gasol, on why Pau should sign w/ SA: "The way (the Spurs) manage everything, they way they work as a franchise from top to bottom..."
— Peter Edmiston (@peteredmiston) April 25, 2016
When was the last time a player encouraged another to sign with a competitor?
Pau would be a fantastic fit with the Spurs if he is willing to accept a sixth man role, the first big off the bench. Even if Tim Duncan does not return next season, it would be a potential defensive problem to play Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge together. Gasol could come in, play good enough defense against a second unit, and torch younger bigs. His minutes would be held in check, and he would compete deep into the playoffs.
But if Gasol demands to start, that will change his options.