(6/27/16 UPDATE): According to Marc Stein of ESPN, Pau Gasol has opted out of his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.
ESPN sources say Pau Gasol, as expected, officially notified the Bulls today that he's declining his 2016-17 option and going to free agency
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 27, 2016
(Original story from 4/9/16):
Pau Gasol’s tenure in Chicago has been an interesting one. The Bulls’ big-man has consistently recorded monster stat-lines, suggesting he is still able to play at a high level as a 35 year old. However, he has not fit in well with the rest of the Bulls’ roster and his defense has left a lot to be desired. Meanwhile, the team has been mediocre in the time that Gasol has spent playing for them and are in grave danger of missing the playoffs.
All of these factors have played into a report that Gasol, who has a player option worth nearly eight million dollars will likely leave Chicago this summer:
Despite what both sides said publicly at trade deadline, the surprise now will be if Pau Gasol is on Bulls next season.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 8, 2016
Gasol will have suitors should he choose to opt out of his contract (he will) and it would be wise to look at his options. Meanwhile, there is a fairly high chance that the Bulls attempt to blow up the team after several years of mediocrity.
Joakim Noah is a free agent and he seems to have checked out of the team, even before he was lost to injury for the season. Derrick Rose will be an interesting trade candidate and there have even been some rumblings of Jimmy Butler being on the trade block – a rumor that is almost certainly untrue.
As for Gasol, the big-man can still play in certain roles. He needs plenty of help defensively as he has been very poor on that end of the floor. But offensively, he continues to be great and his combination of shooting, passing, and size could be a huge addition to many teams. One option to look at could be a return to Memphis where he played when he first entered the league:
Reiterating something I was told by someone familiar w/situation @ trade deadline: Ideally, wants to play w/brother https://t.co/f4sWtjeNQD
— J. Michael (@JMichaelCSN) April 9, 2016
Gasol’s free agency decision will be an interesting one, especially with an incredibly rising salary cap. But it seems like a foregone conclusion that the final decision will not include the Chicago Bulls.
