Pau Gasol’s stint with the Los Angeles Lakers may finally be over. The Spaniard continues to deal with vertigo symptoms and could miss the final seven games of the season as a result.
As Gasol’s contract comes closer to expiring, the future remains uncertain for the two-time NBA champion, but there will be no shortage of suitors for him in free agency.
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According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, Gasol will draw interest from multiple teams:
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. 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.
Although Gasol hasn’t officially ruled out a return to the Lakers, the writing appears to be on the wall with the two-time NBA champion valuing winning over money moving forward. The Lakers’ front office will almost certainly offer Gasol a new contract this summer, but few believe he’ll want to stay in Los Angeles due to the current state of the team.
With the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls potentially showing interest, it’ll be a hard sell for the Lakers to retain him. Both teams seem to have a better opportunity to win now over a Lakers squad that will be rebuilt over the summer with no guarantee for success next season or in the near future.
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Pau Gasol Struggling From Vertigo, Talks Inefficiencies Alongside Chris Kaman