Earlier this week, Pau Gasol declined his $7.7 million player option with the Chicago Bulls, which officially makes him a free agent. And, since it's expected that he won't be re-signing with Chicago, there's a good chance that he might end up with the San Antonio Spurs.
Gasol's decision to decline his option probably didn't come as a surprise for sports fans since he already stated previously that he would like to explore his options in free agency. Sure, he'll probably entertain offers from various franchise but one team that stands out from the rest is the San Antonio franchise.
According to Fox Sports, league sources claim that the Spurs are very interested in signing Gasol. Although they would also like to get Kevin Durant, signing Gasol is also a priority for them.
For one, the Spurs have been after the center since 2015. However, this never happened since Gasol signed with the Bulls for a two-year deal.
But now that he's a free agent, San Antonio will most likely make the same move again. Furthermore, it seems the Spurs are in need of a reliable veteran for next season since it is not yet clear if Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan will retire or return to the team.
Apparently, Gasol is aware of this which is why he's also reportedly interested in playing for San Antonio next season.
"There's talk about passing of the torch with San Antonio and a hypothetical passing of the torch with Duncan," Gasol told the Spanish newspaper Marca according to ESPN. "For starters, nobody knows if Tim is retiring, and he's somebody whom I have maximum respect for."
"In closing, I have to admit the Spurs would be an interesting option for me," he added. "I recognize I'm a fan of the way the franchise has done things over the years and the way they play basketball on the court."
But aside from the Spurs, another possible landing spot for Gasol is the New York Knicks. As reported last week, the Knicks were able to acquire former Bulls guard Derrick Rose through a trade. The Knicks could then amp up Rose's performance in the team by bringing in a former teammate who he's comfortable playing with.
