Lakers Trade Rumors: Bulls Must Target Pau Gasol This Summer

Even before Derrick Rose went down with a season-ending injury in the playoffs, the Chicago Bulls were not a lock to even make the NBA Finals, let alone win. The team could position itself much better for a potential championship run if were to land Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol this summer.

According to Sam Smith of Bulls.com, the 32-year-old PF is on the block and the Lakers will certainly listen to offers during the offseason.

The main barrier that potential suitors will encounter is the fact that Gasol is set to make approximately $19 million for each of the next two years guaranteed on his contract.

Chicago would love to jettison Carlos Boozer and the ridiculous $47.1 million remaining on his deal through 2015 as part of any trade for Gasol, but Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak would have to be insane to even consider that.

Instead, the Bulls will likely be looking at some sort of package involving Luol Deng (the main piece that the Lakers want to fill a need, according to Smith) and Rip Hamilton (to make the salaries work and add some bench depth in L.A.).

Now, Chicago GM Gar Forman needs to ask himself this: Is it worth it to blow up the current squad when they didn’t even get a chance to make a playoff run in 2012?

That depends on what they believe they could get for Joakim Noah in a subsequent deal after landing Gasol. Smith believes he would be the odd man out with Boozer, Taj Gibson and Omer Asik on the roster.

Here are some potential deals that the writer cooked up:

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Maybe Atlanta with a sign and trade for Kirk Hinrich and Marvin Williams; Charlotte for B.J. [sic] Augustin, Gerald Henderson and B.J. Mullens, Houston with some package including Kyle Lowry and Courtney Lee; New Orleans for Trevor Ariza, Jarrett Jack and one of their lottery picks; Denver with Wilson Chandler and Andre Miller or Arron Afflalo; Minnesota with Luke Ridnour, Derrick Williams and maybe Anthony Randolph or Wes Johnson, though they’d need something back like the Bulls’ No. 1 pick.

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Chicago is going to be woefully thin in the backcourt until D-Rose returns from injury at some point next season. It might be better served blowing up, adding a legitimate second banana like Gasol and rolling the dice with a Noah trade while giving up on Rip and Deng.

It worked for the Lakers when they brought in Pau back in 2008. He helped them make it to the NBA Finals three years in a row (2008-10) and was instrumental in the two championships that franchise won during his time there (2009-10).

Perhaps he can do the same for Chicago and finally give D-Rose the teammate he needs to get over the hump and raise a banner in the United Center.