Why a Pau Gasol Trade to Chicago May Not Happen but Would Be Interesting

It appears that there could be changes coming in Los Angeles this offseason. Specifically, the changes could be coming from the Lakers organization as they look to make moves that make them younger and more athletic.

According to a recent report by Sam Smith of Bulls.com, Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers said that he wants out of Lakerland and would like to play for the Chicago Bulls.

Gasol would be an upgrade in Chicago, and due to his skills (especially his passing abilities) would make the Bulls a tougher team to defeat pending that Rose is healthy.

The Bulls would love to move Carlos Boozer for Gasol, but the Lakers may not be that interested and would ask for Luol Deng and/or Taj Gibson. Even if the Bulls wanted to make a move for a player like Gasol, a third team would likely have to be involved.

Now imagining Gasol in Chicago playing alongside the likes of Derrick Rose and Luol Deng sounds great, but the Bulls may have a hard time trying to put together a trade package for the seven-foot Spaniard.

Before coming to the Lakers via trade, Gasol averaged a double-double (career-high of 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds during the 2008-09 season) during his six-and-a-half seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he was clearly their best overall player since there was not much of a supporting cast. The Grizzlies acquired Gasol on draft day from the Atlanta Hawks (the third overall pick) back in the 2001 NBA Draft.

Gasol in Chicago would help them mightily, but making it happen may just be too difficult to do. Gasol is owed a large amount of money the next two years, and the Lakers may not be that interested in Carlos Boozer—so the Bulls may have to dish out more assets.

This could be one of the interesting story lines to watch as the draft and free agency roll around.