Bulls Trade Rumors: Why Pau Gasol Would Slow D-Rose's Motor

The acquisition of Pau Gasol by the Chicago Bulls from the Los Angeles Lakers would slow down Derrick Rose, and completely change the way the young superstar point guard plays on offense.

While it appears now that the deal itself is a longshot, anything is still possible. This trade would completely change the Bulls’ offensive dynamic, by giving them a player other than Rose who can score and pass.

Gasol is a very skilled big man, who any team would be very lucky to have, but his presence with the Bulls would hurt the fast, unrelenting style of play that Rose likes to play with.

First, there would be Rose having to share the ball with Gasol more.

It isn’t that Gasol would demand it. He’s never averaged more than 15 shots per game in his entire career.

Gasol is just a guy that somehow gets the ball and does good things with it. Unlike now, where Rose controls the offense completely and most of it is based on him, Gasol would make the offense more of an inside-out type game. He would get players on the outside shots, and kick it out to them or score himself.

Rose would not be able to play the same way he does now. The entire offense would be different. He wouldn’t be able to get to the free throw line as often because he would be getting fewer touches thanks to Gasol.

Plus, Rose can be cold at times, and needs to keep shooting in order to get things going for him again offensively. That won’t be as much of an option with Gasol on the court, who needs touches more than any other player the Bulls have right now.

He also would need to play off the ball more, which is not something he has ever done or something he has ever shown the ability to do.

Rose would have to change his game drastically to fit in with Gasol, because he is the one who could more easily adapt. Gasol is 31 years old, and has been in the league for over a decade. He’s also a post man.

Those types don’t change their games very easily.

Another factor to consider is Gasol’s effect on the offense as a whole.

Gasol is not the type of guy who can really run with an offense. He is a halfcourt guy who plays in a slower, halfcourt kind of way.

The Bulls don’t run that much, but Rose is a fast guy who likes to run at times. Gasol doesn’t fit in with that type of play. Rose would have to slow down the entire offense for Gasol, which could work, but Rose would have to change a bit.

All in all, the presence of Gasol on the Bulls will change the way Rose plays the game. Rose will have to player slower, give up the ball more often and not get as many shots.

Those things might not be bad for the Bulls, but they will most certainly change the way Rose plays the game.