Pau Gasol Wants to Play For the Bulls? Good Luck!

We’re rapidly approaching the portion of the summer where NBA rumors fly more recklessly than Russell Westbrook does through the lane. The Lakers are the NBA’s sexiest franchise, so naturally, everyone’s going to be talking and writing about them. But Pau Gasol to the Bulls?Sorry Sam Smith, no shot.

The interesting part, according to Lakers’ insiders, is Gasol would like to play for the Bulls. And what you hardly need any sources for is to see how he and Bryant basically can’t stand one another. It was no secret around L.A. what all those post series comments were about. “We got to be committed to each other,” said Ron Artest. “This year we wasn’t as committed collectively, and that hurt us a lot.” Said Bynum: “We just weren’t doing it together.”

That was because Bryant and Gasol were constantly at odds. And that came out several times in the playoffs with the two frequently arguing on the court and Bryant again questioning Gasol’s heart.

Smith goes on to speculate whether or not the Bulls would entertain a Deng/Hamilton combo for Gasol. Then, they’d have a loaded frontcourt – Gasol, Boozer, Noah, Asik, Gibson – and theoretically could move Noah and get a guard and wing in return.

Maybe Atlanta with a sign and trade for Kirk Hinrich and Marvin Williams; Charlotte for B.J. 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.

Frankly, I’m not liking any of those ideas. Does a lineup of Rose/Afflalo/Chandler/Boozer/Gasol excite you? Is it considerably better than Rose/Brewer/Deng/Boozer/Noah? How soon we forget that last year, the Bulls were arguably the best team in the NBA that lost when LeBron shut down Rose late in games. That team was close. This year’s team was the No. 1 seed in the East. Why not simply focus on improving at shooting guard and hoping that Rose is healthy enough to return for 30 games next year and the postseason?