Pau Gasol has been critical to the Chicago Bulls this season after the season-ending injury to Joakim Noah and the injury to Nikola Mirotic. With healthy bodies lacking on the roster, Gasol is one of the players that is pushing the Bulls to the playoffs this season. That could result in a nice pay increase for the forward, who has the chance to become a free agent this summer. Gasol hopes that the offer comes from Chicago.
Gasol has a player option in his contract for the 2016-17 season worth $7 million. He is expected to opt out of that and test the market. With the new TV contracts in place, salary caps will increase and teams can afford to pay players more. Gasol is looking to capitalize on that like many other soon-to-be free agents, but the forward is making it clear that he wants to stay with the Bulls.
"The Bulls' door is open because I'll opt out and become a free agent, and Chicago will be always my first option," he said.
Gasol might want to return to Chicago, but it is unclear if the feeling is mutual. He has been an asset for the team this year, but he is 35 and will command a bigger deal than the one he already has signed. The Bulls have to make a decision about whether to keep Gasol or try and re-sign Noah to a potentially cheaper contract. Gasol knows that there is uncertainty in his future with Chicago.
"I don't know what kind of effort the team will put in to re-signing me," he said. "I do know I put in effort into this, turning down a better offer money-wise to play for a contender. If the effort is not there, I'll have to consider other options."
The power forward's future with the Bulls might have been sealed when the team was reportedly shopping him at the trade deadline. He was looked at by several teams as the Bulls aimed to deal him in order to get something in return before free agency. That is a telling sign that Chicago might be ready to let Gasol walk away. The team has solid frontcourt depth in Taj Gibson, rookie Bobby Portis and Mirotic when he returns. Gasol is expendable this offseason.
The 35-year-old made it clear that he is not worried about the summer and is focused on getting the Bulls to the playoffs. Gasol is averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds per game right now. If that continues, he will have options in the summer.
