The Chicago Bulls are on the brink. With three games left on their schedule, the Bulls are three games behind the Detroit Pistons for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Chicago is not officially eliminated from playoff contention yet, but that is just a matter of time.
The Bulls have dealt with a lot of injuries, but missing the playoffs is not something that they saw coming. Because of their likely absence from the postseason, it is expected that the Bulls will change some things around, whether it's the roster or the coaching staff. Pau Gasol is a key piece to that, as he has been one of their best players for the past two seasons, but the signs are pointing to him not being back.
Gasol is in the second year of a three-year contract that he signed with the Bulls. The third year of that deal, though, is a player option worth about $7.8 million, which he is fully expected to decline. Initially, the Bulls made it seem like Gasol would be a priority in free agency, but they have backed off that stance a little bit.
Gasol indicated earlier in the season that he would entertain a return to Chicago next season but made it clear that how they finished the season would impact his thought process. Well, the Bulls are not finishing the season on a strong note, and while Gasol didn't say that he won't be back, he did say that he has been disappointed with the finish.
"I will evaluate what I need to when the time comes," Gasol said. "But the way the team has responded to adversity and the way we finished up the season has not been so far great, and it's been disappointing. So at the end of the day, when the time comes, I will evaluate things. It's hard to finish the season like this.
At this point, both sides have gotten to the point where it seems like they are ready to move on. Gasol is still a very effective player, but he will be 36 years old next season and is at the point in his career where he just wants to win. The Bulls, on the other hand, seem to have maxed out with their current roster and may need a full rebuild. There have been rumors of the Bulls looking to trade star player Jimmy Butler, so that is an indication that they are at least considering a rebuild. Gasol would certainly not fit in with a rebuild, and because of that, it seems likely that he will sign elsewhere this offseason, and that is for the best.
