NBA Trade Rumors: Chicago Bulls ‘Aggressively’ Shopping Forward Pau Gasol

Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports

With less than 24 hours left before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 18, the rumors are starting to circulate the league about potential deals that could take place. One big-name that surfaced on Wednesday is veteran power forward Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls.

Although it appeared that the Bulls were content with Gasol and were strongly considering re-signing him come July, Gasol is rumored to be back on the trading block. The Bulls are said to be aggressively pursuing deals to send Gasol elsewhere before Thursday’s deadline via Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical:

The Chicago Bulls are aggressively shopping All-Star forward Pau Gasol, league sources told The Vertical.

One of the main reasons Gasol left the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA free agency a few years ago was due to the fact he was always being used as trade bait by the storied franchise. Gasol’s name was mentioned in trade rumors for three straight years in Los Angeles and led him to pursue other options in free agency.

Unfortunately, it seems as though Gasol can’t avoid the trade talk with the two-time NBA champion back on the block once again. Gasol continues to produce at a high level for the Bulls with the Spaniard averaging a double-double with 17.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

The veteran forward could prove to be the missing piece to the championship puzzle for a title contending team, and that may be what Chicago is banking on. Despite the Bulls still being a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference, the franchise may have come to terms with the fact this current squad can’t compete for a title this season and moves need to be made.