Pau Gasol On If He’ll Return To Bulls: ‘Nothing Is Set Right Now’

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The 2015-16 NBA season has been disappointing, to say the least for the Chicago Bulls. The once-dominant franchise was expected to be a forced to be reckoned with this season with Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose, and Pau Gasol forming a talented trio in the Windy City. Although Gasol has had a good year, the team hasn’t lived up to expectations, and that could lead to some drastic changes in the offseason.

Along with trade rumors brewing about Butler’s status with the team, Gasol could also leave Chicago in NBA free agency this summer. Gasol has a player option for next season and is expected to opt out to secure a long-term deal.

Gasol recently spoke about his immediate future and said the following about his plans with the offseason looming, via Nick Friedell of ESPN:

“Nothing is set right now,” Gasol said after the game. “Definitely, I will evaluate what I need to when the time comes. 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. It’s not finished, but we’re in a very, as we know, extremely difficult position, so everything will be thought of and considered.”

With four games remaining in the regular season for the Bulls, Chicago is holding onto hope the team can clinch a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. If the season were to end today, Gasol and company would be headed home without a playoff berth and the Detroit Pistons being playoff bound.

The Bulls have lost two straight and appear unmotivated to clinch the eighth spot in the East. It may be only a matter of time before Chicago is knocked out of playoff contention and lose Gasol in free agency come July.