Free agency is right around the corner with plenty of rumors circulating the immediate future of stars like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Pau Gasol.
Of all the big-name players set to hit the free agent market, the most likely to leave his current team seems to be Gasol. The Spaniard is keeping his options open and will have quite a few suitors once officially an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
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One suitor will be the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein:
Free-agent whisper one week out: Mavs not only expect to have chance to make face-to-face pitch to Melo but also plan to pursue Pau Gasol
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 22, 2014
Chances of the two-time NBA champion re-signing with the Lakers seems to be remote at this point in time. Gasol has not ruled out staying in Los Angeles to finish his career, but all signs appear to be pointing to the veteran heading elsewhere.
Other potential suitors for Gasol will be the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. Although Gasol is no longer considered among the elite at his position, the veteran center is still a player that will draw considerable interest once a free agent.
It remains uncertain if the Lakers are truly interested in re-signing Gasol with the team looking to rebuild. Even though chances of Gasol remaining with the Lakers may be slim, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that he stays with the team for a few more years.
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As for Dallas, Mark Cuban and company are trying to do something similar in comparison to the Lakers. The Mavs will likely re-sign Dirk Nowitzki and make an effort to surround him with a talented squad in order to compete moving forward. Gasol would improve the team’s chances of being a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference next season, but it might not be enough to be the title contender Dallas is striving for.
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