Report: Pau Gasol 'Very Likely' To Opt Out At Season's End To Test Market
(CBS) Bulls big man Pau Gasol is "very likely" to opt out of his contract at season's end and test the free-agent market, he told CSNChicago.com.
Gasol, 35, is in the second season of a three-year deal that includes a player option for the 2016-'17 campaign, but it doesn't appear he'll exercise that option. His line of thinking is that because of his continued productive play, he can assure himself of more guaranteed money -- likely on another deal that's two years or so. The Bulls signed Gasol to a three-year contract worth around $22 million in July 2014, a deal that's proved to be below market value, considering that Gasol was a second-team All-NBA center in 2014-'15.
Gasol reportedly turned down a two-year, $22-million deal from the Lakers in summer 2014, so he's already sacrificed some money previously.
Also likely factoring into Gasol's decision is that the NBA's salary cap is expected to jump from $70 million to around $89 million in 2016-'17 because of a large influx of money from a new television deal, so many teams will have plenty of cap space. In short, there will a massive supply of money for what's largely expected to be a ho-hum free-agent class.
Gasol's role has been reduced in rookie coach Fred Hoiberg's system, but he's still been a productive player, averaging 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds with 44 percent shooting in 29.6 minutes per game.
"As long as I keep playing like this," Gasol told CSNChicago.com of his future, "I know I'll have some options."
The Bulls haven't indicated publicly how hard they'd pursue Gasol in free agency. Big man Joakim Noah is also set to become a free agent next summer.
