The NBA free agency frenzy has slowed down a bit as teams around the league wait for Kevin Durant to make his long-awaited decision.
With Durant on the verge of doing just that, the expectation is that things will then pick up again relatively quickly.
One name that could soon be off the market soon is former Chicago Bulls big man Pau Gasol, who is reportedly fielding offers from multiple teams.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Portland Trail Blazers are among the squads that have been the most-active on the Gasol front.
Following up on that @ramonashelburne tweet: Lots of noise out there about Portland putting a two-year, $40 million offer down to Pau Gasol.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 3, 2016
Despite a surprising trek to the Western Conference Semifinals last season, Portland finds itself in position to add a max-type player on the open market.
After all, here’s a team that had to dole out over $800,000 to its players after failing to hit the cap floor last year.
First off, Gasol would be a good fit no matter where he lands. His passing ability and mid-range game has made him a Hall of Fame-caliber player for well over a decade now.
Secondly, Portland might actually be the best fit here. With one of the top back-court tandems in the NBA, acquiring an inside presence like Gasol would be huge for the team’s ability to build off a surprising 2015-16 campaign.
The Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves are also said to be interested in the big man.
Depending on what happens in the Durant sweepstakes, the Golden State Warriors may also become a viable option.