Pau Gasol, Bulls near contract agreement, per report

Pau Gasol is close to signing with the Chicago Bulls, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Gasol had already turned down two different contract proposals to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers, and was also reportedly offered an $11 million annual salary from the Atlanta Hawks. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns were just a few of the other teams known to be interested in Gasol.

The 34-year-old Gasol can still be an effective interior offensive player when he’s healthy. He averaged 17.4 points and 9.7 rebounds last season in 60 games for the Lakers. He was limited by groin injury and a case of vertigo that caused the veteran big man to miss 12 of the final 13 games of the season.

Gasol slots in alongside Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson to give Chicago a talented and experienced frontcourt. The Bulls are also awaiting a decision from Carmelo Anthony, who is reportedly choosing between Chicago and the New York Knicks. If the Gasol contract becomes official before Anthony has to make a decision, the only way the Bulls could acquire Anthony would be through a sign-and-trade.