The reeling and injury-riddled Chicago Bulls didn't shake up the team at Thursday's trade deadline, unless you count sending guard Kirk Hinrich to the Atlanta Hawks for Justin Holiday and a second-round pick from the Utah Jazz. Leading up to the deadline, the Bulls reportedly shopped big man Pau Gasol, who can decline his player option and become a free agent this summer, but they were unable to find a suitable deal.
If Chicago doesn't re-sign Gasol in free agency, then not trading him can be seen as a failure. That's why Bulls general manager Gar Forman said on Thursday that they still see him as an important part of the team's future, via the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson:
Why didn't you trade Pau Gasol?
"Because we like him. We value Pau. We value him on the floor and the leadership he brings. We didn't make calls looking to move Pau. We received calls on most of our players. Our job is to listen and to hear what people have to offer and get the pulse of what is happening around the league."
Is re-signing Gasol a priority?
"We really like Pau. We were thrilled when he came. We think he has been very good for us these last two years. We see him as a part of our core."
If you re-sign Gasol, can you make other improvements this summer?
"We'll have (that) ability and also looking out two years and three years. That will be a process. We're also hopeful Joakim Noah will remain a Bull."
Five thoughts:
1. After a 106-95 loss in Cleveland on Thursday, Chicago is 27-26, eighth in the East. This is well below expectations, and with every defeat, this seems more and more like a lost season. If the Bulls had done something dramatic at the deadline, everyone would have understood. It's what a lot of fans wanted, anyway.
2. Gasol reportedly wanted to stay in Chicago, so trading him might have been easier said than done. If teams thought that they'd be getting an unhappy Gasol on a two-month rental, they wouldn't have wanted to give up much of value for him.
3. It would be wise to take Forman's words with a massive grain of salt, as there's no rule saying he has to be honest here. Gasol is 35 and in his 15th season. If the Bulls do elect to bring him back in the summer, they will need to figure out other moves to make themselves into a true contender. That's a tough task.
4. In hindsight, don't you wish Chicago had made some roster moves last summer? The front office hired Fred Hoiberg, but went with essentially the same team. I'll bet that back then, Forman could have been looking at better offers for Gasol than he heard this week. Gasol might have been more receptive to a move then, too.
5. Here's a Derrick Rose quote after the Cavs loss, via the Chicago Tribune: "We have to stay together through the good, bad and ugly. It's ugly right now." The Bulls have lost five in a row and seven of their last eight. Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic are out of the lineup for now, and Joakim Noah is out for the season. It's hard to make trades in the NBA, but this group really needed one. Oh well.
