NBA trade news: Bulls' last minute attempt to trade Pau Gasol to Kings

The Chicago Bulls could be potential players at the Feb. 18 trade deadline, with Pau Gasol rumoured to be on the move.

Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported that the Bulls are “actively” shopping Gasol, who has been involved in several trade topics after revealing his intentions to explore free agency this summer. Gasol has a player option for next season, and there is a high chance the Spaniard could opt-out of his contract with the NBA’s new TV deal set to kick in.

According to Wojnarowski, the Bulls are discussing a deal with multiple teams, but one possible transaction that could go down at the deadline is a package consisting of Gasol and Tony Snell to the Sacramento Kings for “Kosta Koufos, Ben McLemore and a lowering of the lottery protections on the 2016 first-round draft pick that Sacramento owes Bulls.”

“The pick is protected Nos. 1-10, but the Bulls and Kings discussed lowering the protections further to give Chicago a better chance of obtaining use of the pick in 2016, league sources told The Vertical,” Wojnarowski added.

But according to Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald, the Bulls want to see first if they can get quality pieces for Gasol, and if not, could elect to sign the All-Star centre. Vincent Goodwill of CNS Chicago also confirmed in his report that the Bulls are not “shopping” Gasol, but rather are merely open on trade talks.

I'm hearing both versions of Gasol at deadline are true. #Bulls want to see what could get in trade; if doesn't work will try to re-sign.

— Mike McGraw (@McGrawDHBulls) February 17, 2016

The Bulls’ reported attempt to trade Gasol is probably a move to get quality pieces in return instead being empty-handed if they let the two-time NBA champs go in the free agency. While Koufos and McLemore are not considered an instant boost to Chicago’s campaign, the Bulls could be banking on using them as pieces to rebuild around their rising star Jimmy Butler.

It would be interesting to see Gasol playing alongside DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo this season, a move that could immediately put the Kings in the postseason. However, Gasol insisted he holds a significant interest in signing with the Bulls in the summer, which could spoil any potential move for the All-Star Spaniard.