Hooped Up

Pau Gasol may not be a member of the Bulls, but that doesn’t mean that he didn’t want to be when he requested a trade out of Memphis.

“The Bulls are a very good team,” said Gasol, addressing Chicago reporters Saturday for the first time since trade talks between John Paxson and Grizzlies general manager Jerry West failed. “They’re very talented and have very good options to move forward and become a dominant team in the East.

“I think they’re a young team and have the right pieces. I just think they need somebody in there to provide the scoring and control the tempo of the game a little better, especially down the stretch.”

Asked if the Bulls were one team he had in mind when he went to Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley about his desire to play for a contender, Gasol said, “absolutely.”

Chicago Tribune