The Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs have moved ahead of the pack in the sweepstakes for Los Angeles Lakers free agent Pau Gasol, per Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com.
According to Stein and Shelburne, "sources told ESPN.com that Gasol is giving strong consideration to signing with defending champion San Antonio -- despite the Spurs' limited financial resources with such a deep roster -- in the event that the Bulls can't strike a sign-and-trade arrangement with the Lakers for Gasol."
The Bulls are currently attempting to dangle Carlos Boozer's expiring contract in trade talks, but the Lakers are reticent to take his salary on unless Chicago tosses in a young player as well.
Stein and Shelburne also indicate that, despite the New York Knicks' efforts to trade away Amar'e Stoudemire or Andrea Bargnani to clear cap space for a potential Gasol/Melo pairing, sources indicate that the Knicks have fallen out of contention.
With the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder also likely out on Gasol, it looks to be down to the Bulls and Spurs for the four-time NBA All-Star.
For all the latest on Pau Gasol's free agency decision, stay tuned to our Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs team pages.
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