And maybe for the first time, the four-time All-Star big man put on his "big-boy pants" and decided what's best for him is to move on and be appreciated instead of playing the role of whipping boy like he had been with the Lakers.
Gasol, 34, said in a tweet that it wasn't an easy decision to leave Los Angeles to sign with the Chicago Bulls, but it appeared to be an easy one.
Gasol, who inked a three-year deal worth a reported $22 million, likely didn't sign with the Bulls because they're a championship contender, especially given the glaring questionable health of Derrick Rose the past two seasons. If Gasol wanted a shot at a ring, he would have signed with the champion San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder. The Bulls, however, give Gasol the best chance of making an immediate, significant impact and a change of scenery.
That's because things were downright gut-wrenching for Gasol the past three seasons in Los Angeles. It was bad enough that he was willing to leave a city he loved by walking away from two reported Lakers offers—two years at $23 million and three years at $29 million—to take less money with the Bulls.
Can you blame Gasol? After being celebrated for helping the Lakers win back-to-back championships, he has been disrespected and underutilized.
Gasol is quite possibly the least appreciated Lakers champion of all time.
As quickly as he helped hang two more banners in the Lakers' rafters, Gasol seemingly was on his way out, embroiled in constant trade rumors. Remember, it was Gasol who kept the Lakers' 16th championship alive with his 19-point, 18-rebound effort in Game 7 against the Boston Celtics when Kobe Bryant shot just 25 percent from the field.
Even though Gasol was for all intents and purposes traded in...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
