Derrick Rose has reportedly privately suggested to Chicago Bulls management that he would like them to trade forward Carlos Boozer for Los Angeles Lakers power forward-center Pau Gasol, according to sources.
Spain news outlet, Marca, was the first to report on Sunday that Rose wants his team to go after Gasol.
It is rumored that a second player would be traded for Gasol as well, prospected to be C.J. Watson.
Watson would address the Lakers need for a stable point guard to support the current rotation of Derek Fisher and Steve Blake, according to Sheridan Hoops reporter, Chris Sheridan.
Boozer’s lack of hustle lately has become a concern. The former Duke star has three years and $46 million left on his contract, meanwhile Gasol has two years and $38 million left on his contract.
A rumor of this extent can potentially damage the team’s chemistry, considering there is conjecture that the Lakers will not accept the deal due to lack of revenue.
Sports Illustrated online quoted Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak stating the team will not make any moves.
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"Of course we'll talk to a lot of teams [about trades], like everybody else does, leading up until the trade deadline to see if there is a way to improve the team," Kupchak said. "But the likelihood is that this is the team that's going to finish into the playoffs. That's just the way it normally works, but we'll see."
With that said, Bulls fans: don’t get too excited for a Rose-Hamilton-Gasol triple threat.
