The Portland Trail Blazers have added a veteran big man to their roster. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Pau Gasol has agreed to a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. It is a one-year, $2.6 million deal.
Free agent Pau Gasol has agreed to a one-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 24, 2019
I'm very excited to announce that next season (my 19th in the @NBA) I'll play for the @trailblazers. ✍🏼😀
Ready and happy to join one of the best teams in the league! pic.twitter.com/NcE6UJbsZ4
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) July 24, 2019
Gasol last played for the Milwaukee Bucks, where he played three games. He signed with the Bucks in March. Gasol signed with them after reaching a buyout with the San Antonio Spurs. Later that month, Gasol suffered a left ankle injury. The Bucks listed him as out for the rest of the month, but he ended up missing the playoffs. Gasol went into the offseason as a free agent and joined a stacked Blazers’ frontcourt.
The 39-year-old center joins a center rotation that consists of Hassan Whiteside and Zach Collins. The Blazers also had Enes Kanter but lost him in free agency. He signed with the Boston Celtics on a two-year, $10 million contract. The Blazers also have Jusuf Nurkic, who will eventually return from his left tibia and fibula fracture.
Last season, the Trail Blazers reached the Conference finals after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets in previous rounds. The Blazers reached the Conference finals and were swept by the Golden State Warriors. The addition of a future Hall-of-Famer in Gasol gives the Blazers the experience they need to get to the next level.
Gasol has an impressive resume that consists of two championships, multiple All-Star nods and gold medals. The center joins the sixth team of his career. While he is getting older and has a reduced role, he can still contribute to a talented team.
Featured image courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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