NBA Free Agency: Most Overrated Signings

March 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) shoots against the defense of San Antonio Spurs forward

(21) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Pau Gasol, PF/C

New Team: Chicago Bulls

I know this is an unpopular opinion. I also know that Pau Gasol is still really good. Part of me, though, doesn’t see the fit with the Bulls. Pau phoned it in the last two seasons under D’Antoni, and he was totally misused in that system. It’s been almost two years since I’ve seen Pau actually look comfortable on defense, and that’s troubling.

Look, I know he wasn’t trying on defense. I just wonder, at this point of his career, if he can turn it back on and be effective for the Bulls. Pau’s still one of the best passing big men in the game. The two-man game between Pau and Joakim Noah is going to be phenomenal.

I’m only skeptical for one reason: Tom Thibadeau doesn’t coach offense very well. Derrick Rose did a wonderful job during his first few seasons of masking Thibadeau’s offensive coaching defiency. Rose didn’t need plays run for him to score. He was dominating basically everybody off the dribble night after night. Since his ACL injury two years ago, the Bulls have never found that rhythm on offense. It’s been a struggle to score, virtually, the entire time Rose has been out.

The Bulls are the favorite in the East right now, and Pau’s offensive abilities add more firepower to a really good team. It all comes down to how Thibs can manage the offense and, more importantly, how Rose plays after missing almost two seasons of NBA basketball. I’m skeptical of each of those things, and it’s enough to make me feel like the Pau signing is a little overrated at this point.