Jul 18, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau (left) and general manager Gar Forman (right) pose for a photo with newly signed center Pau Gasol during a press conference at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Outside of LeBron James, which free agent will impact his new team the most?
Michael Saenz: Pau Gasol has an opportunity to make a really good Chicago Bulls team into an elite Chicago Bulls team. Assuming Derrick Rose is healthy for 90-plus games next season, Gasol will have a huge impact on how far the Bulls get next season. He gives the Bulls a dimension that they’ve never had before — a true power forward that can score with ease. Oh, yea, and he can pass pretty well too.
John Armstrong: Chandler Parsons. Don’t you even dare try to say I’m riding the bandwagon. Show me the respect I deserve …… I’m driving it and collecting tickets from passengers I pick up along the way. I’m not expecting 20 ppg. Not this season at least. But his numbers, should they fall anywhere in the same range as his Houston numbers, will coincide nicely with Dirk Nowitzki‘s play, as well as Monta Ellis and the perennial All-Star Elite level PG Everybody Loves Raymond Felton.
Morten Jensen: Pau Gasol is up there, just given the infrastructure there is in Chicago and the way they incorporate and encourage passing big men. But Chandler Parsons seems to be the choice here, as long as he expands his game. There’s a part of me that thinks he’s a finished product, or at the least very close to being that, but given that he’ll play alongside Dirk and under Rick Carlisle, I could see the system put him in a position where his efforts are being maximized.
Bryce Olin: Chandler Parsons. Although his jump shot is one of the ugliest in the NBA, Parsons is going to have a great NBA career, and there’s no better place for him than Dallas. Head coach Rick Carlisle will find the perfect way to make this team to get up the court in transition, which is one area where Parsons is especially dangerous. With his size and skill, Parsons, along with Tyson Chandler, make Dallas fringe-contenders in the West.
David Ramil: Probably one of the guys from his former team, the Miami Heat. Either Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh will become the statistical leader this year and both will have to show the capacity (again, as they’ve both done it before) to lead the team on a consistent basis. Filling a James-sized hole in the roster is impossible but one of these guys has to get it done for Miami to be competitive.
Brandon Osborne: Pau Gasol. If Gasol can continue to be productive on offense, then he will give the Bulls some much needed scoring. He nay not be a solid defender but that’s Chicago’s strength and he shouldn’t cause an issue there.