Report: Phoenix Suns are in the market for Pau Gasol

While the Phoenix Suns hope to make a splash with the most high profile free agents available, a report emerged that the Suns will attempt to lure another big name to the desert.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne tweeted Monday that the Suns are expected to compete with the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets for the services of big man Pau Gasol, who has played with the Lakers for the last six-plus seasons.

Add two teams to the expected Pau Gasol market: Phoenix and Atlanta. Lakers, Knicks, Bulls, Mavs, Rockets all expected to pursue.

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 1, 2014

Gasol averaged 17.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in Los Angeles last season, and the Suns were linked to him in trade talks near the trade deadline. Given Channing Frye’s possible departure through free agency, it makes sense that the Suns would be in the market for a big man with the ability to score.

The Suns have a plethora of space to maneuver under the salary cap, though a chunk of that is expected to go to Eric Bledsoe. The possible addition of Gasol would add him to a Suns frontcourt that includes the likes of Markieff and Marcus Morris and Miles Plumlee.

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