Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly expressed their interest in Chicago Bulls power forward Taj Gibson as the trade deadline ticks down to its final two weeks, a source close to situation reported on Friday.
The Lakers have stepped up their effort in their attempt to acquire a future cornerstone of the franchise, as reports indicated they are interested in trading for Gibson, who emerged as one of several players to be potentially moved before the February 19 trade deadline.
Gibson, averaging 11.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, could be traded by the Bulls not because they need more talent to boost their championship bid. However, NBA writer Sean Deveney thinks the power forward's malcontent in sharing minutes with Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol could prompt the Bulls to give a change of environment.
According to the Sporting News writer, the Lakers are one of several teams (Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers) being monitored as possible destination for Gibson, if he gets traded.
"Gibson has been connected to much of the league the past few months, from Los Angeles to Toronto to Phoenix to Detroit to Portland.
"In recent weeks, he has not played with the energy for which he has been known, and there has been speculation that he is frustrated with the addition of Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol (though his playing time has not changed much)."
This is not the first time the Lakers are linked to Gibson. Last year, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the purple-and-gold were in a three-team race for the service of the power forward, but the Bulls decided to keep the budding big man past trade deadline.
"According to a source, the Lakers, Wizards and Bobcats have each inquired about Gibson, but they were preliminary talks in which the Bulls did not like the return," according to Cowley.
Unlike last season, the Bulls could afford to lose Gibson because they already have Mirotic waiting to get more playing time. Gasol is also having a phenomenal job in his first season in the Windy City, though the Bulls are in a funk right now after losing four of their last five games.
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