NBA Trade News: Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng Likely to be Involved in Blockbuster Trades

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First Posted: Sep 18, 2013 07:54 AM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers big man, Pau Gasol, and Chicago Bulls swingman, Luol Deng, are expected to generate significant buzz next season, not because of their production on the floor but because their names will likely be involved in a flurry of blockbuster deals before the midseason trade deadline.

According to Bleacher Report columnist Kelly Scaletta, several high profile players are expected to be traded next season. However, transactions involving Gasol and Deng are the ones that would really shake up the NBA landscape.

Gasol, who will pocket $20 million in the final year of his current deal with the Lakers, is entering the twilight years of his career at 33 years old. The Spaniard still averaged 13.7 points and 8.6 boards in a tumultuous season for the Lakers last year, but general manager Mitch Kupchack is always ready to pull the trigger anytime, especially if the team finds itself in a deep hole.

Veteran NBA analyst, Chris Sheridan, picked the Chicago Bulls as an ideal destination for the four-time All-Star. With his ability to score efficiently at the post and spread the floor with his mid-range shooting, the Bulls will be a much better ballclub with improved championship chances.

However, getting the rights for Gasol won't be easy at all. Sheridan provided in his latest power ranking a better picture of what the Bulls need to sacrifice in exchange for the Spaniard.

"(The Chicago Bulls) have the goods to get Pau Gasol. It'll cost them the No. 1 pick the Bobcats owe them, plus another No. 1, plus the rights to Nikola Mirotic, plus a couple guys to make the money match. But with Gasol, they can beat anybody," Sheridan said in his statement.

Scaletta added the "couple of guys" that will complete the trade will be Carlos Boozer and Kirk Hinrich, who can assure the Lakers stability at the point guard position with Steve Nash becoming vulnerable to injuries. Boozer will be solid at power forward position, but the most precious assets the Lakers will be receiving in this proposed trade are the draft picks and the rights for Mirotic, one of Europe's brightest NBA prospects.

On a separate deal, the Bulls might also be looking to move Deng next season to land another superstar that would play alongside Derrick Rose. Deng, two-time All-Star, will hold high value on trading block next season but putting him in a package sweetened by additional draft picks will allow the Bulls to hammer out a potential blockbuster transaction.

Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Indiana Pacers' Danny Granger, Toronto Raptors small forward Rudy Gay and Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Love are some of the names that could be made available for the Eastern Conference contender on or before trade deadline.

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