New York Knicks: Ideal Replacements For Robin Lopez

Pau Gasol, UFA

Age: 35 (7/6/1980)
2015-16 Slash Line: .469/.348/.792
2015-16 Season Averages: 31.8 MPG, 16.5 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.2 ORPG, 4.1 APG, 2.0 BPG
Accolades: 2x NBA Champion, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 6x All-Star

The New York Knicks have an opportunity to sign the perfect mentor for franchise player Kristaps Porzingis. There’s no question that Porzingis already has a great mentor in Carmelo Anthony, but having an interior player to turn to in times of trial would be invaluable.

That alone makes two-time NBA champion and future Hall of Fame inductee Pau Gasol an ideal free agency target.

Gasol will turn 36 years old on July 6, which creates some measure of skepticism. He’s proven willing to take a pay cut in order to play for a contender, however, and his presence would make New York a legitimately viable threat.

Still a double-double machine, it also stands to reason that Gasol would welcome the opportunity to work with Phil Jackson again.

Gasol won his pair of championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, for whom Jackson was head coach. Jackson, now team president of the Knicks, will likely look to bring Gasol to New York to help mentor Porzingis and anchor the Triangle Offense.

For what it’s worth, Gasol has 100 double-doubles over the past two seasons—the No. 2 mark in the NBA during that time.

Next: The Quiet Star