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Knicks Rumors: Five Reasons To Sign Pau Gasol

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 23, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) dribbles the ball into New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) dribbles the ball into New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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March 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during a stoppage in play against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during a stoppage in play against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Mentoring Porzingis

Kristaps Porzingis is coming off of one of the most statistically prolific seasons of all-time. In severe contrast to the project label he received, Porzingis became the first rookie in NBA history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 75 3-point field goals made.

Impressive as Porzingis already is, there’s no exaggerating how valuable it would be to give him a mentor who has been in his shoes before.

Carmelo Anthony has done an outstanding job of mentoring Porzingis, and that process shouldn’t conclude any time soon. There’s simply no way around the parallels that can be drawn between Porzingis and Pau Gasol.

Gasol, like Porzingis, is a European player who made the jump to the NBA from Spain’s Liga ACB, was labeled as the savior of an organization, and then ended up with Phil Jackson.

Porzingis has a superstar ceiling that Gasol, a surefire Hall of Famer, can help him shatter. As previously alluded to, Gasol played an instrumental role on two championship teams and was named All-NBA on four different occasions.

If any player can help Porzingis transition from shining in Spain’s Liga ACB to winning a championship in the NBA, it’s the free agent whom Phil Jackson knows best: Gasol.

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All things considered, signing Gasol could be the key to New York having a successful offseason.

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