OKC Thunder the frontrunner to sign Pau Gasol?

Have the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged as the frontrunner to sign Pau Gasol?

Gasol is a top free agent and has been talking with teams since free agency began at midnight Tuesday. He met with the Lakers and is set to meet with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Even the Miami Heat have spoken with him. But another contender may be the favorite to sign him.

ESPN LA’s Ramona Shelburne says a source described the Thunder as the “frontrunner” to sign the forward. Earlier, Marc Stein reported that the Thunder had engaged both Gasol and Mike Miller since the start of free agency. Stein also says Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook met with Gasol Wednesday in LA to pitch him directly.

The Lakers appear pretty desperate to re-sign Gasol, as he is one of their top priorities. The Warriors and Mavericks have also reached out to Gasol.

Oklahoma City already has Durant, Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins taking up a big chunk of their salary cap, so they don’t have a whole lot to offer. But if Gasol likes their presentation and team, he might have to think about taking a lot less to help them win, or the team could give him a solid deal in a sign-and-trade.

As stated before, it’s nice for Gasol to be empowered for a change after facing all the trade rumors the past several years with the Lakers. Oh, and that picture at the top is of Pau telling the Lakers “peace.”