The NBA trade deadline is over and done with and there weren’t really any big names who made a significant jump.

One name who was widely abuzz was Pau Gasol who was being eyed by at least two ball clubs -- the New York Knicks and the Sacramento Kings.

Had a trade consummated, the move was seen more as a temporary stop. Gasol is expected to opt out of his current $7.7 million deal after this season as he looks to get a better financial package in line with the rising salary caps.

The New York Knicks would have been a reunion between him and team president Phil Jackson, not to mention a perfect piece to aid the squad that has been groping to learn the Triangle Offense.

The Sacramento Kings would have seen Gasol and Tony Snell swapping places with Ben McLemore and Kosta Koufos but the main goal there was to actually to lower the lottery protection which the Kings owed to the Bulls.

All those plans are now down the drain with Gasol staying in Chicago. And the Spaniard seems pretty much fine with the arrangement.

"I'm happy here. I like a lot of things about my situation here. Now let's see if we can make the basketball better," Gasol said. "That would be ideal. If we can fix that, it's obviously something I would want to continue to be a part of."

The Bulls are not exactly humming and pretty much far apart from their performance last season. Compounding their woes was the loss of Joakim Noah to injury which places Gasol in a pretty tough position as far as toughening up the forward line.

"I knew this season was going to be a little of a transition, adjusting to the new philosophy, which is pretty different from what we had last year," Gasol said. "But I don't think that will be a downside or negative in this situation."

Though already 35, the seven-footer has proven himself to be reliable. He can score, rebound and assist, a key piece that the Bulls can count on. And given those attributes, such is one reason why the Bulls view him as a vital cog to the team’s future.

"We value Pau," said Bulls general manager Gar Forman. "And Pau wasn't shopped. We see him as part of our core."

With that said, the mutual acceptance between Gasol and Bulls management could hint at a deal that the Spaniard has been looking for. But all that remains to be seen as the Bulls try to settle their current season first.