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It’s Imperative Memphis Grizzlies Re-Sign Marc Gasol

By D. Goodman

May 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the third quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 98-78. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the third quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 98-78. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the Memphis Grizzlies finished cleaning out their lockers on Monday after being eliminated from the NBA Playoffs by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, there was a lot of time for reflection. About what went right and what went wrong this past season as well as priorities for the future.

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It’s obvious that the Grizzlies need help in the form of a consistent outside shooting threat. Their bench needs to be improved so that head coach David Joerger doesn’t have to depend on his starters so much. And the Grizzlies front office is going to have to start making some decisions very soon about contracts and who stays and who goes.

But there is no question that the biggest issue facing the Grizzlies is the future of All-Star center Marc Gasol.

Gasol is going to be an unrestricted free agent come July and there are going to be a number of teams that will give the 30-year old just about anything he wants to sign with them.

Both the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers have already made it known they are very interested in acquiring the services of the 7-foot-1, 265 pound big man and there is growing concern that San Antonio Spurs will make Gasol an offer he can’t refuse.

It’s no wonder Gasol looks to be one of the hottest players available in this season’s free agent market. He averaged 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game during the 2014-15 regular season and 19.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks during the Grizzlies playoff run.

Gasol is the prototypical NBA big man who can play outstanding defense, score when needed and is also known as an all-around nice guy in the locker room.

And there is no way the Grizzlies can let him leave.

The Grizzlies have built their entire team, their entire way of playing basketball around a “grit and grind” philosophy of playing tough, a stifling defense and making opponents play at their pace. It’s a scheme that has served them well and helped the franchise advance to the Western Conference Finals once as well as multiple trips to the semifinals.

Marc Gasol is the engine that makes all of that go.

Between him and power forward Zach Randolph, the two have come to define Memphis basketball and if the team wants to stay relevant and continue to win, that cannot change.

Gasol is Tennessee through and through. He went to high school there, makes his home there with his family and the Memphis Grizzlies is the only franchise Gasol has ever played for. For his part, Gasol has said nothing one way or another, only telling Clay Bailey (Associated Press) on Monday that he won’t rush into a decision.

"“I’ve never been through it like that. Take it one day at a time and try to understand what the plan is for the next four or five years of my life.”"

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Ex-Grizzlies guard opens up on desired landing spots for 2023-24 season
Ex-Grizzlies guard opens up on desired landing spots for 2023-24 season /

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    • Memphis is in a tough spot in that even with the increased cap space the new television deal will provide, they have a lot of money already spoken for and players with expiring contracts.

    Backup center Kosta Koufos‘s contract is up, point guard Mike Conley is going into the last year of his current deal and the Grizzlies will want to keep him around while Randolph signed a two-year extension in July worth $20 million.

    Despite all of that, the Grizzlies need to find a way to re-sign Marc Gasol and keep him in Memphis. Losing him would easily put the franchise back to square one since, the way this Grizzlies’ team is currently built, he is all but irreplaceable.

    The way Marc Gasol has played since arriving in the NBA there is no questions that he is deserving of a max contract and that he will more than likely get one. The Grizzlies need to make sure they are the team that give it to him.

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