Memphis Grizzlies: The Impact Of Marc Gasol’s Season-Ending Injury
The Future
Head-to-head matchups with the Jazz (at home on Mar. 4), Rockets (on the road on Mar. 14) and Mavs (on the road on Apr. 5) may play a huge role in whether the Grizzlies retain their playoff spot, but truth be told, Gasol’s season-ending injury could have major ripple effects extending far beyond this year’s playoff pool and retaining a late first round pick.
For starters, Mike Conley hits free agency this summer. Though he’s remained loyal to the grit-n-grind movement on Beale Street and it doesn’t seem like he would leave, other teams will be in hot pursuit of the underrated 28-year-old point guard. You have to figure that Gasol’s health problems could play a factor in his decision as the grit-n-grind era inches closer and closer to doomsday.
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Then there’s the Kevin Durant pipe dream that every team outside of Oklahoma City, Oakland and Washington has no business having. A core of Gasol, Conley and KD sounds nice, until you remember Durant would have far better options in OKC and Golden State than an ailing center recovering from foot surgery, a good but not great floor general and zero bench depth.
We should also note that Mario Chalmers, the team’s current backup point guard, becomes a free agent this summer. Next summer, the currently 34-year-old Zach Randolph will come off the books, and at some point in time, the front office will need to decide if the nostalgia and warm sentiments from blue-collar fans toward this grit-n-grind roster — a group that only got as far as the Western Conference Finals the year that Russell Westbrook was out injured — is worth sacrificing the future for.
You never like to see a good thing end this way, but there’s no doubt that Gasol’s season ending-injury casts a shadow of doubt over the future of this franchise — especially with Lee and Green gone and Conley, Chalmers, Matt Barnes and Chris Andersen ALL becoming unrestricted free agents this summer.
The Grizzlies will have substantial cap space this summer, but so will plenty of teams. There’s also substantial risk for Conley to recommit to a franchise whose best player is 31 years old and coming off a foot injury that’s debilitated quite a few NBA careers for seven-footers, and any hesitation from Conley to re-up on a max contract would give other free agents pause to join the cause.
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The Lee and Green trades weren’t clear indicators that the grit-n-grind era had met its demise, but Marc Gasol’s season-ending injury could usher it in all the same.