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Memphis Grizzlies: 3 trade possibilities for Marc Gasol

By Jake Peterson

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 18: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on after a loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 18, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 18: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on after a loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 18, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

With the Memphis Grizzlies trotting down the losing path, management seems willing to listen to offers for Marc Gasol. Can they find a deal?

Marc Gasol has been a part of the Memphis Grizzlies for 11 years now, coming over in a 2008 trade with his brother Pau Gasol. Now, his time in Memphis seems to be coming to an end, after ownership has expressed they are willing to listen to trade offers for him and point guard Mike Conley.

Like Conley, Memphis will surely be asking for everything they can: young assets, cap relief and a draft pick.

Trading Gasol, however, is not going to be an easy task. Gasol’s offensive production has dipped significantly after a hot start to the season. His age (he’ll be 34 in a week) and a big price tag may scare off teams as well.

Here’s what Gasol’s contract looks like for the remainder of the deal:

  • 2018-19: $24.1 million (34 years old)
  • 2019-20: $25.5 million (35 years old)

That second year makes things quite tricky because it’s a player option. If Gasol’s deal were expiring outright, moving him would be a much simpler task. There are always tons of teams looking to get under the tax line, free up cap space or get out of some dead money.

But paying of player of Gasol’s current caliber over $25 million is tough to swallow for any team. There is no guarantee Gasol will pick up that option, though. He could opt out and go ring-chasing, go for a deal with longer years or try to go play with his brother, Pau.

But…there isn’t any guarantee he WON’T pick it up. Then what? That team would be stuck paying $25 million to a center who could decline even more by next year. Additionally, Big Spain has a tendency to mope around at times when things don’t go his way. If he lands at Destination X and things turn south, that’s just an extra burden on a franchise.

Remember, Memphis is going to be putting a huge price on Gasol and what may seem like a fair deal could look like peanuts to the front office. It will be very interesting to see how they deal with teams over the next two weeks.

Many will argue Memphis has held on to Gasol too long and the window to ship him off closed a few years ago. He had a stellar 2016-17 campaign before the wheels in Memphis came off last season. It might have been worthwhile to hit the reset button then, when they could’ve received better compensation for what they might get.

But then again, this is Memphis and Marc is a huge part of Memphis. Ever since playing at Lausanne Collegiate School in Germantown, a suburb outside of Memphis, as a chubby teen, Gasol has been a part of the city and the team.

After the team’s recent loss to the Charlotte Hornets, Gasol told The Commercial Appeal:

"“My relationship with the Grizzlies might change, but my relationship with Memphis won’t. What I feel inside and how I feel about Memphis and its people, it has nothing to do with the franchise or a temporary thing.”"

Without further ado, let’s see some possible deals for Gasol.

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