NBA Trade Grades: Raptors land Marc Gasol from Grizzlies

Toronto Raptors

First things first: Marc Gasol is no longer the elite two-way player he was when the Grizzlies should’ve pulled the trigger on a deal, about 1-2 years ago. At 34 years old, and with an extensive injury history, this isn’t a risk-free acquisition.

His arrival also creates questions about how head coach Nick Nurse will manage everyone’s playing time, since Serge Ibaka has thrived at center. Ditto for Pascal Siakam as the starting 4, not to mention Jonas Valanciunas’ impressive impact in limited minutes off the bench.

Gasol is a highly intelligent player, and as a former Defensive Player of the Year who has rarely relied on athleticism in his career, he’ll no doubt be an imposing interior defender even as he continues to age.

If he’s splitting time at the 5 with Ibaka, or even coming off the bench to fill JV’s role, this is all promising for Toronto, despite Big Spain being a step slower than he once was.

There’s also the Kawhi Leonard angle to consider. Since that 20-4 start, the Raptors have been a more mundane 19-12, ranking 12th in win percentage, plus/minus and Net Rating in that span. They’ve been good, but not the elite team their current playoff position suggests.

Injuries have played a major factor there, of course, but as the whispers grow louder that Kawhi could be heading to the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency, the Raptors need to reaffirm their commitment to winning and show Leonard that this is the best place for him.

There are potential pitfalls here, however. The $25.6 million salary Gasol will likely opt into for next season is swallowable, but if he remains the Gasol we’ve seen in Memphis lately, another year on those rusting wheels could be bad news.

Valanciunas isn’t a great defender, but he’s improved on that end and he’s an active body on the boards. A disinterested and disgruntled Gasol probably isn’t the version we’ll see in Toronto, but if it is, the Raptors would’ve been better off keeping JV and their depth intact.

More than likely though, Gasol will be reinvigorated playing for a team that gives him his best shot at a title yet. The talent around him is vastly superior to what he had to work with in Memphis, and Toronto’s eighth-ranked defense won’t rely on him to do everything as the anchor.

Despite it being a “down” year, Gasol is still averaging 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 34.4 percent from 3 on 4.2 attempts per game.

Losing a fan favorite like Valanciunas hurts, as does shipping off Wright and his potential. However, being able to snag a three-time All-Star with playoff experience — all without giving up a first round pick — is a solid move.

Factoring in his passing, 3-point range and high basketball IQ, Marc Gasol and the Raptors both deserve one last hurrah, whether it comes this season or next. They’re still firmly in the category of Eastern Conference contenders, and if this move works out, it will not only keep them level with Bucks and Sixers squads that made upgrades at the deadline, but maybe even help them re-sign Kawhi Leonard over the summer.

Grade: A-