Marc Gasol Has The Knicks Ruled Out In Free Agency
We know Marc Gasol isn’t looking forward to being a free agent this summer. If Gasol is to sign elsewhere and leave the Memphis Grizzlies, it won’t be for the New York Knicks.
From Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops:
… a little birdie who knows of what he speaks tells me Gasol has already ruled out playing for the New York Knicks. It’s nothing personal with Phil Jackson or that consummate New Yorker, Jim Dolan (gag). It’s a matter of money. He can get a five-year deal to stay in Memphis, where he attended high school. After taxes that will be worth more than twice what he would get from New York.
Gasol is one of the more coveted players as an unrestricted free agent this summer, but there aren’t any signs that he plans on abandoning his current post in Memphis. Not only did Gasol go to school in the area, he’s become part of the new breed and brand of Memphis Grizzlies basketball along with Zach Randolph and Mike Conley.
It was reported that Gasol wouldn’t rule out joining the Los Angeles Lakers, who like the Knicks will have no choice but to offer excessive max deals to guys like Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Goran Dragic in order to compete financially. The challenge for all three of those scenarios is also the fact that the Grizzlies, Trail Blazers, and Heat all offer better chances at success in the short term than the Knicks or Lakers.
Signing Marc Gasol would be the ultimate prize for Phil Jackson and the Knicks. His presence in the triangle offense would be ideal. But apparently none of that will matter to Gasol this summer.
