According to Sam Amick of USA Today there is a possibility of unrestricted free agent Marc Gasol signing with the San Antonio Spurs this offseason, and that possibility has Gasol’s teammates worried. Marc Gasol will without doubt have plenty of suitors vying for his skill-set this summer.
There is confidence among Gasol's teammates that he won't want to leave their Grit & Grind core, but that Spurs possibility worries them.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 16, 2015
The Grizzlies’ 108-95 Game 6 loss on Friday could be his final game in a Grizzlies uniform if this report becomes a reality. Since Marc Gasol arrived in Memphis as part of the 2008 deal, the Grizzles have been playing a tremendous grind it out, half-court style of basketball. Marc Gasol is now easily amongst the top 5 centers in the NBA, and he is also a very accomplished player; a former Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time All-Star, and an All-NBA team member.
“The city of Memphis and the franchise means a lot to me,”
Gasol told Amick back in February.
“It’s not going to be easy for me to leave a place like that.”
What’s intriguing about this report is that if you are Marc Gasol, the idea of playing for head coach Gregg Popovich and maybe teaming with future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan in the Spurs’ front-court may be too enticing of an opportunity to pass up. However, as a fan I would like to think that Gasol will try to keep the core together in Memphis, since they have been so close to doing something unique as a franchise, and it’s hard to gauge anything on Gasol right now. Simply because he just doesn’t talk about it.
Asked a Grizzlies type recently what internal read was on whether Marc Gasol would be back. They're in the dark, as he doesn't talk about it
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 16, 2015
There is confidence among Gasol's teammates that he won't want to leave their Grit & Grind core, but that Spurs possibility worries them.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 16, 2015
Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported in November that the Spurs would target Gasol as a replacement for Duncan should the 18-year veteran decide to retire. The New York Knicks and their enormous amount of cap room will reportedly also be involved in the Gasol sweepstakes.
I think Gasol will chose to stay with his home team, he and Zach Randolph make one dynamic duo, and I don’t see him leaving what he has helped build in Memphis. Nevertheless, if Gasol really wants the best chance to win a championship and play a for first class type organization then the rational choice would be to sign with the San Antonio Spurs.
