Marc Gasol is set to be one of the top free agent targets this offseason in the NBA and while many speculated he will stay in Memphis with the Grizzlies, teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, NY Knicks, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs are some of the teams that could be interested in going after him if he opts to sign elsewhere.
Gasol is in the middle of one of his best seasons as a professional and he did it at the right time, as he is about to hit the free agent market this summer. Gasol spoke about his future ahead of a matchup with the Knicks on Monday, saying that he is focused on helping Memphis make a run in the playoffs. According to the NY Daily News, Gasol said that he has not crossed off any teams from his "wish list" for the summer and denied a report that stated he would not be interested in signing with the Knicks.
The Knicks have been terrible this season and that is why many expect Gasol not to consider them this summer, but he refuted that notion. Gasol said that he has "not ruled" anything out yet for the summer and that his main concern is the playoffs and he will think about free agency once the season ends. The Knicks and Lakers are reportedly the top teams looking to chase Gasol with a max contract, while the Boston Celtics also could be an option, according to Pro Basketball Talk.
The Knicks have cleared out a ton of cap space and they are setting themselves up to try and sign two or three major free agents next summer. The Knicks reportedly will have over $30 million in cap space next summer and that puts them in contention for Gasol. The Grizzlies can offer a larger max deal than other teams, but with the Lakers and Celtics also clearing out cap space, there is a good chance he gets some competitive offers.
Gasol is coming in after winning the defensive player of the year award in the past and he has also been on two All-Star teams including this season. Gasol made the All-Star team this year and he is averaging 17 points and eight rebounds per game this season. Those are both career highs for Gasol, who is currently 30-years-old and still in the prime of his career. The Grizzlies are in position to make a run in the wide open West and that could factor into his decision once free agency arrives.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Sean Deveney of Sporting News writes that the San Antonio Spurs could be a wild card in the Gasol chase this summer. The team does not usually go after big name free agents, but every once in a while they make a splash move, like trading George Hill for Kawhi Leonard. The team reportedly will be interested in Jimmy Butler also, but Gasol is the main target if players like Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobili decide to retire, according to Deveney.
The Grizzlies are looking to make a run in the playoffs and if they get through to the west finals or the NBA finals, there is a good chance Gasol could stay. The Lakers, Celtics and Knicks likely will try their best to make sure that doesn't happen this summer.
