The Spurs are targeting Marc Gasol in free agency if Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili retire, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News. League sources are convinced Gasol will be the player San Antonio will chase to reload instead of going for a long rebuilding project, which makes sense considering he would fit seamlessly into the role Tim Duncan has now and would form an excellent trio with Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard.
Spurs will pursue Marc Gasol in free agency, according to report
The Spurs have been linked to Gasol several times this season, but it’s hard to see the Spanish center leaving Memphis.
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
It’s not the first time Gasol has been linked to the Spurs this season. Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported something similar back in November. So let’s look at this rumor in more detail.
Why it makes sense
If Duncan and Ginobili retire, the Spurs would have the ability to carve up enough cap room to offer Gasol a maximum contract while maintaining a competitive supporting cast, something few teams with cap space can offer. Gasol seems concerned only with winning and not with playing in a big market or building his brand, which rules out a move to Los Angeles or New York. If he is going to leave Memphis purely to pursue a better chance of winning a title, the Spurs should be on his short list.
While the Grizzlies have played better than the Spurs so far this season, their future might not be as bright. Memphis has a significant part of its salary committed to an aging Zach Randolph and role players like Jeff Green, Courtney Lee and Vince Carter. They are locked into a core that doesn't seem to have a lot of upside. If they fail to win it all this season, Gasol would be wise to explore his options. The Spurs would offer him the possibility to play with an emerging star in Kawhi Leonard while retaining the ability to make more additions the following summer without having to break up the team.
Another selling point for San Antonio is its style of play and the culture established by Gregg Popovich. Gasol is one of the most unselfish players out there, and a move to San Antonio would allow him to go back to doing a bit of everything instead of having to be the man. Tiago Splitter could handle some of the more demanding defensive matchups, allowing Gasol to focus more on quarterbacking the defense near the basket, like Duncan does know, while Parker and Leonard would take care of most of the scoring.
Not having to carry such a heavy burden on either end, coupled with Gregg Popovich’s minute management, could easily extend Gasol’s career, which could be intriguing to the 30-year-old center.
SB Nation presents: The best ways to make the NBA even better
Why it doesn’t make sense
The Grizzlies are second in the West, and while they are going through a bit of a swoon, they are still a serious contender. The two players Gasol has shared the court with for the past few years -- Mike Conley and Randolph -- are both locked into contracts extending past this season, which means Memphis will, in all likelihood, continue to be one of the best teams in the league. Meanwhile, no one knows how the Spurs will look without Duncan, and Leonard's ceiling remains a mystery.
The facts that Gasol went to high school in Memphis and has played there for his entire NBA career also suggest that he might not want to move away from a city that has been his home for years and has welcomed him as one of its own. Unless the Grizzlies flame out of the playoffs, there’s little incentive for him to choose against continuity.
Finally, San Antonio is not a big free agent destination, and Gasol signing there wouldn’t change that. Parker is 32 years old and has a lot of miles on his legs. There are no young stars on the roster, aside from Leonard. How will the Spurs stay competitive in a couple of years? Marc’s brother Pau passed on signing with the team, and he hasn’t been the only high-profile player to do so.
The slight edge the Spurs have over the Grizzlies on cap flexibility means nothing if it can’t be leveraged into getting top talent. Unless they can work their magic again and draft another Leonard, San Antonio could be left with two stars soon -- provided Gasol signs -- while most other contenders boast three.
Likelihood of happening (3/10)
Gasol in San Antonio makes a lot of sense, since he would be joining a team that, with his addition, would be ready to contend, could offer him a maximum contract and has a tradition of unselfishness that fits his personality. The problem for the Spurs is that the Grizzlies offer essentially the same while also providing continuity as an extra selling point.
If Gasol leaves Memphis, the Spurs are a logical front-runners for his services. But unless the Grizzlies have a terrible postseason, it’s hard to see that happening.
See More:
