2015 NBA Free Agency: Marc Gasol Inks Five-Year Griz Deal

Published on 15-Jul-2015 by David Webb

Basketball - NBA    NBA Daily Update

Share this article


2015 NBA Free Agency: Marc Gasol Inks Five-Year Griz Deal

Rest easy Memphis, he’s back.

That’s right, Marc Gasol has decided to stay with the Grizzlies for the next five years, signing a contract worth north of $100million.

Does this shock anyone? Absolutely not. Gasol made a point late last season that Memphis was most likely his destination. Hell, he didn’t even meet with any other teams to hear pitches. As he said, leaving Memphis was never an idea in his mind.

There were teams, like the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, who thought they had a chance to pry him away from the grit and grind. But they never truly had a chance. It was just a matter of Memphis getting down to business and hashing it out.

That mid-range stroke is a thing of beauty.

So, Gasol is committed, but can Memphis now hold up their end of the bargain?

  • Last season’s playoff run ended when Mike Conley got elbowed in the face and suffered multiple facial fractures. As well, the Griz ran up against Golden State's Warriors, but think about it: was anyone going to beat those dudes?

    Ouch. That’s just bad luck.
  • Memphis has a somewhat stable core now. Conley, Gasol, and Z-Bo can still anchor this team for the next couple of seasons, but what's the transition going to look like? Randolph isn’t exactly the spryest power forward in the league, and Tony Allen is 33 years old. Age might start hampering the Grizzlies, especially with the hard-nosed, defensive style they play. It's very possible that they've hit their peak with this roster and this is their chance.
  • If that’s the case, how can Memphis transition? They’re lucky in that Conley, at 27, is young and that Gasol doesn’t really age, at least not yet. Seriously, he’s played seven years and has gotten leaner. This dude does not age. While the roster they have in place will certainly be competitive for the next few seasons, there has to be a plan in place. Think about it: who's the young player on this team who could emerge? Brandan Wright is an excellent pickup, but even he’s 27 years old. 

That being said, Memphis has locked up Gasol, and while Conley wants to wait to sign an extension, the Grizzlies will most likely sign him up, too.

That’s just smart.

Those two players are obviously the most important for the franchise; it’s just a matter of finding the teammates to put around them. Watch how many times Gasol helps free up Conley with a screen or throws him an outlet pass:

It’s obvious that with Conley healthy, the way the Grizzlies play is crippling to opponents.

However, is their play style going to need to shift for the future? The league is looking at the Warriors and realizing that going small and playing fast is extremely effective. We all know that teams copy each other; Golden State is just the most recent example of it.

Seriously, Memphis is going to need to get faster.

These are the questions the Grizzlies must answer and answer soon. Similar to their toughness, the organization and coaching staff has built a stable environment and has ensured that their most important player sticks around for the rest of his prime.

Now, Memphis just has to keep up with the stellar lineups and the bloodbath in the Western Conference.

But, tackling the future just got a lot easier, because Gasol is staying. Memphis fans, you have every right to feel groovy.