Memphis Grizzlies' Pitch to Marc Gasol in 2015 NBA Free Agency
Marc Gasol's re-signing with the Memphis Grizzlies almost seems like a foregone conclusion. Nevertheless, Gasol will entertain all offers, meaning the Grizzlies must sell him on their championship potential.
The 7-foot, 265-pound center possesses the pedigree of a star committed to his city.
He's spent all seven years playing for the Grizzlies. Gasol went to high school in Memphis. The Spaniard's family moved to "Bluff City." I've discussed his tight relationship with Zach Randolph, with whom he's played six years.
Despite being one of the most desirable players on the market, Gasol has been tranquil about free agency. He spoke fondly of the Grizzlies in an interview with Gigantes del Basquet's Adriano Correal, saying (translated by HoopsHype), "I have not thought about changing teams. Everyone knows about the relationship between Memphis and all my family. It's special and it has left a mark on us."
Gasol lives in the present and seems more concerned with what surrounds him than pushing his brand.
With all that in mind, Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported, "Gasol is expected to stay with the Grizzlies, but no final decision has been made."
However invested he may be in Memphis, Gasol is a superstar who's open to hearing proposals for his services. The New York Knicks plan to take a shot at him, and he told ESPN.com's Ian Begley in March he hadn't ruled them out.
The San Antonio Spurs appear to be the strongest team interested in the 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year, although ESPN.com's Marc Stein said they hold LaMarcus Aldridge as a higher priority if Tim Duncan retires.
ESPN.com's Michael Wallace noted the Dallas Mavericks' interest, bringing another Western Conference playoff team to the chase. Obtaining Gasol's passing would aid the flow of the Mavericks' perimeter attack.
Gasol is guaranteed to receive his second maximum contract after making the All-NBA First Team and starting in the All-Star Game this season while posting career-best marks in points per game (17.4), assist rate (19.7 percent) and usage rate (24.6 percent) this season.
Whereas other teams can only offer the 30-year-old four years, Memphis may issue a five-season tender that would see him playing until age 36. That would bring him close to the end of his NBA career in his longtime home.
In an interview with CLNS radio, Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace emphatically stated, "We have every intention of re-signing Marc Gasol."
Wallace should make a few things clear in persuading the league's best all-around center.
Championship potential
The Grizzlies have built a contender around the core of Gasol, Randolph and Mike Conley, though the trio was never quite strong enough to reach the NBA Finals despite Gasol and Conley's persistent growth.
A 56-win 2012-13 season that ended with a Western Conference finals sweep at the hands of the Spurs was the apex, as Gasol and Randolph combined for 34.6 points and 18.5 rebounds per game that postseason.
Gasol and Randolph may be the supreme interior duo, but the Western Conference semifinals series loss to the Golden State Warriors in May reminded the Grizzlies they need better outside shooting to complete the championship puzzle.
Memphis tried addressing this issue in the past year by acquiring Vince Carter and Jeff Green, but neither were satisfactory answers. Carter endured his worst season, which included a 29.7 percent three-point mark. Green was inconsistent in 45 games with the Grizzlies after being acquired via trade from the Boston Celtics as he hit 36.2 percent from downtown.
Two positive developments were Courtney Lee and Conley hitting 40.2 percent and 38.6 percent from long range, respectively. Both were near their top career clips.
Ensuring Gasol he'll have additional outside options to whom he can pass on the wing should boost the center's confidence in returning. If Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger gives Jordan Adams a rotation role in his second season, he could help. Adams hit 10-of-25 in 30 games as a rookie and 35.6 percent in his last year at UCLA.
Free-agent possibilities include Marco Belinelli and Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy scored 9.5 points per game and made 40.7 percent from downtown for the Chicago Bulls. Belinelli posted 9.2 points per game while knocking down 37.4 percent from beyond the arc for the San Antonio Spurs.
Both could be acquired using the mid-level exception.
Clarifying Jeff Green's role
Establishing Green's niche for next season will ease Gasol's mind pertaining to his own production.
Green, an erratic offensive creator, tends to suck shots away from those who aren't taking them. When the team's leading scorer wasn't acting on an impulse to fire away, the swingman was ready to attack.
During Green's time with the Grizzlies, Gasol took 12.3 field-goal attempts per game, 1.4 more than him. This disrupted the team's most important offensive player. Gasol shot four percent worse with Green on the floor, per NBA.com.
Even though Joerger placed responsibility on Gasol, as the Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery reported, one cannot deny how the small forward ruptured his rhythm.
That was part of the reason why the Grizzlies scored 2.3 fewer points per 100 possessions with Green on court.
In his seven-year career, Green has been best when he fits a specific role, rather than getting wide latitude for playmaking as Joerger allowed in 2014-15.
Green, who exercised his 2015-16 player option on Thursday, could fit well in a bench role surrounded by non-shooters who'd let him dominate the ball. Such a move should satisfy Gasol and improve the starting lineup's efficiency.
Building a bridge to the future without betraying Zach Randolph
If Gasol plays out a five-year contract with the Grizzlies, the core would look different in the last couple seasons.
Randolph turns 34 in July and doesn't produce the way he once did. While Randolph's 10.5 rebounds per game ranked seventh in the league, hos 16.1 points per game were his second-lowest mark as a full-time starter. Once a constant double-double threat, the 14-year veteran had 38 in 2014-15.
The rebound extraordinaire will remain one of the best on the glass due to his reliance on positioning and strength. His sense for the direction of each miss is impeccable.
However, Randolph will recede further offensively. Since he takes many of his shots inside 10 feet, he may conserve his energy more after launching 13.1 shots per game, his fewest as a starter.
Randolph, whose contract expires in two years, might desire another run. By then, his value would be limited to situational rebounding, like Marcus Camby in his twilight.
Gasol surely trusts the Grizzlies' vision in finding the best big man to pair with him in 2017. Still, the Spaniard would wish the front office treats his frontcourt mate well as Randolph looks to retire a Grizzly.
Conclusion
Convincing Gasol they have a positive championship outlook would ensure he will return to the Grizzlies. A significant part of the discussion involves outlining a plan to expand the offense, improving the perimeter attack.
If they can't assure him they'll finish the job, that leaves an opening for the Spurs or Mavericks.
Grizzlies fans should keep in mind how grounded Gasol is in Memphis, as well as the bond he holds with Randolph and Conley.
Gasol knows what he has on Beale Street. The Grizzlies were one of the two best teams in the NBA most of the season, and they battled the Warriors for six games before falling out.
Understanding how tough his team has been in the playoffs will give him hope that returning offers the best shot at a ring.
Unless otherwise noted, advanced metrics come from basketball-reference.com.
Tom Firme is a Memphis Grizzlies featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @TFirme.
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