NBA Free Agents 2011: Highly Sought Marc Gasol Won't Be Walking out of Memphis

The free agent period will be wild and manic. In the case of the most sought after star, it will be a fairly boring experience as he returns to the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Marc Gasol proved something wholly impossible in the last couple of seasons. There is more than one Gasol worth worrying about in the Association. 

He has the size of a gritty big man with the fluid and remarkable touch that his big brother shares. Basketball genes seem to run deep in the Gasol household, so it's no wonder that pretty much any team with room would love to have him. 

Well, too bad. The Memphis Grizzlies have pretty much made up their minds on the matter. A restricted free agent, Gasol will surely warrant a few offers, but the Grizzlies can match all of them. 

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports Memphis is set on keeping Gasol and they will pretty much do anything their pocket book warrants to make sure that happens. Tillery writes: 

"

People with knowledge of (owner Michael) Heisley's thinking are convinced that the Grizzlies will match any offer sheet Gasol signs with another suitor.

"

The trick comes in how much cash they have left for future signings. This team is highly committed financially to Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay and Mike Conley. That means they will have to get awfully creative if they throw in a Gasol contract that will no doubt be for a lot and over the course of a great number of years. 

ESPN's Ryan Corazza cites that the money may come in the form of increasingly out of favor O.J. Mayo. Corazza believes the team will either pitch him to another team for compensation that will lighten the wallet, or just let him walk when he becomes a free agent in 2012. 

Either way, it's clear that Gasol is going to stay in Memphis. That should come as comforting news as Gasol was one of the pivotal cogs in last season's fantastic run into the playoffs. 

Brighter days continue in Memphis as Gasol is nearly guaranteed to reprise his role as a grizzled superstar.