NBA Free Agents: Re-Signing Marc Gasol Will Help Grizzlies Contend in the West

Despite a decline in production last season, center Marc Gasol has reportedly been re-signed by the Memphis Grizzlies for the maximum he could receive as a free agent, at four years, $58 million.

The deal, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, will include 7.5 percent raises each season, and keep the developing 26-year-old with the Grizzlies while they look to improve upon their 46-36 record from last season.

Gasol has proven to be a solid starting center since being selected in the second round of the 2007 NBA draft. A skilled, unselfish player, Gasol has shown he has the ability to score and get his teammates involved.

However, after averaging 14.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in his second season, Gasol's scoring and rebounding took a dip last season, averaging 11.7 points and 7.0 rebounds, while his shooting percentage dropped.

But the reason the Grizzlies likely looked past all of that is because of his ability to defend the post. There are few true centers in the NBA, but Gasol fits this description. Despite dropoffs in other areas, Gasol still averaged 1.7 blocks last season while playing sound defense.

Gasol also exploded in the playoffs when the Grizzlies shocked the San Antonio Spurs and took the Oklahoma City Thunder down to the wire.

Against the Spurs, Gasol averaged 14.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Against the Thunder, he averaged 15.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.6 steals.

He showed in that electric playoff run that he could rise to the occasion in big moments, and his sporadic play in the regular season all of a sudden didn't mean as much.

On top of this, Gasol did improve his free-throw shooting last season, converting nearly 75 percent of his free-throw attempts. Especially in the playoffs, that skill set from a big man is valuable.

Based on his regular-season numbers, some may feel like Gasol was overpaid this offseason.

But he does enough on defense and when the game is on the line to warrant getting a lucrative contract, it sets the Grizzlies up for yet another playoff push.