The Kings and Pistons have expressed interest in Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, citing multiple sources.
The Grizzlies are trying to dump Chandler Parsons‘ contract in the deal. That complicates any potential transaction involving Gasol, since he has a player option for next season worth $25.6MM, O’Connor notes.
Gasol and Parsons are making a combined $48.2MM this season, so packaging them together and making the salaries match up with a trade partner would obviously be a challenging task. Parsons has another guaranteed $25MM remaining in the final year of his contract next season.
Memphis’ willingness to deal its two big-name veterans, Gasol and point guard Mike Conley, became public last week. The Grizzlies have fallen out of the playoff picture, putting them in a seller’s mode.
The motivation for the two suitors mentioned is unclear.
The Kings have been linked to Dallas forward Harrison Barnes as well as Atlanta guard Jeremy Lin in recent weeks. They also showed interest in Knicks center Enes Kanter before talks broke down. So the Kings are seemingly itching to make a move before the February 7th deadline.
How Gasol would fit into their immediate plans is a question mark, since Sacramento has a number of young bigs. It began Monday three games out of the final Western Conference playoff spot. Sacramento’s highest-paid players, Zach Randolph ($11.1MM) and Iman Shumpert ($11.0MM) have expiring contracts, as does Kosta Koufos ($8.74MM).
The Pistons’ interest in Gasol would be centered around dumping salary, so they’d probably have to sweeten the pot with a future first-rounder and a young player. Reggie Jackson, Jon Leuer and Langston Galloway fit the category of bad contracts that run through next season. Detroit is two games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference despite a prolonged slide.
Alternatively, Detroit could go into full rebuild mode and put Andre Drummond in a deal involving Gasol in order to free up much-needed cap space. If the Pistons were to acquire Gasol without including Drummond in the trade, Gasol would have to come off the bench behind Drummond and Blake Griffin.
Kings… makes no sense but okay.
Maybe one day Vlade might actually try to upgrade the small forward position.
Drummond isn’t getting any better, bad shot selection, slacker on defense and only gets block on the other teams 12th man. Gasol would bring urgency and professionalism. And after saying all that they might as well take parsons if they will take Reggie Jackson because at least there’s hope for parsons because Reggie’s hopeless.
The Pistons just hate the draft.
Pistons should be looking to give up Reggie jackson+ for Conley if they are really wanting to compete, and maybe send a pick or two to get Terrence Ross from the magic. Possibly do a three way trade where they part with drummond and some how get Vucevic and Ross? I mean there are some interesting things they could do
Clippers, Houston, Lakers make the most sense for Gasol for me. I guess I could see Sacramento as well, but they have young bigs that should get that playing time
More evidence the Kings know Stein is leaving. New evidence the Pistons are dissatisfied with the new improved(?) Drummond.
No disrespect to Gasol’s GM-baiting merits, but these are two teams that one might guess would have other plans.
Neither of these 2 teams make sense. Pistons going to play Gasol, Drummond, and Griffin together? Kings have WCS who is having his best year and they aren’t a Marc Gasol away from winning a playoff series. They need a starting wing like a Barnes or a TJ Warren. Not another big guy to take minutes away from the young bigs they have
Why would Gasol play behind Drummond?