Free agent center Marc Gasol is narrowing his focus to the Lakers and Raptors, according to Shams Charnia of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The Warriors were among the teams also expressing interest in Gasol, but it sounds as if they’re no longer in the mix. The Mavericks also aren’t considered a probable destination anymore, Charania adds, noting that Dallas had been in the running up until now (Twitter link).
The Raptors hold Gasol’s Bird rights and are well positioned to offer him a lucrative one-year deal for 2020/21. Toronto should be especially motivated to bring back its starting center, having lost Serge Ibaka to the Clippers. If both Gasol and Ibaka depart, 2019 second-rounder Dewan Hernandez would be the only center under contract for the Raptors, since their other big man – Chris Boucher – is a restricted free agent.
While the Raptors can offer Gasol more money for next season, the Lakers are working the marketplace to try to find a way to improve their offer, per Charania. For the time being, they’d be limited to the veteran’s minimum, since they’ve already signed Wesley Matthews using the bi-annual exception and intend to use the full mid-level exception to Montrezl Harrell.
If the Lakers can shed some salary – and if the Raptors or Clippers are willing to cooperate – a sign-and-trade deal for either Gasol or Harrell could help keep the MLE open for the other. Los Angeles is exploring trading away JaVale McGee and his $4.2MM cap hit, tweets Marc Stein of The New York Times.
Should the Lakers snatch Gasol away from Toronto, the Raptors may shift their attention to a Lakers free agent, according to Stein, who reports (via Twitter) that Toronto has “strong interest” in forward Markieff Morris.
Would rather have Aron baynes than gasol…..
Gasol is still a great defender, he’d be a nice complement to Harrell.
Im thinking gasol is most likely to sign than baynes. The issue now with the lakers is money.
Would be a huge get. But neither the Clips nor the Raps are likely to accommodate the Lakers with a S&T, unless the compensation to them was substantial. Even if they did, there can’t be much space under the hard cap at this point.
McGee, Gasol, Harrell, and AD sounds awesome to me
lol mcgee would be gone if they get Gasol and they lose two shotblockers (Howard/Mcgee) guys who made them hard to beat..Gasol is good but old
I predict he signs with the reports
Sign and trade w/ Toronto McGee for Gasol.
Sign Cousins as backup, bring back Morris on vet. min/ and sign Torrey Craig and Austin Rivers on Vet. Min. to round out he 14-man roster. Leave 15th spot for two-way player like Kostas Antetokounmpo to save that link w/ Giannis.
Torrey Craig Signed with the bucks. I doubt Morris or rivers will sign for the minimum.
lmao u think lakers have unlimited money? whats next get Harden,Beal,Giannis for the minimum
Easy
McGee and 4.2 million cash to Knicks for a cheese pizza
Create exception
Knicks have made decision to acquire 10 of the kind
Every kind is 4 million contract
They will need to add a pick or two
Warriors don’t need any Gasoline
All athletic young guys are Hybrid
Gasol held Embiid scoreless for the first time in his career last year. He stands at the top of the key at the 3 pt line and facilitates the pick and roll very well. He can also pop and knock down the 3, while also being a great facilitator for his size up there.
I know you usually just spew garbage but this is just a super lazy phone-it-in comment even from you.
Nice, celtics had theis as their starting center and swept the sixers.
BOS won but Embiid played to an absolutely unbelievable level, he destroyed & embarrassed Theis for life, I mean you can count with the fingers of your hands the players that have had a 30/12 playoff stat line in the last 40 years!
Theis is 6’8 and makes 5 M a year. I don’t think he is “destroyed and embarrassed for life” about a team he was starting for beating Philly easily. Give me a break.
And also, are you really bragging on a guys 4 GAME stat line in the playoffs and saying it was one of the best in 40 years? I mean, I guess we will never know if he could have kept that stat line up through more than 4 games because his team lost every game he played.
Yeah, I am sure Theis was in tears after every single game his team beat Embiids. He must have felt awful.
Don’t see how Raptors let him walk. I guess to ring chase for two yrs. Gasol would take less. Warriors should be in on this.
I must have missed the news that his Barcelona talks broke down. Raps need him back especially after losing Serge now. They also need him to play better though, which he kinda didn’t for stretches. If they lose both they need at least one replacement. Even if they think Boucher will be fine and makes a jump with regular PT I think they need another rim protector
I think they are gonna shift to cousins and baynes which could be cheaper for raptors.
Love Boogie but idk about him for the Raps
Baynes is a downgrade from Serge imo but I honestly don’t really think this is a year where the Raps can win a Chip anyways. If they wanna save some money to go after Giannis then go for it but I don’t know how realistic that is either.
Not willingly, Tatsu
It would not bother GM Ujiri too much if he had to lean on his finds, Boucher and Dewan, but Gasol’s skills (or Valen’s) are a basis for their success. It should not be surprising that the league lockdown would not be good for the state of mind of Gasol OR McGee. Both teams should bring their guys back (that haven’t left already, Ibaka & Howard).