According to Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler, the Portland Trail Blazers are aggressively pursuing Memphis Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol.
The Portland Trail Blazers have apparently been busy as the February 7 NBA Trade Deadline approaches. Per Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler, the club has been in aggressive pursuit of Memphis Grizzlies star big man Marc Gasol.
After a hot 15-9 start, the Grizz have plummeted in the standings and dropped games left and right. They are 2-15 in their last 17 contests and currently sit second-to-last in the Western Conference. Seeing the club sputter out of playoff contention, Memphis’s front office has finally decided to pull the curtain on the franchise’s storied Grit-N-Grind era. As reported on January 23 by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the team has opened up trade negotiations for their two most talented core pieces in Mike Conley and Gasol.
When discussing where Gasol may end up, Kyler wrote:
"“There are a couple of teams to watch specific to Gasol, the top being the Portland Trail Blazers. Sources close to the situation labeled the Blazers as the more likely team to land Gasol if the Grizzlies do a deal, but there was not a sense that anything was close enough to call.”"
Gasol, 34, has spent all 11 seasons of his NBA career in Memphis. He has been named to two All-NBA teams and one All-Defensive Team and was 2013’s Defensive Player of the Year. This year, he is averaging 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists.
Kyler also added:
"“League source have labeled the Blazers as being aggressive in trying to find one more star-level guy to pair with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.”"
Although Gasol fits the bill of a star, the Blazers’ strong interest in the seven-footer comes as a bit of a surprise. Their current center, Jusuf Nurkic, is enjoying the best year of his career, and a bulk of the criticism over Portland’s roster focuses on their lack of a dynamic wing player.
However, in Rip City’s market, the thought could be that “talent is talent,” and Gasol may be the most realistic All-NBA target on the front office’s white boards (although Portland is rumored to be dark horses in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes).
Gasol provides a legitimate pick-and-pop threat for Lillard and McCollum and is capable of creating his own offense too. His career-average of 1.5 blocks per game could also add some extra rim protection or be a viable substitute for Nurkic, if he is included in the deal.
The big man is due $24.1-million this year and has a player option for next season at $25.6-million. If he exercises this option, he, Lillard, and McCollum would all be in search of new contracts in the summer of 2020.
By taking on Gasol, Portland would likely be locked into that big three through next season.
As reports continue to surface, it is becoming clearer that the Blazers are buyers this trade deadline. The question is, Will they make a purchase?