Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol is playing for a contract this season, and he got the year off to a strong start with 32 points and nine rebounds in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Gasol, 29, is expected to be one of the top free agents on the market before the 2015-2016 season. Might the New York Knicks end up signing him?
Gasol’s older brother, Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol, recently told Zach Braziller of the New York Post that Marc has spoken to him about the possibility of playing for the Knicks.
“We’ll see what happens next year what he decides and hopefully he’ll have a strong year and all the options in the world because he’s one of the top centers, interior players in the league, so any team would be fortunate to have him,” Pau Gasol said. “It’s a personal decision. I talked to my brother enough about Phil (Jackson) that he knows what he brings to the table.”
Pau knows plenty about Jackson, who is now the head of basketball operations with the Knicks, and Derek Fisher, the team’s new head coach. He played for Jackson from 2008 to 2011 and alongside Fisher from 2008 to 2012.
Pau noted that he chose to sign with the Chicago Bulls because he felt they have a better chance to contend right away, but he also believes in what Jackson is doing in New York.
“Obviously there’s a lot of factors that come into play, but I have faith in Phil that he’ll succeed,” he said.
The Knicks should be roughly $20 million under the cap after this season, so they’ll have plenty of room to sign Marc Gasol. That said, the Grizzlies finished 50-32 last season and pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the opening round of the playoffs. If they continue to improve, there’s no guarantee Gasol will be leaving Memphis.
