Tim Duncan is not going to play forever, which means the San Antonio Spurs need to start thinking about replacing the cornerstone of their franchise. Is Marc Gasol an option to fill that role?
According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Gasol is being “targeted as a possible replacement” for Duncan if Duncan winds up retiring this summer. Isola sees the Spurs as a potential obstacle for the New York Knicks, who are also interested in signing Gasol.
While we don’t doubt that the Spurs are interested in signing Gasol, the biggest obstacles for the Knicks will be themselves and the team Gasol currently plays for, the Memphis Grizzlies. The Knicks are 3-8, are struggling to grasp Phil Jackson’s triangle offense and do not look like a playoff team at the moment. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are off to a 10-1 start and look like one of the best teams in the NBA.
The Grizzlies can offer Gasol the most money in free agency and may give him the best chance to win. Very few players would sign elsewhere under those circumstances.
