Lost in the fray of the contract money handed out in last summer's free agency was the Toronto Raptors recruitment of Pau Gasol.
Gasol eventually settled down in San Antonio where he starts for the Spurs, and that always appeared to be his destination.
It didn't stop Coach Dwane Casey from trying whatever he could to recruit the Spanish big man.
In today’s age of texting, we texted like two little girls between each other, . I knew Pau a little bit through (former Raptors guard) Jose (Calderon), who I have great respect for, so that was my relationship with him.
Just trying to convince him of our culture, our city, our country being a melting pot for someone like him and how important he would be to our team.
Gasol had narrowed his choices down to Toronto or San Antonio, but the Spurs and how he fit with the team was too much to pass up.
Tim Duncan was on the cusp of retiring, and LaMarcus Aldridge needed another big man on his side to man the paint. Not only that but his younger brother Marc Gasol even lobbied publicly for him to choose San Antonio.
Casey had every odd against him, but he felt Gasol was valuable enough to bring more experience and leadership to an already winning Raptors squad.
The Spurs got their man, and are currently 2nd in the Western Conference. The Raptors weren't as lucky, but are currently enjoying being 2nd in the Eastern Conference. Would it have made that much of a difference for the Raptors considering they picked up where they left off?
That part isn't quite clear, but Casey still admires Gasol from afar.
Now they are bringing out Power Four Strong, a play that they used to run with Robinson and Duncan. They have pulled that out of their hat so (it’s the) same play calls, same cuts, same formations, but different people. That is the beauty of this program and why it’s the envy of all sports.
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