The Sacramento Kings and the Detroit Pistons are among a few teams to express interest in Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, according to Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.
According to the report, it is Gasol generating more chatter on the trade market than his teammate Mike Conley Jr.
The Grizzlies are trying to included the exiled Chandler Parsons, who signed a four-year, $94.4 million contract in 2016, in any incumbent deal. The injury-prone Parsons has managed to play only 73 games in two-plus seasons due to injuries.
Gasol has a player-option for next season for $25.6 million, which makes Parsons’ inclusion a financial complication, given the total load of contract money to take on.
The Kings have been mum on the potential to re-sign center Willie Cauley-Stein, who has only mildly improved from his third season in the league. Rookie Marvin Bagley III has excelled as a power forward, but struggled to carve out enough space with Stein in the lineup next to him.
The Pistons, however, are a puzzling option here, given how they have a loaded frontcourt with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond — their leading scorer and leading rebounder, respectively.
Gasol is unlikely to want to take part in a backup role, likely looking for a championship contender to finish his career with.
Despite being only a day away from his 34th birthday, Gasol is still a legitimate 7-foot-1 beast in the low-block, one with a soft shooting touch and a newfound willingness to snipe from beyond the arc, a powerful asset for a center in today's game.
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