It's finally time for the Memphis Grizzlies to stop gritting and grinding altogether. The Grizzlies have made Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, the last remaining pillars from its hallowed playoff teams of the mid-2010s, available via trade. But shipping either player out of Memphis won't be as easy as it seems on the surface, and not just because the team waited until both players were on the downside of their careers before deciding to move them.

Gasol will probably be more difficult to trade than Conley. Why? ESPN's Zach Lowe notes that the possibility Gasol opts into the final year of his existing contract is scaring interested teams away for now.

There has not been much buzz about Gasol, though he is hoping for a trade, sources familiar with the matter say. . Teams are waiting to see if the Grizzlies asking price drops a bit, sources say. Memphis has not shown any real interest yet in Andre Drummond, sources say. Detroit might be saving other trade chips for someone else. Gasol's $26 million player option for next season brings a lot of uncertainty for any interested party.

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The three-time All-Star signed a five-year, $113 million deal with the Grizzlies in 2015.

Gasol, the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year and a preternaturally gifted playmaker, was once easily worth such an onerous salary, but Father Time has sapped him of the mobility and athleticism necessary to be a two-way force on a night-to-night basis. Gasol's improved jumper isn't doing much to offset those physical deficiencies, either; after a hot start to the season, he's shot just 29.9 percent from beyond the arc since December 1st.

Where will Gasol end up? At this point, staying in Memphis through the trade deadline seems the most likely outcome.