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The Toronto Raptors are coming off of their first NBA championship, but with Kawhi Leonard departing via free agency this summer, a whole lot of the shine has been taken off of the team.
However, Raptors big man Marc Gasol still thinks Toronto can accomplish big things this coming season:
“We're a very hungry team,” said Gasol, according to Raptors beat writer Eric Smith. We all understand what Kawhi meant to the team and how well he played in the playoffs, but we also understand how good we can be as a team.”
The Raptors acquired Gasol in a midseason trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. He played in 26 games and made 19 starts with Toronto, averaging 9.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists over 24.9 minutes per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the floor, 44.2 percent from three-point range and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line.
On the season as a whole, Gasol appeared in 79 contests, registering 13.6 points, 7.9 boards, 4.4 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals over 30.8 minutes a night, making 44.8 percent of his field-goal attempts, 36.3 percent of his long-distance tries and 75.9 percent of his foul shots.
The 34-year-old is entering the final year of his deal and is set to make just under $26 million.
Gasol spent the first 10-and-a-half seasons of his NBA career with the Grizzlies, making three All-Star teams and capturing a Defensive Player of the Year award.
He boasts career averages of 15 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 blocks through 33.4 minutes per game while connecting on 48.3 percent of his shots, 35 percent of his triples and 77.7 percent of his free throws.
