The entire NBA community will be anxiously awaiting Kawhi Leonard's decision in free agency this summer, but he is not the only member of the Toronto Raptors with a player option.
Toronto acquired veteran center Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies at the trade deadline, hoping that Gasol would provide a vital frontcourt piece to put the Raptors over the top in pursuit of an NBA championship.
Initially, Gasol struggled to mesh with his new teammates, and head coach Nick Nurse seemed reluctant to let him get an extended run towards the end of the regular season. By the conclusion of Toronto's historic run, however, Gasol had proven to be a crucial glue guy and a dependable scoring option.
Despite seeming like somewhat of an afterthought due in part to Leonard's outstanding postseason performance, Gasol is still one of the better big men in basketball.
Prior to coming over to the Raptors, Gasol had averaged 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 53 games with the Grizzlies. Much like Al Horford in Boston, his ability to handle the ball and provide good distribution on the perimeter was imperative to Toronto's offense in the playoffs.
Now, Gasol faces a decision of his own as he celebrates the first NBA title of his career. But much like Leonard, he is more keen on enjoying the moment as opposed to thinking about the future:
Predictably, Gasol says he hasn’t looked into player option too much. “Now’s the time to celebrate and enjoy this moment."
— (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) June 16, 2019
Gasol's player option is for nearly $26 million, which would make him the second highest-paid player on Toronto's roster before a potential extension given to Leonard.
Whether or not Leonard decides to remain with the Raptors, Gasol could prove to be a vital piece in Toronto's hopes to remain as a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference.
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