Newly acquired big man Marc Gasol will make his Toronto Raptors debut on Saturday against the New York Knicks, but he will come off the bench.
The Raptors acquired Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies for C.J. Miles, Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright and a 2024 second round draft pick.
Marc Gasol will play tonight. Off bench tonight
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) February 9, 2019
This will likely be the only game Gasol comes off the bench for the Raptors. Head coach Nick Nurse is probably just easing him into the rotation.
In 53 games this season, Gasol is averaging 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists. The three-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year is shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 34.4 percent from beyond the arc and 75.6 percent from the free-throw line.
The Raptors enter Saturday with a record of 40-16, good for second place in the Eastern Conference standings. By adding Gasol, Toronto now has a lethal Big Three of Kawhi Leonard, Gasol and Kyle Lowry.
Gasol gives the Raptors another scoring option and a player who is one of the best passing big men in NBA history. He is no longer the elite defender he used to be when he was younger, but Gasol can still be an effective rim protector. Toronto still has Serge Ibaka on the roster as well and he's always been a good shot blocker.
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