Marc Gasol (along with LeBron James, Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge) is one of the best players who will technically be available to sign elsewhere this summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Like the other names mentioned, though, it’s more than likely Gasol remains where he is -- due to the combination of the money he can receive, along with the fact that he’s playing in a winning situation.
Gasol at one point said he’d listen to everybody’s offers once free agency begins, but a few weeks ago, a report surfaced that said he’d already ruled out playing for the Knicks.
With the Grizzlies in town to beat up on New York, Gasol (predictably) was asked about it.
From Ian Begley of ESPN New York:“I haven’t ruled anything out because I haven’t thought about anything so it would be [premature],” Gasol told a small group of reporters after the Grizzlies’ morning practice at Madison Square Garden. “The reports and stuff like that, I don’t know where they come from because in my mind I haven’t thought about it. I have no [idea] how they can go there. I don’t know. ... We’re in the final stretch of the regular season and we want to get in a good feeling for the playoffs so, trust me, I’m not worrying or thinking about those things yet.” ...
If he re-signs with the Grizzlies, Gasol can ink a max contract that starts at around $18 million in the first season with 7.5 percent raises in each season thereafter. If he signed with the Knicks or any other club, his max contract would be for four years starting at around $18 million in the first season with annual raises of 4.5 percent. ...
“I know what [the Knicks] are trying to accomplish as a team, but like I said we’re trying to accomplish the same thing in Memphis and we’re trying to get to have a chance to go for a ring,” Gasol said. “I see this [Knicks] team being in the same spot we were six or seven years ago when we were winning 20 games and we were trying to create something for the future.”
That last part is the biggest reason why Gasol is unlikely to join the Knicks.
There’s simply no logic in believing he’d be willing to start over completely from scratch, in a new situation, with an unproven head coach, all for less money.
But of course, the rumors will continue to fly, just as they always do.