Memphis Grizzlies fans can begin to breathe a bit easier as all signs point to the continued presence of All-Star center Marc Gasol in free agency.
Gasol, unlike many of his high profile free agent counterparts, has not scheduled any meetings with interested teams, ESPN reports. Instead, Gasol will host a group of Grizzlies officials in his native Spain on Wednesday morning, hinting that a possible verbal agreement on a new deal will be reached in a timely manner.
Free agents and teams can come to verbal agreements on new contracts after free agency begins, but no deals can be officially signed until July 9, when a NBA wide moratorium on roster business is lifted.
While Gasol's representatives will likely field calls from other franchises once free agency begins, all indications are that Gasol, one of the best two-way players in the NBA, will remain with the only franchise he has known in his seven seasons.
It is unknown what type of deal Gasol is seeking in free agency. Some players on the open market are reportedly only interested in signing short-term deals so that they can re-enter free agency after the salary cap rises next year. Others appear content with the five-year max contracts worth roughly $110 million.
The Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks were all interested in Gasol but have since ceased their plans to pursue him. Likewise for the San Antonio Spurs who were thought to be the only team Gasol would feel comfortable leaving Memphis for. Instead, the Spurs and Lakers have turned their attention to Portland Trail Blazers big man LaMarcus Aldridge. The Knicks will also meet with Aldridge, but also have their eyes set on lesser free agent targets.
With a new deal likely looming, the Grizzlies will keep their Big Three of Gasol, Zach Randolph and Mike Conley together for another go around. That group was ousted in the second round of the NBA playoffs by the eventual champion Golden State Warriors this past season.
