Marc Gasol is headed to the Grizzlies in a trade that is saving the Lakers roughly $10 million.
As part of the deal, Los Angeles will also send a 2024 2nd-rounder and cash to Memphis in exchange for the rights to Wang Zhelin.
The Grizzlies are expected to work with Gasol on a release to allow him to stay in Spain for the upcoming season. It’s not clear if Gasol will officially retire or simply remain in Spain for the time being.
While we await additional news on the 36-year-old, let’s pass along three takeaways from the Lakers’ trade:
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The Lakers never fully utilized Gasol for one reason or another. Gasol appeared in 52 games for Los Angeles during his lone season with the Lakers. His 19.1 minutes per game was his lowest in his career dating back to the 2007-08 season.
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The Lakers will be alright at the center positon. DeAndre Jordan has officially signed with the Lakers after his buyout with Detroit and the team brought back Dwight Howard earlier in the offseason. That, coupled with Anthony Davis expecting to see more minutes at the five, makes the center spot in L.A. secure (for now).
- What if Gasol has actually played his last NBA game? Basketball-Reference currently gives Marc Gasol a Hall of Fame probability of 4.2%. The figure seems a little low. The 13-year veteran has an NBA championship, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and a bevy of medals from international play, including a pair of silver medals from the Olympics (Spain 2008; 2012). For what it’s worth, his older brother, Pau Gasol, has a 93.3% chance at making the Hall of Fame.
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