NBA Trade Rumors: Kings, Pistons Interested In Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol
By Chris Kern
Sacramento Kings
The Kings are another team who has shown interest in Gasol. They have a lot of young talent and they feel a veteran center could help them make a playoff push this season and if they can convince him to stay then he would be a huge help next season as well.
It may seem odd that they would be looking at acquiring a center when they have Willie Cauley-Stein inside who has been playing inside. They are unsure about giving him a big deal this summer and he sure is playing like someone who could receive a big payday.
His past two seasons he has been playing at a high level and so far this season he is averaging 13.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He is also just 25 years old so him being a young, athletic big will make him a hot commodity in free agency.
The Kings have the option to make him a restricted free agent this summer if they offer the qualifying offer which I’m sure they would do as long as he is on the roster. This team is much improved and while De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield get most of the credit Cauley-Stein deserves a lot of credit as well.
The Grizzlies could see what it would take to acquire Cauley-Stein. The Kings don’t have bad contracts long term so I’m sure they will continue to discuss giving that to Cauley-Stein long-term.
They have a lot of exciting young pieces they could try and convince a star player in free agency to come to play for them. Putting a star on the wing alongside this current group of rosters would get them into the playoffs for sure.
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They also have a lot of young guys they could add to Memphis if that was needed in any deal.
Cauley-Stein should be more than enough for Gasol but the Grizzlies will need to think about some of the similar things as they did with Drummond.
He is a much faster and more athletic player than Drummond so he seems to be a much better fit for the way the NBA is going.
More importantly, they have to decide if they would be willing to offer him near max money.
If you wouldn’t do that then the Grizzlies shouldn’t even consider acquiring Cauley-Stein. That doesn’t mean a deal between these teams is impossible though.
The Kings have an expiring Zach Randolph contract they could add which would excite Grizzlies fans. They have a handful of young guys who could be added such as Harry Giles, Frank Mason, Skal Labissiere, and Justin Jackson.
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It’s going to be difficult to get a Gasol deal done with any team but the way things are currently shaping up the Grizzlies will have the opportunity to trade him to some team before the trade deadline passes.