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Memphis Grizzlies: Raptors Decisively Win Marc Gasol Trade

By AJ Salah

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 4: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket as Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors defends during the first half of an NBA game at Air Canada Centre on February 4, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 4: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket as Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors defends during the first half of an NBA game at Air Canada Centre on February 4, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Memphis Grizzlies Marc Gasol
Memphis Grizzlies Traded Marc Gasol on Thursday (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Marc Gasol, but their haul for the most decorated player in franchise history leaves lots to be desired.

It is finally over. The Memphis Grizzlies closed the book on the Marc Gasol era, shipping him to the Toronto Raptors mere hours before Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline. While Chris Wallace & company did right by Gasol in sending him to a legitimate contender, they should have gotten more for themselves.

Allow me to preface this piece by stating that I am steadfastly against trading with Masai Ujiri to begin with. The guy has left a trail of foolish-looking trade partners in his wake, and merely picking up the phone to engage him was ill-advised.

But Chris Wallace & company felt the onus, and attempted to dance with the devil to avoid standing pat at the deadline for a second straight year. Toronto was a logical destination for Gasol; one of the few teams both aiming to win-now and looking for an upgrade at the center spot. But the ends do not always justify the means, as is the case here.

Desperate Times

Both of these NBA franchises were feeling the pinch. Sure, Memphis is reeling and attempting to jump-start a rebuild 12-18 months too late. But they were not the only ones lacking leverage.

Toronto has an extremely mercurial MVP candidate on a one-year lease. They have recently slipped in the East, while rivals Milwaukee and Philadelphia each made hugely beneficial short-term trades in the past 36  hours.

Any situational pressure applied by the Raptors’ Front Office could have been reciprocated, and this trade suggests that Toronto held all the bargaining power in talks. Memphis was likely too eager to get a deal done, as evidenced by their decision to sit Gasol earlier this week.

So why is this deal so bad? Let’s break it down from each team’s perspective.

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