Tag: Marc Gasol

Daryl Morey, Sixers stay for jersey retirement of Grizzlies legend Marc Gasol

Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers stayed for the jersey retirement for Memphis Grizzlies legend Marc Gasol.

After a 116-96 win over the Memphis Grizzlies for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Grizzlies honored a franchise legend by raising his jersey into the rafters at FedEx Forum.

Marc Gasol, who played 10 1/2 seasons with the Grizzlies, had his jersey retired by the franchise after the contest. He averaged 15.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 blocks while playing for Memphis to go along with three All-Star appearances and a Defensive Player of the Year award.

He led the Grizzlies to their only conference finals appearance in franchise history (2013) and is arguably the best player in Memphis history. He was traded to the Toronto Raptors at the 2019 deadline and teamed with current Sixers coach Nick Nurse to help the Raptors win a title.

“Really cool when I saw the announcement that they were retiring his jersey,” Nurse told reporters. “I looked down and saw we were here, I immediately hit him on WhatsApp and congratulated him, and said, ‘Man, it’s amazing because we’re going to be there. I’m so happy.’ He was obviously a huge part of our championship team in Toronto.”

Nurse stated the Sixers were going to stay after the game for Gasol’s jersey retirement before leaving for San Antonio. President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey posted a picture of the jersey retirement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Of course, Nurse has experience coaching in the EuroLeague as well. That is where he began his relationship with Gasol.

“It seems like I’ve coached against him for almost his whole career because I was coaching a national team over there,” Nurse recalled. “It seemed like we were always playing Spain for something, like warm-up games or Euro Cup or whatever they were, qualifiers here and there, European Championships, even the Olympics. So, all the way through every level over there.”

When one combines the EuroLeague experiences with the NBA experiences, Gasol is an important member of Nurse’s basketball life and vice versa.

“It’s kind of cool to relate to almost, as a coach to go up and see him as a young very young player and then be in this industry, get a chance to coach him, share a championship with him,” Nurse finished. “I mean, incredible parade experienced by him, really incredible, he really had fun. And was just such a good player man just such a good, smart, tough player and a great pro and got nothing but great things, great memories and great thoughts about Marc.”

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Paul George shows love to Rockets’ Alperen Sengun, compares playmaking to Magic Johnson

In a new podcast, Clippers star Paul George says young #Rockets center Alperen Sengun shows playmaking flashes that remind him of several NBA legends, including Magic Johnson.

With averages of 14.8 points (55.3% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers), 9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, young Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun took a leap forward in his second NBA season.

Even stars like Nikola Jokic, the back-to-back league MVP, went out of his way during the 2022-23 year to urge Houston to run more offense through its creative 20-year-old big man out of Turkey.

Now, add eight-time All-Star Paul George — currently of the Los Angeles Clippers — to a growing list of NBA royalty to show respect to Sengun. On a new episode of “Podcast P with Paul George,” George had this to say about Sengun (hat tip Rexwell Villas, Clutch Points):

He’s been doing it all season long and he’s been getting some recognition, but I think more so now. … He’s showing his true personality. His true self is starting to shine through. He’s a big dog. Beast.

He’s got shades of Marc Gasol and Pau Gasol. He’s got shades of Jokic, and the great bigs that can pass, shoot and playmake. I love his game, he can do it all. He’s a super, super high IQ player.

The greatest part of his game is his playmaking. I’ve seen some flashiness where he’s on some Magic (Johnson) type sh*t. He can hoop.

In four games versus the Clippers this season, Sengun averaged 17.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 30.5 minutes. He shot 56.8%. It certainly seems to have to have caught George’s attention.

The complete podcast can be viewed below, with the Sengun discussion starting at approximately the 53 minute mark.

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Ja Morant went off again and continued smashing Grizzlies records

In a night to remember in Chicago, Morant reminded everyone why he’s so special.

It’s been a season to remember for Ja Morant. At the ripe age of 22, the third-year Grizzlies superstar is enjoying one of the better coming-of-age campaigns in recent memory. He’s one of the NBA’s premier pure scorers, a legitimate MVP candidate, and has Memphis near the top of the West.

What else could you possibly ask for?

It turns out when you’re as great, and as uncommonly brilliant as Morant, there’s always more waiting on the table. Superstars like him are capable of a pleasant surprise — a legitimate, unstoppable performance — every night they lace up the sneakers.

In a 116-110 win over the Bulls (+1.5), Saturday night in Chicago was no different. More importantly, it was a matter of history and bright precedent in the young superstar’s career.

Look, 46 points are nothing to sneeze at for any player. But Morant’s only in his third year in the NBA, and he’s already making stupendous efforts like this seem all too casual while breaking Grizzlies franchise records. When something like this happens five times in a year, it might even be too much for the franchise he’s almost singlehandedly revitalized in Western Tennessee.

You read that right. Morant’s fifth 40-point game of the 2021 season is five times that of any previous Grizzlies stalwart in any given year. Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, and Zach Randolph: Step down and make way for a new king. Here’s what might be even more impressive if you’re into the stat sort of thing.

Career 40-point games in Grizzlies history:

  • Ja Morant: Six
  • Everyone else (10 other players combined): 12

At 42-20, the Grizzlies are dug into third place in the Western Conference. They’re a team to be reckoned with come April. If Morant and his capacity to take over any game have anything to say about it, they’ll be a squad to fear well into June.

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3 moves near past NBA trade deadlines that resulted in immediate championships

Looking back at the past NBA trade deadline moves that resulted in immediate championships.

The NBA is fascinating because it prioritizes yearlong entertainment. By the time the season ends you are thrust into the draft. Then, you get the Summer League, which coincides with the hoopla of NBA Free Agency. Before you know it, the season has arrived and before you can even understand which players are on which team, trade rumors begin floating around.

This season’s trade deadline is less than a week away and there’s already a lot happening. The Clippers and Trail Blazers just pulled off an interesting trade, and more are likely on the horizon amongst the league’s many other buyers and sellers.

With the deadline approaching, we look back at some memorable trades made around past seasons’ trade deadlines that led to instant NBA championships.

Former Lakers center Marc Gasol deemed a name to watch for Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are a possible candidate for former Los Angeles Lakers center Marc Gasol down the line.

The Marc Gasol saga got a little more intriguing as he could be an option for another NBA team down the line.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Gasol had a relationship that became toxic by the season’s end, and it led to the franchise trading the center to the Memphis Grizzlies where he’d be bought out.

After the Grizzlies waived Gasol, reports indicated he’d go play for Girona, the team he owns in Spain. Gasol wants to be closer to family since he is from Spain, and his brother, Pau, also plays in Spain for FC Barcelona.

However, Gasol’s tenure in the NBA might not be over just yet. Anthony Slater of The Athletic says the Spaniard could be a name to watch for the Golden State Warriors:

Marc Gasol is a name to watch. He just wiggled his way away from the Lakers and, according to an ESPN report, plans to remain in Spain while sorting out the next (and perhaps last) phase of his playing career.

Gasol nearly signed with the Warriors last summer — and might have done so had Thompson not ruptured his Achilles before free agency. It may never materialize, but he has the exact passing acumen and center skill set that has traditionally fit Kerr’s offense best, similar to David West and Andrew Bogut.

Remember when Bogut jumped on board a title chase in March a couple of years back? If Gasol gets the midseason itch and sees a path to playing time on a Warriors team that will have Thompson back, there’s a roster spot that can be cleared. If any type of bidding war commences, the Warriors do have a taxpayer midlevel they can still offer, if they can stomach the tax bill.

Gasol would be an ideal fit for the Warriors because he’d add more solid shooting at a different position alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

The Warriors, if healthy, will be a playoff-caliber team, so Gasol could have a chance to play against the Lakers in games that matter the most if this actually materializes.

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New report details how Lakers’ relationship with Marc Gasol grew toxic

Multiple people within the Los Angeles Lakers’ staff reportedly understood Marc Gasol wouldn’t return to the franchise after a toxic year.

Marc Gasol’s situation with the Los Angeles Lakers was one of the more bizarre storylines of the year.

Gasol signed a two-year deal with the franchise last offseason and became the starting center alongside Anthony Davis in the lineup. The Lakers hoped Gasol would provide a pick-and-pop ability and stretch the floor to give Davis more room to operate in the paint.

Despite having a slow start on both ends of the floor, the former Defensive Player of the Year found a rhythm with his new team, eventually finishing the year with a 40% clip from 3-point range.

However, before the regular season ended, Gasol’s relationship with the team began deteriorating, primarily when L.A. brought in Andre Drummond after the Cleveland Cavaliers bought out his contract.

The Lakers handed Drummond the starting job, and though the fit with Davis often clogged the floor, L.A. didn’t swap Drummond for Gasol until Game 6 of Los Angeles’ first-round playoff series. That ended up being the last game of the season for L.A.

Gasol had already voiced his frustration in several post-game conferences but kept his professionalism when it came to playing.

When he announced he’d return to the team to finish his contract, people within the organization didn’t believe it because of how bad the relationship had grown, via Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times:

The situation, by the end of the season, was toxic enough that multiple people with the Lakers felt like Gasol was undoubtedly on his way out following end-of-season meetings. It’s why there were those who didn’t believe it when Gasol said he planned on being back with the Lakers during a rough Olympics run with the Spanish national team. Now, it’s likely Gasol will join a team in Spain to continue his career.

As Woike alluded to, Gasol is likely off to play for Girona, the team he owns, after the Memphis Grizzlies officially waived the Spaniard, which was the plan after L.A. traded him.

Los Angeles signed Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan in free agency, while Davis is expected to play more minutes at center following Russell Westbrook’s arrival.

Gasol would’ve been a perfect floor-spacer at center to mitigate the prevalent shooting concerns, but that will not be the case.

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Lakers news: Grizzlies waive Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol is one step closer to playing in Spain after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived center Marc Gasol, the team announced Wednesday.

Gasol, who was with the Los Angeles Lakers, was traded to the Grizzlies in hopes of possibly moving to Spain to play basketball there.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported after the trade was announced that Memphis would work to waive Gasol’s contract to allow him to go to Spain, and it’s now official.

Recent reports indicate Gasol will go and play for Girona, the team he owns and where he played a few seasons for prior to coming to the NBA.

The Lakers also traded a 2024 second-round pick to Memphis in the deal and received the draft rights to Wang Zhelin in exchange.

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Lakers rumors: Marc Gasol will likely play for Girona in Spain

Former Los Angeles Lakers center Marc Gasol is likely returning to play for Girona in his home country.

Marc Gasol could soon have a new home for playing basketball, and it won’t be in the NBA.

Gasol, who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason, had one more year remaining in his contract. Following Spain’s elimination in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Gasol confirmed he’d return to L.A. to complete his contract.

However, a few weeks after, Gasol was reportedly not a lock to return anymore and was mulling a possible return to Spain; that news prompted L.A. to look for replacement centers, eventually leading to DeAndre Jordan’s arrival.

Shortly after that, the Lakers traded Gasol and a second-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies, the team where Gasol started his career and spent the most time with; Memphis will buy him out so he can return to Spain.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Gasol is expected to play for Girona, the team he owns:

Gasol had played for Girona for a few seasons prior to coming to the NBA and is likely going to end his professional career there, too.

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Report: Lakers trade Marc Gasol, second-round pick to Grizzlies

Marc Gasol’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers is officially over.

The Los Angeles Lakers have traded Marc Gasol to the Memphis Grizzlies, ending the questions about his return to the team.

The deal has L.A. sending Gasol, a 2024 second-round pick and cash to Memphis for draft rights to Wang Zhelin.

Gasol’s return status was in question ever since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics commenced, but after Spain was eliminated from the competition, Gasol confirmed he’d return to conclude the final year of his initial two-year contract.

However, a few weeks after that, NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Spaniard wasn’t a lock to return and was mulling a return to Spain, where he could play for FC Barcelona, the same team Pau Gasol, his brother, recently represented.

Gasol gets to return to Memphis, who will buy him out and allow him to return to Spain, via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:

Gasol spent about a decade with the Grizzlies during the start of his career, and he’ll now get to end it with them.

The trade also grants the Lakers a $2.7 million trade exception, according to Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype:

The Lakers have been preparing for Gasol’s departure with the recent acquisition of DeAndre Jordan, but now there is another open roster spot for L.A. to work with. James Ennis has come up often in rumors.

Zhelin, who L.A. has the draft rights to now, is a 27-year-old, 7-foot center from China. Memphis had drafted him with the No. 57 pick in the 2016 draft.

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Report: Lakers will sign DeAndre Jordan to one-year deal

The Los Angeles Lakers will bring in DeAndre Jordan on a one-year deal.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be adding DeAndre Jordan on a one-year deal, according to a report.

Jordan, who was on the Brooklyn Nets, was traded to the Detroit Pistons, where Detroit planned to buy out the remaining two years and $20 million left on his deal.

Once the trade details were reported, the Lakers were immediately named serious contenders to grab Jordan when he hit the open market.

This news comes at a time where Marc Gasol’s future with the franchise is still in question, leading to reports of the Lakers looking for a center in free agency.

Whichever way Gasol decides to go, Jordan will be a Laker, via Shams Charania of The Athletic:

The 33-year-old center averaged 7.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while shooting 76.3% overall in 21.9 minutes per game last season.

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