Will it be the bright lights of New York, or the calm consistency of San Antonio. Grizzlies center Marc Gasol will be coveted as a free agent this summer.
He’s been linked to the Knicks for more than two-years now, but could the Spurs sneak in and add Gasol to the lineage as Tim Duncan sets to exit?
Frank Isola of the New York Daily News is reporting that the Spurs are expected to pursue Gasol and have him fill the role as Tim Duncan’s replacement in the middle.
The Knicks’ main free-agent target, Marc Gasol, is also being targeted as a possible replacement to Tim Duncan assuming Ol’ Man Riverwalk retires this summer. The Knicks will be players for the Memphis center mainly because of the first three rules of real estate — location, location, location — and because Gasol is familiar with both Jackson and Derek Fisher since older brother Pau spent the best years of his career with the Lakers.
Otherwise, staying in Memphis will be appealing to Gasol, whose team is a legitimate championship contender. The Grizzlies can offer Gasol the most money, and he has grown to love the city, having lived there since high school when Pau broke in with the Grizzlies.
Coincidently, Pau considered the Spurs this past summer but took more money to join the Chicago Bulls, much to Jackson’s chagrin. When Pau signed, Jackson tweeted a photo of lightning striking the city of Chicago. He might end up tossing his iPhone in the East River if Marc signs with the Spurs, arguably the best run franchise in all of pro sports. They also have the nucleus to remain a contender for years to come.