With Marc Gasol potentially hitting the market in the near future, the Golden State Warriors should be one of the teams showing interest in the former Defensive Player of the Year.
Gasol is far from the player he once was but Dubs fans can remember him being a force defensively as recently as the 2019 NBA Finals when his ability to trap Stephen Curry on the perimeter helped apply enough pressure for the Toronto Raptors to win a championship.
This series serves as a great example of how Gasol, even in his old age and declining athleticism, can be an impactful player. He’s a brilliant defender whose value comes with his experience rather than sheer force.
Marc Gasol is capable of helping the Golden State Warriors with his veteran skillset and playmaking abilities if he hits the free agency market.
Last season was an uneventful one for Gasol. The Los Angeles Lakers were ravaged with injury and Gasol fell deep into the rotation as a result of Andre Drummond joining the team midway through the year.
Reports seem to suggest that Gasol has no interest in being a forgotten bench piece once again. The Lakers have made the decision to sign Deandre Jordan, likely sending Gasol out the door despite having one year remaining on his contract.
Now, the Warriors can offer Gasol the $5.9 million dollar MLE but they should look to obtain him for a lower price. Although Gasol is clearly capable of being a productive player, I am not sure he is worth the MLE. Unless, of course, the Dubs fail to make any other moves — which in that case, who cares about the price tag of adding another talented player?
Gasol is a smart defender who can offer consistency in the frontcourt. He shot 41.0 percent from the 3-point line last season and is one of the best playmaking bigs in recent NBA history. Gasol is a fantastic fit on this roster and can help the Warriors in their pursuit of another championship for a reasonable price.
Even better, he can act as a mentor for James Wiseman — who will need to develop into a more lethal shooter and high-IQ player if he wants to reach his max potential. This is one area where having Gasol would be monumental to building for the future.