Marc Gasol's future with the Grizzlies?

[It_Was_Typed]

With the selection of Hasheem Thabeet and the supposed rumors of fellow Spainards Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro not having the greatest of times in Memphis, what do you guys think of Marc's future with the Grizzlies? Personally, I love his skill set and toughness. I think he's a quality center and hope he stays over the long haul. However, he's not a PF and if Thabeet pans out, he can't be the full time C.

What are your guy's thoughts?

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

Here's my (somewhat) tongue in cheek look at this:

Marc, you're the heart of the team and a budding locker room leader. You were 2nd team all rookie and one of the most productive rookies in the NBA this season. You're an adopted local who we got to see play some high school ball, go overseas and return a warrior. You signed a very reasonable deal and came home.

Well, if you hadn't heard, last night the team held a referendum and apparently for Hollins and company, you just don't cut it. This team won't pay for both you and Thabeet in the long run. At the very least you just had your minutes cut into. I'm betting you don't last past this season.

Thanks for all you've done and whatever else you can contribute to the Grizzlies. And know this, where ever the Grizz ship you, you'll likely score a ring!

[It_Was_Typed]

SMH.

I present to you, the Memphis Grizzlies.

[MagnusPinus]

Gasol is gonna start, and Tabheet will be the back up.. at least if the plan is trying to win games.

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

Gasol is gonna start, and Tabheet will be the back up.. at least if the plan is trying to win games.

Not if Hollins has his say...

[ctorres]

Can't Gasol and Thabeet just start together at the 4 and 5. Would that really be so bad?

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

Can't Gasol and Thabeet just start together at the 4 and 5. Would that really be so bad?

Yes - worse that you could imagine. They are both classic, one position only, 5's. Marc started some games along side Darko, but that's because Darko could half arsed play a little 4.

[Throwback24]

Do you think there's any chance you may trade Thabeet? Or would Marc make more sense?

[It_Was_Typed]

Just throwing this out there:

What if Minnesota was so desperate to get Ricky Rubio (who's a punk) to come from Spain, they trade Kevin Love for Marc Gasol? It would give Minnesota their true center and Memphis their true power forward.

Long shot I know, but just saying.

[SD2042]

Kevin Love is the official Wolves spokesman like Shane was to the Grizz until otherwise. In other words, no Kevin Love deals to Memphis anytime soon. Time to move on to other PF options. As for Gasol and Thabeet playing side by side. Won't work b/c Gasol is not a natural PF and is to slow to defend against quicker PFs like Amare, Josh Smith, and KG.

[It_Was_Typed]

Damn Twitter for making Kevin Love prominent in the public's eyes!

[SD2042]

The Grizzlies need to make Twitter work for them.

[Joel Embust]

Thabeet's a ROOKIE. A rookie CENTER.

He should be the backup, playing around 20 minutes or so.

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

Thabeet's a ROOKIE. A rookie CENTER.

He should be the backup, playing around 20 minutes or so.

That's a perfectly sensible statement. Those don't fly with Lionel Hollins.

[jefe]

I think everyone - analysts - has acknowledged that Thabeet is a project, so I don't think there's an immediate conflict between them. However in a couple years, this will probably be an issue, and it might push Gasol to seek his second contract with another team IMO. On another note, does anyone else like the idea of Gasol throwing Thabeet around like a ragdoll every day in practice to really hammer it home that Thabeet has got to put on weight (and fast at that)?

[dark-child]

As for the two of them playing together I think it is possible but from every indication that one or the other will play the 5 and they will add an experienced 4. I do favor trading Gasol to accomplish that depending on the star quality of the 4 and that person's ability to play some 5. Hollins was not a fan of Gasol's conditioning and if that hasn't improved significantly than he will not last long.

The fact that we must get accustomed to whether we agree or not is that the Grizz view Thabeet as a franchise changer and addition so his training will be on the job and not one of viewing from the sidelines. They got offered some decent deals for that pick and they did not bite, so he is highly regarded in their eyes.

[Effigy]

Why does Sham Sports show Gasol having a Qualifying offer in 2011? He wasn't a first round pick, so how does that work? Anyway, he's under contract for 2 more years and he's cheap. I'd expect you hold onto him at least until next summer to see what you have in Thabeet before you consider moving Marc.

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

Why does Sham Sports show Gasol having a Qualifying offer in 2011? He wasn't a first round pick, so how does that work? Anyway, he's under contract for 2 more years and he's cheap. I'd expect you hold onto him at least until next summer to see what you have in Thabeet before you consider moving Marc.

Like Ramon Sessions, Gasol was given a multi year, guaranteed deal. Milwaukee just qualified Sessions, I'm guessing Gasol's contract will be the same way. If so, that's a good thing for the Grizz I guess.

[ALL HAIL]

Thabeet will play C on offense and guard PFs.

Gasol will play PF on offense and guard Cs.

[boogiesdad]

Let them both play the C. It gives us a solid 48 minutes of coverage in that position. In certain matchups, both could play on the floor i.e. Shaq and Z.