Houston Rockets make an offer for Marc Gasol; Memphis Grizzlies all set to match it – NBA Update
The Houston Rockets were dealt a big blow last week when the now infamous Chris Paul deal was nixed by the NBA commissioner David Stern.
In a three way deal also involving the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Hornets, the Rockets were willing to let go Luis Scola, Kevin Martin and Goran Drajic to get their hands on the Lakers power forward Pau Gasol.
However, after failing to secure the deal, the Rockets have now turned their attention to the younger Gasol - Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.
According to a source close to the situation, the Rockets have prepared an offer worth $ 55 million for four years to lure Marc. The Memphis Grizzlies centre who found his niche last season, when the Grizzlies managed to make a
deep run into the playoffs is however a restricted free agent and as per the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, Memphis have three days to match any offer on the table.
Looking by the way the Grizzlies have gone so far, the possibility of them handing Marc that easily is very bleak.
The franchise has been intent on maintaining their core of players who have gradually made the side into a Western Conference elite. Star power forward Zach Randolph accepted a 4 year - $ 71 million contract last season, while
small forward Rudy g*y has also been retained at a price of 82 million dollars. In addition to that, the Grizzlies also have $ 45 million engaged with Mike Conley.
The acquisition of Gasol under these circumstances may appear a little difficult financially, but owner Michael Heisley while talking to NBA.com has made it abundantly clear that letting go of Marc Gasol is not an option;
“We’re keeping Marc,” Heisley said. “We can’t afford to let him go … Marc and his agent have to decide what they want to do. But we would definitely match that if that came up to us.”
The Grizzlies stunned the Western Conference regular-season best San Antonio Spurs last postseason, when they beat them 4-2 in the first round of playoffs. They then stretched the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the second
round before bowing out. Marc was exceptional throughout the regular season, but was just unstoppable in the playoffs in which he averaged 15 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.
The performance made him one of the best young centres on the block and with Pau Gasol struggling to make an impact at the Lakers last season, many analysts even rated him better than his elder brother.
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