Memphis Grizzlies re-sign centre Marc Gasol – NBA Update
The Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday announced the re-signing of centre Marc Gasol.
Gasol was a restricted free agent and there was speculation in the air regarding his future. While no other team was strongly linked with the centre at present, it had been suggested that he could play out the last year on his
contract to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Those concerns have been laid to rest by Memphis who have secured Gasol on a four year extension. The deal is believed to be worth around $58 million and the player is happy to prolong his stay in Memphis.
Marc said that he didn’t have the wish to play for any other team and was pleased that a deal had been agreed to keep him with the Grizzlies.
"I didn't see myself other than with this team, whether it was going to be for the long term or one year," Gasol said Wednesday after signing his contract extension.
"I definitely thought I would be here this year."
For their part, the Grizzlies were also thrilled to be able to hang onto a player who they believe is destined for the top.
"In the short three years here, Marc has advanced through the ranks and become one of the top centres, not just the top young centres, but the top centres overall in the NBA," general manager Chris Wallace said.
Marc has progressed extremely well since arriving in Memphis as part of the trade that sent his older brother, Pau Gasol, to the Los Angeles Lakers. The 7-foot-1 centre registered himself as one of the better players in his position
in the NBA last season with his strong showings in the playoffs.
Gasol formed a terrific partnership with Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph to help the side mount a historic playoff run that has now propped them up as a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies locker room enjoys a good sense of camaraderie and Gasol never wanted to go away. He therefore didn’t even bother with the negotiations for a new deal and left it to his agent for sorting it out.
"(I) just let the guys who handle the business do it," Gasol said of the negotiations. "I play basketball. That's what I do. I don't negotiate contracts. I just focus and do my job on the basketball court."
Alongside Randolph, Gasol was a key player for the Grizzlies who needed for him to stay in order to build on their success of the previous year. They have lost a couple of players this off season but with Marc now committed to
the franchise and Rudy g*y coming back from injury, Memphis appear confident heading into the new season.
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