Incoming free-agent center Marc Gasol continues to attract interest from multiple teams, and sources close to situation indicated the Toronto Raptors have joined the fray for the service of the 7-foot big man from Spain.
According to Cathal Kelly of Globe and Mail via Hoops Rumors, the Raptors are becoming more intrigued of the possibility making a run at Gasol, either on the trading block or next summer free-agency.
"A player that increasingly intrigues Raptors management is Memphis centre Marc Gasol. The Spaniard is a free agent this summer. The greatest lack on the Raptors roster is a truly dominant big man. Gasol is a Jungian figure that features prominently in GM Masai Ujiri's bedside dream diary," Kelly stated.
Gasol, who is averaging career-high 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks for the Western Conference powerhouse Memphis Grizzlies, has become the most in-demand center in the NBA, and the interest will get even higher in the coming weeks heading into the February 19 trade deadline.
Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri has been monitoring the development of Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas, who has been putting solid numbers (11.6 points and 9.0 rebounds) this season. However, Toronto's front office is not convinced that Valanciunas can grow into the player that will help the team make that next big step toward championship contention.
"Valanciunas has been sporadically excellent this season, but the team's braintrust still doesn't believe he's the sort of centre you can ride through a playoff series. A team like Chicago would design all their tactics to go through a Valanciunas-sized hole in the Raptors mid-section," via Globe and Mail.
There are speculations that the Raptors are willing to prepare a package consists of Valanciunas and draft picks in exchange for Gasol, who could bolt out of Memphis after this season.
The 29-year old Gasol is expected to draw a max contract worth as large as $20 million per season, and several analysts are pessimistic about the Grizzlies' chance in keeping the big man because of their various commitments, particularly with Zach Randolph and Mike Conley, and their reputation as a low-spending small market franchise.
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