Sheridan Hoops- 2. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies (Unrestricted)
He probably isn’t going anywhere, either. And a little birdie who knows of what he speaks tells me Gasol has already ruled out playing for the New York Knicks. It’s nothing personal with Phil Jackson or that consummate New Yorker, Jim Dolan (gag). It’s a matter of money. He can get a five-year deal to stay in Memphis, where he attended high school. After taxes, that will be worth more than twice what he would get from New York.
Well that was a real kick in the dick. I think all Knicks fans thought Gasol was the best free agent the Knicks had a shot at. You know when you come up with a ton of reasons for why a player will sign with your team that really don’t matter when push comes to shove? Well here were mine for Marc Gasol and New York, in math equation form:
Marc’s brother Pau loved playing in the triangle for Phil Jackson in L.A. + Pau has 2 rings thanks to Phil + Marc looks up to Pau + Marc is a young Spaniard that apparently loves culture + New York has roughly 1 billion times more culture than Memphis + New York is CLOSER to Spain than Memphis + There are tonnnnnnnns of Spanish-speaking people in New York = Marc Gasol is 100% going to sign with the Knicks.
But I guess the whole “Grew up and loves it in Memphis + The Grizzlies are clearly a better team + Gasol can make twice as much from Memphis as he could from New York” just may be enough to slightly tip the scales out of New York’s favor.
Sheridan lists Greg Monroe and LaMarcus Aldridge as number 4 and 5 on his list, with the Knicks being a potential fit for both (Monroe being much more likely). So I guess all hope isn’t lost. And if neither sign with the Knicks, New York can always draft Jahlil Okafor or Karl Anthony-Towns with the number 1 pick (please, please, please you spiteful Basketball Gods).
And while we are speaking of the draft, news broke on Sunday that the Knicks were shopping their number 1 pick:
ESPN- In an interview on ESPN New York’s “The Robin Lundberg Show,” ESPN NBA reporter Brian Windhorst said the Knicks are at the very least considering their options when it comes to trading their first-round pick.
Specifically, Windhorst said the Knicks are looking into “opportunities” to see “what they could possibly get if they trade their draft pick.”
Of course, it’s wise for Phil Jackson and the Knicks to at least gauge the market for the pick.
Basically long story short, that report was just some click bait to take advantage of us frail, emotionally-abused Knicks fans. Obviously the Knicks aren’t going to head into the draft with blinders on and just use their pick. They are going to see what they can get for it, regardless of where the pick is in the lottery. And it would honestly be stupid not to.
Now, it’s not like Steph Curry or Russell Westbrook are going to be offered in a trade for the pick. But you never know how stupid another NBA team may be. Like, for example, when the Bulls robbed the Knicks blind in the Eddy Curry trade. Phil is going to have to at least shop around and see what’s out there before deciding what he will do with the pick. There are going to be a ton of fake trade rumors and discussion about who the Knicks will pick. But it’s better then what Knicks fans have looked forward to the last few summers.
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