Rockets pursuing Marc Gasol

Off the top of my head, Josh Smith got a sizeable contract from the Grizzlies when he was a RFA, Elton Brand got a max deal from Miami when he was coming off his rookie deal. So that didn't work out so well.

On the other hand, Joe Johnson forced his way out of Phoenix by threatening to sign an offer sheet for max money and telling the Suns not to match; ended up being sign and traded for Boris Diaw and 2 first rounders. Kenyon Martin forced his way out of New Jersey to Denver by threatening to sign a max offer sheet; he ended up being traded for 3 first rounders.

So if we go by past history,
1. Marc has to threaten to sign an offer sheet.
2. It's going to cost a lot if the Rockets really want Gasol (Patterson/NY 1st + one more pick or a young player).
3. They need to work out a sign and trade, rather than actually sign an offer sheet.
4. They need to get really lucky with a spendthrift owner, which it doesn't look to be the case.

I think a S&T is definitely possible if Marc makes as big a stink about playing in Memphis as Pau did before the Kwame trade, but the odds of them not matching an offer sheet is basically nil.

 

Signing him to a 2 year offer is good too.

It lets Memphis know that Marc doesn't want to play there, and will get out as soon as he can.

It puts Memphis in a situation of possibly being forced to trade him next year.

Signing him a 4 year offer is doing Memphis a favor.

 

The Rockets didn't sign him to an offer sheet. It makes absolutely no sense.

 

If the Rockets sign him to a large offer sheet and Memphis matches, it has been suggested that they would "have" to move one of their other max players.

What would it take to get Rudy Gay?

One thing this rumor does, perhaps, is force the Grizz to talk with Gasol thus giving him the opportunity to let them know he wants out ASAP... giving rise to the better possibility of a S&T...

 

hope Lowry can convince Marc to join him..

 

Indeed it doesn't, but it seems like they did as reports and all the talk is of the Rockets signing him to an offer sheet. I am confused though latest by Feigen might clear it all up:

Jonathan Feigen says:
December 11, 2011 at 11:06 pm

So far, they are just trying to engage the Grizzlies in sign-and-trade talks.

 

This will happen the same way we wound up with Carmelo.

But this is the team option year, he is unrestricted next season right?

 

Memphis have already matched offer to Gasol.
http://www.straightouttavancouver.com/2011/12/12/2629898/grizzlies-match-rockets-4-year-55-offer-for-marc-gasol

we're stuck

 

That link to a blog didn't provide one single shed of evidence that the offer sheet was matched.

 

Maybe, but he's right. What could we possibly offer the Grizzlies to make them better?

We were only involved to set his price. The Grizzlies made the Western Conference Finals last year. Why on Earth would they just let him go?

 

It all depends what Marc wants, he hasn't signed our offer sheet yet, and if he wants out of Memphis, he can simply threaten to take the 1 year offer then walk.

 

I don't know what we could offer them but as of right now there isn't any reason to think that we even offered an offer sheet let alone had it matched.

 

Yup. We will know an offer sheet is signed when and If we amnesty Thabeet, or make another cap clearing move.

 

Love it. I have preferred him to Nene all along.

Not only that but Gasol is good enough to be the key piece in whatever Hail Mary offer we end up putting together for Dwight.

 

Why the Grizzlies wouldn't match. Because filling out a roster and staying under the luxury tax threshhold while having 3 max/near max players (Randolph, Gasol, Gay) at the same time is very difficult. Not to mention Conley makes a good chunk of change too.

Edit: I still think they would keep him, unless we give them a lot.

 

Once Marc signs the offer sheet then Grizzlies match then it's a done deal. He still hasn't signed yet.

 

That's what a lot of folks are missing (from not reading), in my opinion. Gasol and his agent can tell Memphis that he intends to leave. Houston said they were going to make a max offer for him, which they have yet to do, but gives Memphis a clear idea that they place a high value on Gasol and would give real value to them in an S&T. Gasol has yet to sign Houston's offer sheet, for obvious reasons, but is making his intention of leaving the Grizzlies clear, via a sign and trade, or a year from now, when Memphis would get nothing. He has enough talent to hold that hammer over the head of the Grizz. We've seen this act before, and it can be very effective. It's why CP3 is being moved by New Orleans.

Memphis can roll the dice and hope they can convince Gasol to sign a long term deal, but losing him in a year with nothing of value in return would be a real risk hanging over them, a risk that disrupts team chemistry, disrupts planning for the future. They have a history of deals with Houston, which doesn't hurt the Rockets chances. We'll have to see if this play by Morey works out. I hope so, because Gasol is a talented center who's only 26. He's still improving, and god knows we need a freaking center who's talented.

 

after we trade kmart to minny we trade scola twill (tons of pottential) randolph flynn and 1st rounder for gasol. maybe add bud and keep twill

PG: LOWRY/LIN
SG: WES JOHNSON/ LEE/ELLINGTON
SF: BUD OR TWILL/ MORRIS
PF: PATPAT/HILL?
C: GASOL/THABEET

 

Waste of time. No way they give up there center. Everybody need to come out of dreamland it aint happening.

 

!

Yup..just gotta work with what we got...it be nice of course...but not gonna happen memphis ain't letting this guy go forsure and do anything it takes....