I'd offer him the maximum contract just to see if Memphis blinks. I think he's worh the max because he's practically the 3rd best center in the league (after DH and Bogut).
I think he just turned 26. Centers don't decline at age 26 Gasol is under utilized in Memphis. He doesn't really grab as much rebs as he can because he's the only one playing defense on that god-awful team. While he's busy protecting the paint Randolph is grabbing rebs and padding his stats. He also doesn't get a lot of touches because Gay jacks up all the shots. His shooting has dropped a bit this season, but I'm definitely not worried about it because Memphis sucks ass, once he's out of that hell hole his production will increase dramatically.
And players that earn max contracts get better, not worse right before getting their new contract. You can rationalize all you want reasons why he's declined in performance, but he certainly hasn't gotten any better. If a GM would offer a max contract to a player that has declined since his previous year by this much without a big injury, then my guess is that he wouldn't be a GM for long. I'm not saying Gasol lacks potential to get better. And I'd love to have him on our squad. But there's no way I'd be willing to offer him anything near a max contract with the numbers he's put up this season.
Marc is already a top 10 center and has the potential to be top 5 by the end of next year. His offensive decline has to do more with Memphis' style then his regression. They have focused more on Conley, Gay and Z-Bo then Gasol this season. His rebounding numbers have decreased more then I expected but Z-Bo has been a monster on the board, so that could explain Gasol's missing boards. Saying that, 12-13 million per, or the equivalent in the new CBA, is the max i'd offer and force Memphis to match.
I shudder at the thought of giving Marc Gasol a maximum contract. I know we really need a center.. but that is Kelvin Cato desperation. Marc Gasol is not worth a maximum contract and we shouldn't be giving those out because we're desperate.
Gasol is a borderline All-Star center, Kelvin was a borderline 7 ppg scorer...offering the max to Gasol, while not fiscally responsible, wouldn't be that kind of desperation at all. Saying that, I would offer no more then 12-13 or its equivalent in the new CBA and force the Griz to match.
What are you basing this on? To me, Marc Gasol looks like a Chris Kaman type player. I wouldn't give a healthy Chris Kaman the max either. I know we have a really big hole at the center position, but I just don't think it's smart to give $12-13M (more than Martin or Scola) to Marc Gasol. The only reason you're even going that high is to make it less likely the Grizzlies match -- which means you might not even believe he's worth that much. This is just a situation that I'd be careful not to overpay on. He's not going to magically become his brother Pau overnight -- he's just not a max player, IMO. If you really want him, attempt to work out a sign-and-trade with Memphis. Then, you can hopefully get him at a much more reasonable salary instead of trying to overpay him to deter Memphis from matching.
12-13 million isn't the MAX salary, I agree offering what the Max wouldn't be the best of ideas. Gasol is much more of a defensive presence then Kaman and not paper thin, I also think that he is still growing and will eventually become an 18-10 guy. I would gladly pay that for a center who protects the rim and can give you 18-10 on a nightly basis. Forcing them to match is more about how high i'd go for him and hope they say that is not in their budget but a sign and trade is another option, if the Griz are convinced they can't resign the guy. All this is probably a moot point because the Griz are doing everything they can to make sure they have as much money as possible for when that day comes.
I would be ecstatic if we acquired Gasol. He is tough under the basket, an excellent rebounder, and he can anchor the defense! I would be willing to pay a lot for him...just under max dollars GG
yeah whatever. alot of players who get max contracts, get lazy, and turn into complete crap after their big payday.
I am thinking somewhere closer to 10 to 11 but wouldnt be totally dissapointed if we offered him that high a contract.
Marc averages 11pts/7rbs per game with the potential to be much better. For comparison, Bynum is paid 15mill per over three years, and averaged 15/8 (though he does play with gasol/kobe). 12 million would seem to be the market price for a 26 y/o boderline-star center. Wether its <i>good</i> value is debatable.
If only one team in the NBA thinks he is worth a max contract, then they will offer it to him and in turn he will be worth a max contract.
I dont believe I would call Gasol a borderline All-Star , more like a slightly above average center .... thats just my opinion. As for how much he's worth in free agency remains to be seen since we have no idea what the next CBA will look like. Rather than throw a whole lot of money at Gasol who is a restricted FA , I think I'd look at an unrestricted FA who might just have more upside in DeAndre Jordan of the Kings - who you might be able to pry away with a deadline deal.
I think M.Gasol would be great for the Rockets. Defensively, he takes up space in the paint and he's a decent shot blocker. He has a good midrange jumpshot, has good touch around the basket and passes the ball well for a big man. His rebound average seems a bit low, but he's playing alongside Zach Randolph who eats rebounds. Some his stats seem to have dipped a bit since last season, perhaps due to Randolph becoming more of a focal point on the team. Definitely sign him if he could be had for 8-10 mil. Any more than that...well, I wouldn't be too upset.
So you're a fan of players who pump up their production because its their contract year, get signed to high amounts then immediately play like crap afterwards? Guys like Tim Thomas, Ericka Dampier and Eddy Curry? Context is everything in this league. If you used this kind of analysis on Kyle Lowry you would have thought he was garbage, the dude was playing as a backup pg for one of the worst teams in the league! Rather than looking at just raw numbers, I look at stuff like TS% and consider who the guys a certain player is playing with. Marc Gasol is a young, healthy, two-way Center in the league. Those guys are hard to find. Sure a max contract for him is overpaying, however you have posters here jizzing their pants about Melo when he would be making the max as well despite the lack of both team success, bad rep about his effort and off court image and inefficiency. I'd rather overpay for a solid guy like Marc Gasol then sign someone like Melo.
Max contract for Marc Gasol. Makes the Houston-LA matchup that much more sweeter...or should I say, more bitter...
I believe we need to offer a max contract for MARC Gasol. Any less and the Grizzlies will match. That's the reality. We LITERALLY don't have a Center right now. Miller is as good as a little girl weeing her panties underneath the basket and Hill is not even NBA-Caliber. Hill will probably be out of the league in a few years. Unless we're going for the 2012 plan, I want Gasol for the max. The max, under the new cba, is probably going to be partially-guaranteed and around 10 million or so anyways. its going to be a great time to sign free agents.
