NBA Trade Deadline: Why the Grizzlies should trade Marc Gasol

As the NBA Trade Deadline quickly approaches, we explore why the Memphis Grizzlies should probably trade Marc Gasol

The NBA Trade Deadline is less than a month away, and there are a number of big questions that need to be answered for a number of teams. One of them is the Memphis Grizzlies, who are quickly falling down the Western Conference standings.

Over the last month and a half, the Grizzlies have really struggled as a team. Since Dec. 8, the Grizzlies are 4-15 and have fallen to 14th in the West. They are currently four games back of the final spot in the playoffs and don’t exactly have an easy remaining schedule.

So with the trade deadline just three weeks ago, it’s looking more and more likely that the Grizzlies should make some big changes to the roster. And one name that will certainly be at the forefront of the team’s difficult decisions is Marc Gasol.

Gasol is eligible to become a free agent after the season (if he opts out of the final year of his contract), and it’s no forgone conclusion that he wants to remain in Memphis for the final stretch of his career in the NBA.

The harsh reality is that this team’s core has likely hit their ceiling. The team made a Western Conference Finals in 2013, and haven’t enjoyed the same success since then. Mike Conley is 31 years old and has battled multiple injuries over the last couple of seasons. He’s also well past his prime.

The same could be said about Gasol, who is about to turn 34 and could be looking for one last big payday in the NBA. Which is the biggest reason why he could opt to test free agency this summer rather than next off-season.

That would put the Grizzlies in an awkward situation, considering that this is a franchise that likely needs to think about a complete rebuild sooner rather than later. And perhaps the only reason why they haven’t started to do that is because they still owe the Boston Celtics first-round pick (top 8 protected) and their salary cap situation is a total mess.

Trading away some of their pieces is likely the best course of action for this team moving forward, but the only real tradable big contract on their roster is Gasol. No team is trading for Chandler Parsons this season, and good luck moving Conley.

The Memphis Grizzlies have a long road ahead of them in getting back to relevance in the Western Conference, and the first move in doing so might be moving Marc Gasol.