Grizzlies center Marc Gasol was characteristically silent about his future after Memphis’ playoff run ended Friday, writes Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal [subscription required]. As the free-agent-to-be exited the game with a few seconds remaining, many in the crowd encouraged him to remain with the Grizzlies. But Gasol, who has offered few public clues about his long-term plans, didn’t seem to acknowledge them. “I normally don’t hear anything that the crowd shouts, either good or bad,” he said. “I haven’t even spent a second thinking of that.”
There’s more from Memphis after a second-round exit:
- Gasol will have plenty of suitors this summer, according to Shaun Powell of nba.com. With quality centers in short supply, the two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year is expected to get a flood of offers. Powell speculates that the best fit might be in San Antonio, where Gasol could play alongside Tim Duncan for another year or two and then take over Duncan’s role when he retires. If Gasol prefers a big city, the Knicks and Lakers are expected to be very interested.
- The Grizzlies need to re-examine whether their style will ever bring playoff success, contends Royce Young of ESPN. He notes that Memphis’ grit-and-grind philosophy is a rarity in the modern NBA and points out that the team has been ousted in the first or second round of the playoffs in four of the past five seasons. “We have who we have,” said Mike Conley. “We have our personnel. We play through our personnel. We have big guys, and that’s what we have to play through our strengths. We can’t change that. We have to work with what we have.”
- Zach Randolph‘s desire to acquire a few shooters this offseason is a familiar refrain, writes Michael Cohen of The Commercial Appeal [subscription required]. “Add some shooting, get some shooting,” Randolph said after Friday’s loss. “Spread the floor, open the floor. We’re right there. We have a good team.” But Cohen notes that the Grizzlies signed Vince Carter last summer and traded for Jeff Green during the season, but barely improved their playoff 3-point output. Carter is inked through 2016/17, while Green has a player option this summer.