Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol will become an unrestricted free agent this summer and is expected to draw the interest of several teams, who are looking to contend for a title next season.
Previous reports indicated that Gasol is interested in returning to the Memphis Grizzlies - the team where he spent the first six seasons of his NBA career - and his former team is also considering a possible reunion.
However, reports also suggested that the Grizzlies will prioritize keeping Zach Randolph, who could also become a free agent in the offseason, before setting their sights on Gasol.
"The fact that current Lakers forward and brother of Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, will be a free agent this July led to natural speculation about whether they could make up Memphis' frontcourt for the future," USA Today reported.. "But a person with knowledge of the Grizzlies thinking said Randolph will be the focus of their free agency affection and that the interest they have in Pau Gasol would be secondary."
According to the report, the Gasol-to-Memphis scenario will be possible only if Randolph decides to sign elsewhere or if Gasol will be willing to accept less money and less playing time behind Randolph and his younger brother, Marc.
"The relevant question on that front, it seems, is whether Pau would be so interested in reuniting with his brother in Memphis and contending for a crown that he might be willing to play a complementary role behind Randolph and Marc Gasol while accepting a contract that would likely be below market value," USA Today noted.
Randolph is having another great season in Memphis averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, helping the Grizzlies stay in the race for a playoff spot. The 42-28 Grizzlies are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference standings, but are only half-a-game-ahead of the Phoenix Suns.
Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger had nothing but praises for Randolph, saying that the 32-year-old veteran has been helping him a lot in his first season as coach and he is hoping that the burly power forward will stay put in Memphis.
"We've had a great rapport and just a great relationship," Joerger said of Randolph. "He has helped me a ton, so I hope everything works out for the best."
