Report: Celtics could pursue Marc Gasol in the future
The ever-patient Boston Celtics plucked a marquee free agent for the second straight year, getting All-Star swingman Gordon Hayward without having to sacrifice any of their valued future assets.
The Celtics have long balked at trading a bundle of those assets for immediate upgrades, notably missing out on Jimmy Butler and Paul George in trades that ultimately garnered comparatively meager returns. But after adding Hayward to their 53-win core, there's a feeling Boston may be prepared to push a few more chips into the middle of the table.
The Celtics, who are deep at the wing but thin up front, may eventually target Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol in a trade, two league executives told The Vertical's Chris Mannix.
There's been no indication from the Grizzlies that Gasol is or will become available in the near future, but with Zach Randolph out the door and Tony Allen potentially set to follow him, it's conceivable Memphis may be ready to pivot away from the Grit n' Grind era into a new development cycle.
If so, Gasol would likely fetch a significant return. The 32-year-old is coming off his third All-Star season, in which he averaged career highs in points (19.5) and assists (4.6), while hitting 104 3-pointers, which is 92 more than he'd hit in his entire career to that point.
He's also on a very manageable contract, owed approximately $47 million for the next two seasons, with a $25.6-million player option for 2019-20.