Report: Marc Gasol expected to re-sign with Grizzlies by Thursday

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Grit, grind, and re-sign.

The Memphis Grizzlies don't anticipate any delays in getting Marc Gasol's signature on a new contract, with the two sides expected to agree to a deal by Thursday, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com.

Despite being an unrestricted free agent, Gasol hasn't scheduled meetings with any team other than Memphis, where he's played his entire career. The Grizzlies are believed to be meeting with Gasol in Spain on Wednesday, and have long been optimistic they'll be able to retain him.

The biggest question remaining with Gasol is not whether he stays in Memphis but for how long. A full five-year maximum contract would pay him an estimated $108.7 million, but with a rising-cap environment over the next few years, it's possible Gasol prefers a shorter-term max that would allow him to re-enter free agency within a few years.

He would be 35 at the end of a five-year deal and may not have a sizable contract waiting for him at that age, so a pair of shorter deals could be the best way to maximize his earnings, though predicting market trends into the future is becoming increasingly more difficult.

In any case, Gasol stands as worthy of whatever contract he requests from Memphis. He averaged a career-high 17.4 points this season, along with 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 blocks, all while shooting 49.4 percent and operating as the team's offensive fulcrum around the elbows.

A gifted passer with terrific touch around the basket, Gasol also functions as Memphis's defensive linchpin and is a former Defensive Player of the Year.

Earlier in the season, Gasol was linked to marquee teams with cap space like the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, but he seems to have pretty quickly eliminated the idea of leaving The Grindhouse.