The word out of Tn (where I live), is that the Grizzlies can't afford three max players. Most thought Zach would be the odd man out. There is no way they are getting rid of Gasol, which leads me to believe Rudy Gay could be had.
Marc Gasol is not a max contract player. He is a $9-11 million year guy.
Although Memphis could be forced to overpay and put him in the $12-13 million bracket given the free agent market this summer. Still considerably less than a max contract.
you are seriously under valuing the price of centers in the NBA.
$10 mil a year for Gasol seems about right to me, based on his production and his age.
He shouldn't command anywhere close to max money. Somewhere between Varejao's (5 yr, $43 mil) and Bogut's (4 yr, $50 mil) contracts.
Please put the following players in order of value:
Andrea Bargnani
Andris Biedrins
Tyson Chandler
Samuel Dalembert
Marc Gasol
Chris Kaman
Joakim Noah
Emeka Okafor
Bargnani is not a center. His own GM admitted as much in a press conference yesterday. So I'm throwing his name out.
I'd pay Gasol more than Biedrins, but that's it. On a per 38-minute basis, every other center on that list averaged more rebounds and blocks than Gasol last season (including Kaman).
He may be a better prospect/player than others on the list, but that doesn't mean Memphis should have to pay a huge contract in 2011 because a couple of dumb GMs did 4 or 5 years ago.
If someone offers him $12 mil a year, I'd hesitate to match.
BTW, what's Gasol's ceiling? Is he much more than a 12 pts, 7 rebs, 1.5 blocks a game guy?