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NBA: 7 players with the most to lose in 2014-15

By Bryce Olin

Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter of a game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter of a game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 3, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) during the third quarter in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) during the third quarter in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies

Honestly, I can’t picture the scenario in which Gasol leaves Memphis. There’s too much history between the two for Gasol to throw that all away, and the Grizzlies can pay Gasol more than any other team, which they’ll do because he means everything to the team.

Last season, Gasol only played in 59 games because of a sprained MCL. The Grizzlies finished 10-13 without Gasol in the lineup; he is the beating heart of the Grizzlies. Obviously, injuries are a huge risk when giving someone a max contract, but the Grizzlies will pay Gasol regardless.

Season G MP FG FGA FG% FT% TRB AST BLK PTS
2011-12 ★ 65 36.5 5.5 11.4 .482 .748 8.9 3.1 1.9 14.6
2012-13 80 35.0 5.4 10.9 .494 .848 7.8 4.0 1.7 14.1
2013-14 59 33.4 5.7 12.1 .473 .768 7.2 3.6 1.3 14.6
Career 436 33.7 5.1 9.9 .512 .749 7.9 2.9 1.5 13.5

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/22/2014.

Honestly, I’m less concerned with the Gasol’s injury risk and more concerned with what I saw in the FIBA World Cup, especially in Spain’s loss to France. In the game, Gasol finished 1-of-7 from the field for only three points in the game. He looked slow against Boris Diaw and the second-round pick of the Denver Nuggets, Joffrey Lauvergne.

One thing the Grizzlies do have to consider is Gasol’s age, as he turns 30 years old in January. We all know Father Time is undefeated; everyone one is going lose that step eventually. If history is any indication, some big guys just lose that step at a certain point, and they never get that step back.

It happened to his brother, Pau, to some extent.

In the NBA, Gasol has shown no signs he’s getting older or slower, but in the FIBA quarterfinals against France, he did. If Gasol’s play starts to slip a bit and it looks like he’s lost a step, it will be very interesting to see how the Grizzlies decide what to do. Their decision could cost Gasol a pretty penny, as they say.

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