Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2019: 20 best players available

By Brendon Kleen

Mandatory Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images /
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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 13 Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates his teams victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game Six to win the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 13 Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates his teams victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game Six to win the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

15. Marc Gasol, C, Toronto Raptors, Player Option/Unrestricted

Just five months ago, Gasol might not have made this list. He looked to be falling off physically, wasn’t engaged with the rebuild in Memphis, and appeared to be overpaid.

While one could still make the case he’s overpaid, Gasol quieted all those worries by playing heavy minutes throughout the playoffs for Toronto, scoring more aggressively, and moving well enough to stay on the court against smaller opposing lineups. One of the Raptors’ strengths was their versatility from a lineup perspective, and Gasol was a huge key to that flexibility. Any team who wants him surely learned lessons from this championship run and his value around the league likely improved as a result.

Nevertheless, Gasol will have to feel good about his chances at a lucrative long-term deal to exercise his player option for the 2019-20 season and walk away from $25.5 million. Just as with Al Horford, if the right deal comes along from a team Gasol likes over several more years that will allow him to make the money back and then some, he should take it. The hard part is not constructing that scenario but finding the team who would offer that.

Dallas still needs its center all these years later and Sacramento could take a look if they move on from Willie Cauley-Stein. Looking at older rosters ready to compete for a title sooner rather than later, you could see the Warriors, Rockets or Pacers potentially kicking the tires, though any team over the salary cap could offer the midlevel exception at best, which is about a third of what Gasol currently makes.

Should Kawhi Leonard return to Toronto, maybe we see Gasol terminate his contract and quickly sign a new, longer deal with the Raptors to run the same team back in 2019-20.

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