NBA Rumors: Signing Marc Gasol In 2020 Free Agency Could ‘Resuscitate’ Warriors’ Dynastic Run Next Season
Despite suffering a huge disappointment in the 2019-20 NBA season, the Golden State Warriors are expected to seriously contend for the NBA championship title next year. Aside from making sure that their core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green will be in perfect shape before the start of next season, the Warriors are planning to add established veterans to the roster that could strengthen their chances of reclaiming their throne and reviving their dynasty. One of the potential targets for them in the 2020 free agency is veteran center Marc Gasol of the Toronto Raptors.
In his recent article, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report created a list of perfect 2020 free-agent targets for every team in the league. For the Warriors, Hughes suggested they could go after Gasol. Although he may already be on the downside of his NBA career, Hughes believes the center is one of the few veteran free agents who could help the Warriors’ “resuscitate” their dynastic run.
“So much of the Golden State offense is based on movement, intuition, quick reads and unselfish decision-making. Highly intelligent and preprogrammed to pass, Gasol would easily be the best setup big Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have ever played with—Draymond Green excluded. Notably, unlike Green, Gasol could scare defenses from the perimeter, opening up opportunities all over the floor. The Warriors also lack a post defender with size, and though he’s lost mobility, Gasol (6’11”) might still be the top one-on-one down-low stopper in the league. If Golden State intends to resuscitate its dynastic run, it’ll need everything Gasol offers.”
Though he’s already past his prime, Gasol would still be an incredible addition to the Warriors, giving them an All-Star caliber big man who is capable of knocking down shots from beyond the arc. His potential acquisition would help Golden State improve their performance on both ends of the floor. Aside from being a reliable floor-spacer, he is also a great low-post scorer, rebounder, facilitator, and rim protector.
This season, the 35-year-old Spanish big man is averaging 7.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting 41.9 percent the field and 40.2 percent from the three-point range. With his ability to excel in an off-ball capacity, Gasol won’t have a hard time making himself fit alongside Curry, Thompson, and Green.
As of now, Gasol hasn’t shown any strong indication that he’s planning to leave the Raptors in the 2020 free agency. However, at this point in his NBA career, he would definitely be better off playing for a team that could give him a realistic chance of winning his second championship title.
