Gasol decides to stay with Grizzlies
Marc Gasol agreed to terms with the Grizzlies on Monday on a five-year maximum contract worth more than $100 million, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations said Monday.
While many of the other high-profile free agents completed deals in the first few frenzied days of the market opening last week, Gasol was in no rush. Probably because he knew where he was going to end up all along.
The 7-foot-1 Spaniard is coming off the best season of his National Basketball Association career, earning a starting spot in the All-Star game. He also became the first Grizzlies’ player voted to the all-NBA first team.
Gasol averaged 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.62 blocks this past season. He set career highs for total points, scoring average, field goals made and attempted. He scored 30 or more points five times, something he did only once through his first six years combined.
The 30-year-old center met with Grizzlies owner Robert Pera in Spain last week and didn’t take any other meetings. Spurs reload: David West desperately wants his first NBA championship. Manu Ginobili couldn’t resist going for his fifth.
The two proud veterans have decided to join together for the chase with the San Antonio Spurs, bolstering a roster buoyed by some uncharacteristically major spending on the free-agent market.
West chose to leave some $11 million on the table to join the Spurs, while Ginobili shrugged off an injuryplagued season for one more run in San Antonio.
West agreed to terms on a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum of $1.4 million, a source said. In choosing to align with the Spurs in the powerful Western Conference, West left a $12 million payday he was due from the Indiana Pacers, and several opportunities to make millions more from other interested suitors on the open market.
Williams will return to Cavs: Veteran guard Mo Williams said that he is going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played alongside LeBron James in 2009.
Terms of the deal were not available.
Williams started last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and was traded to the Charlotte Hornets.