Memphis Grizzlies star Marc Gasol has insisted that he hasn’t ruled the New York Knicks out this summer because he hasn’t even thought about free agency.
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Gasol is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and there has been a significant amount of speculation over his future.
The Knicks, as well as the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs have been linked with an interest, although it is widely acknowledged that Memphis remain the favourites to re-sign him.
Reports claimed that the Spaniard had even ruled the Knicks out of contention last month, but he has moved to dismiss all the talk about his future as even he hasn’t given it any thought yet.
“I haven’t ruled anything out because I haven’t thought about anything so it would be [premature],” Gasol said, according to ESPN.
“The reports and stuff like that, I don’t know where they come from because in my mind I haven’t thought about it. I have no [idea] how they can go there. I don’t know. … We’re in the final stretch of the regular season and we want to get in a good feeling for the playoffs so, trust me, I’m not worrying or thinking about those things yet.”
Although he may have avoided ruling out the Knicks, Gasol did compare them to the Grizzlies six or seven years ago when they were rebuilding and looking towards the future.
With that in mind, it is difficult to suggest that New York is a realistic landing spot given the amount of work that needs to be done at MSG, with team president Phil Jackson and rookie coach Derek Fisher enduring a miserable season this year.
Gasol’s addition would be a huge upgrade and a sign of ambition, but persuading him to leave a playoff-ready team to start a new project could be problematic.
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