The three-time All-Star center Marc Gasol might have left the NBA, but he isn’t ready to leave basketball. Gasol, who most recently played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2020-21 season, announced earlier this week that he’ll continue his career with Spain’s Club Basquet Girona.

Despite Girona playing in the second tier of Spanish basketball competition, the move isn’t all that surprising. Gasol was actually the one who founded the team and is currently serving as its principal owner and president.

Gasol, who will turn 37 in January, intends to play for Girona until the end of the current season. After that, he’ll make a decision on whether to continue his career or retire from professional basketball.

Last season, Gasol made 52 appearances for the Lakers but struggled to perform at his usual level. He had career-worsts across the board, finishing 2020-21 with 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

Being less than impressed with what they saw from Gasol, the Lakers decided to trade the Spaniard to the Memphis Grizzlies during the offseason. But the Grizzlies also didn’t need his services and ended up releasing him in mid-September.

Marc Gasol played a total of 13 seasons in the NBA, most of it coming in a Grizzlies jersey. While in Memphis, he was selected to two All-NBA teams and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. After being traded to the Toronto Raptors ahead of the 2018-19 season, Gasol also managed to capture an NBA Championship.

The post Ex-NBA All-Star Marc Gasol Set to Play for Girona, Club He Founded appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The three-time All-Star center Marc Gasol is reportedly thinking about retiring from the NBA following the expiration of his contract with Toronto Raptors this offseason. Gasol’s next destination would be his native Spain, according to Radio Ser Catalunya’s Xavier Saiso Garcia.

Despite an underwhelming 2019/20 season, in which he averaged career-low 7.5 points per game with Raptors, Gasol still represents an attractive veteran option for many teams around the league. However, the 35-year-old Spaniard might turn down any offer that comes his way as “family reasons” are making him favor Europe.

Marc Gasol spent the first six years of his professional career in Spain, where he played with FC Barcelona and CB Girona. He came to the NBA in 2008, joining Memphis Grizzlies and eventually becoming a franchise icon.  During his time with the Grizzlies, Gasol made the All-Star team three times, had two All-NBA selections, and won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.

Midway through 2018/19, the Grizzlies traded Gasol to Toronto Raptors, where he ended up winning his first NBA title in the same season. In 2019/20, Gasol and the Raptors ended their playoff trip in the second round after a seven-game series loss to Boston Celtics.

The post Raptors’ Marc Gasol is Thinking About Leaving NBA for Spain appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It seems like Marc Gasol loved his short stint with Toronto Raptors, as he decided to stay with the organization for one more year. The Raptors confirmed on Wednesday that Gasol accepted player option on his contract that will keep him in Toronto through 2019/20 NBA season.

Gasol’s option for the next season is worth around $25.6 million and represents the final year of the contract he signed with Memphis Grizzlies in 2015.

Raptors acquired Marc Gasol in February, hoping the 34-year-old big man will be a valuable contributor in their quest to reach NBA Finals. Gasol ended up doing much more, as he helped Toronto win their first NBA title.

Gasol averaged 9.1 points and 6.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists during the regular season while his postseason averages included 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. He was also a significant defensive presence and is credited with shutting down opponent’s centers.

With Gasol on board, Raptors will manage to bring one significant piece of their NBA championship-winning roster for the next season, but their job is far from done. The team will also have to find a way to convince NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to stay in Toronto, while sharpshooter Danny Green will also become a free agent this summer.

The post Marc Gasol Staying with Raptors for One More Year appeared first on SportzBonanza.

While the NBA trade deadline didn’t treat us with big blockbuster trades, we did manage to see some major shakeups on Thursday. Arguably the biggest names that changed teams were Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol who was traded to the Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans’ Nikola Mirotic, who joined Milwaukee Bucks.

After realizing they won’t get back to the playoffs anytime soon, Grizzlies started shopping Gasol in the recent weeks and were engaged with several teams including Charlotte Hornets. Still, Raptors made a last-minute offer for the 34-year-old which included Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, CJ Miles and a 2024 second-round draft pick and managed to get their guy.

By pairing Marc Gasol with All-Stars Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard, Raptors now formed their own Big-3 and emerged as one of the prime contenders to reach the NBA Finals in Eastern Conference. Grizzlies, on the other hand, officially entered the rebuilding mode and are facing a long way back to contention.

Gasol played 53 games this season and has averaged 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.

In the second big trade on Thursday, New Orleans Pelicans began the process of tearing down their roster and sent Nikola Mirotic to the Milwaukee Bucks. Pelicans received Jason Smith, Stanley Johnson and four second-round picks in exchange according to ESPN.

With this trade, the Bucks improved what has been already a strong roster and are slowly establishing themselves as a big force in the East.

Mirotic is averaging 16.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

The post Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol Traded to the Raptors, Pelicans Send Nikola Mirotic to Bucks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The three-time All-Star center Marc Gasol might have left the NBA, but he isn’t ready to leave basketball. Gasol, who most recently played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2020-21 season, announced earlier this week that he’ll continue his career with Spain’s Club Basquet Girona.

Despite Girona playing in the second tier of Spanish basketball competition, the move isn’t all that surprising. Gasol was actually the one who founded the team and is currently serving as its principal owner and president.

Gasol, who will turn 37 in January, intends to play for Girona until the end of the current season. After that, he’ll make a decision on whether to continue his career or retire from professional basketball.

Last season, Gasol made 52 appearances for the Lakers but struggled to perform at his usual level. He had career-worsts across the board, finishing 2020-21 with 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

Being less than impressed with what they saw from Gasol, the Lakers decided to trade the Spaniard to the Memphis Grizzlies during the offseason. But the Grizzlies also didn’t need his services and ended up releasing him in mid-September.

Marc Gasol played a total of 13 seasons in the NBA, most of it coming in a Grizzlies jersey. While in Memphis, he was selected to two All-NBA teams and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. After being traded to the Toronto Raptors ahead of the 2018-19 season, Gasol also managed to capture an NBA Championship.

The post Ex-NBA All-Star Marc Gasol Set to Play for Girona, Club He Founded appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The three-time All-Star center Marc Gasol is reportedly thinking about retiring from the NBA following the expiration of his contract with Toronto Raptors this offseason. Gasol’s next destination would be his native Spain, according to Radio Ser Catalunya’s Xavier Saiso Garcia.

Despite an underwhelming 2019/20 season, in which he averaged career-low 7.5 points per game with Raptors, Gasol still represents an attractive veteran option for many teams around the league. However, the 35-year-old Spaniard might turn down any offer that comes his way as “family reasons” are making him favor Europe.

Marc Gasol spent the first six years of his professional career in Spain, where he played with FC Barcelona and CB Girona. He came to the NBA in 2008, joining Memphis Grizzlies and eventually becoming a franchise icon.  During his time with the Grizzlies, Gasol made the All-Star team three times, had two All-NBA selections, and won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.

Midway through 2018/19, the Grizzlies traded Gasol to Toronto Raptors, where he ended up winning his first NBA title in the same season. In 2019/20, Gasol and the Raptors ended their playoff trip in the second round after a seven-game series loss to Boston Celtics.

The post Raptors’ Marc Gasol is Thinking About Leaving NBA for Spain appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It seems like Marc Gasol loved his short stint with Toronto Raptors, as he decided to stay with the organization for one more year. The Raptors confirmed on Wednesday that Gasol accepted player option on his contract that will keep him in Toronto through 2019/20 NBA season.

Gasol’s option for the next season is worth around $25.6 million and represents the final year of the contract he signed with Memphis Grizzlies in 2015.

Raptors acquired Marc Gasol in February, hoping the 34-year-old big man will be a valuable contributor in their quest to reach NBA Finals. Gasol ended up doing much more, as he helped Toronto win their first NBA title.

Gasol averaged 9.1 points and 6.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists during the regular season while his postseason averages included 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. He was also a significant defensive presence and is credited with shutting down opponent’s centers.

With Gasol on board, Raptors will manage to bring one significant piece of their NBA championship-winning roster for the next season, but their job is far from done. The team will also have to find a way to convince NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to stay in Toronto, while sharpshooter Danny Green will also become a free agent this summer.

The post Marc Gasol Staying with Raptors for One More Year appeared first on SportzBonanza.

While the NBA trade deadline didn’t treat us with big blockbuster trades, we did manage to see some major shakeups on Thursday. Arguably the biggest names that changed teams were Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol who was traded to the Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans’ Nikola Mirotic, who joined Milwaukee Bucks.

After realizing they won’t get back to the playoffs anytime soon, Grizzlies started shopping Gasol in the recent weeks and were engaged with several teams including Charlotte Hornets. Still, Raptors made a last-minute offer for the 34-year-old which included Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, CJ Miles and a 2024 second-round draft pick and managed to get their guy.

By pairing Marc Gasol with All-Stars Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard, Raptors now formed their own Big-3 and emerged as one of the prime contenders to reach the NBA Finals in Eastern Conference. Grizzlies, on the other hand, officially entered the rebuilding mode and are facing a long way back to contention.

Gasol played 53 games this season and has averaged 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.

In the second big trade on Thursday, New Orleans Pelicans began the process of tearing down their roster and sent Nikola Mirotic to the Milwaukee Bucks. Pelicans received Jason Smith, Stanley Johnson and four second-round picks in exchange according to ESPN.

With this trade, the Bucks improved what has been already a strong roster and are slowly establishing themselves as a big force in the East.

Mirotic is averaging 16.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

The post Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol Traded to the Raptors, Pelicans Send Nikola Mirotic to Bucks appeared first on SportzBonanza.