Despite Anthony Davis missing half the campaign and Montrezl Harrell logging less time than expected, Gasol averaged a career-low 19.1 minutes per contest last season. The veteran big man began the year as a starter, but a lack of production and the late-March signing of Andre Drummond pushed Gasol to the bench and reduced his role considerably. The move caused some tension between Gasol and the Lakers, but the 36-year-old ultimately decided to return to the team for the coming campaign. Harrell and Drummond are no longer around, yet it's unlikely that Gasol's production will grow much from the 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks he averaged last season. Davis has a better chance to maintain his health with a full offseason of rest and the addition of Russell Westbrook, among others, to take some of the load off his and LeBron James' shoulders, and Los Angeles also brought back Dwight Howard to bolster the rotation down low, and DeAndre Jordan was added as well. Gasol still offers veteran leadership, shot-blocking and floor spacing, but he probably won't make enough of an impact statistically to warrant fantasy consideration.
Gasol explored playing overseas during the 2020-21 season, but he ultimately opted to join the Lakers on a two-year, $5.3 million contract. With Los Angeles, Gasol could certainly start at center, though it wouldn't be surprising if the 35-year-old saw the smallest workload of his career. Last season with the Raptors, Gasol saw only 26.4 minutes of run, averaging 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 threes. Anthony Davis will also see time at center, and the Lakers picked up Montrezl Harrell, so there's no shortage of options in their frontcourt. In 2019-20, Gasol ranked 120th in fantasy on a per-game basis. So, this season, fantasy managers can probably view him as a late-round flier, though his upside is limited.
Gasol exercised his $25.6 million player option to remain with the Toronto Raptors in 2019-20. It will be the first of his 12 seasons not opening the year with the Grizzlies after he was traded to the Raptors at last February's trade deadline. Though age is beginning to take a toll on his play, Gasol can still be an impactful player on both ends of the court. He averaged 9.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 26 regular-season games after arriving in Toronto. Gasol added 2.2 combined blocks/steals and 1.3 threes as well, shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from distance. He also started all of Toronto's playoff games en route to the franchise's first championship. It's worth noting that he averaged 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 53 games with Memphis last season, so the former All-NBA selection and Defensive Player of the Year still has a lot to offer. With Kawhi Leonard gone, Gasol should get more opportunities to touch the ball, and he should be a safe fantasy selection as a big who can score, rebound, defend and step out for a three.
Gasol was the proverbial last man standing after Mike Conley's heel injury early last season, putting in a valiant effort over 73 games. The 33-year-old averaged 17.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 blocks, although he did shoot a career-low 42.0 percent, with the fact he was often double-teamed and outmanned on a thin Grizzlies squad likely playing a significant part in his struggles. Another factor was certainly Gasol's uptick in long-distance shooting, as he averaged a career-high 4.4 three-point attempts per contest. The veteran's assist and free-throw metrics also continued trending in the right direction, as Gasol turned in the second-highest success rate of his career from the charity stripe (83.4 percent) and second-most dimes (4.2). While fourth overall pick Jaren Jackson is certainly capable of spelling Gasol at center, the rookie is projected to have his biggest impact at power forward. Therefore, barring injury, Gasol should once again average the 33-34 minutes he's tallied over the last five seasons.
Gasol, at age 32, redefined his game last season. After shooting a combined 12-for-66 on three pointers for his career, the big man went 104-for-268 (38.8 percent) from long range last season en route to a career-high 19.5 points per game. He also became a larger part of running the offense, dishing a career-high 4.6 assists across 34.2 minutes per game. While he countered that with a career-low 6.3 boards per game, Gasol had a great year by all intents and purposes, earning the third All-Star nod of his nine-year career. The 7-foot-1 veteran also managed to post two triple-doubles, most notably dropping 28 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks against the Pelicans in a double-overtime thriller. Looking ahead to the 2017-18 campaign, the Grizzlies lost veteran big man Zach Randolph to the Kings over the summer, creating somewhat of a void in the frontcourt. Randolph played a high-usage sixth-man role off the pine for Memphis – a role that seemingly no one else in the team’s frontcourt can emulate, except Gasol. While Gasol is far from a sixth-man, Memphis may be more reliant on his talents than ever in the frontcourt during this upcoming season. As a result, all signs point to Gasol having another high-impact campaign, and it would be shocking if he didn’t produce relatively as well as last season.
Gasol was on his way to another strong all-around season in 2015-16 before a fractured foot kept him out of the Grizzlies’ final 30 games. Prior to the injury, Gasol posted averages of 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per game, joining Kevin Durant, Paul Millsap, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pau Gasol and DeMarcus Cousins as the only players in the league to average at least 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one block. Gasol regressed slightly as a shooter, converting 46.4 percent of his field goals, nearly four points below his career percentage (50.3%). History suggests that figure will move closer to 50 percent next season, but Gasol’s proficiency at the charity stripe (82.9% last season) helps to mitigate any sustained drop in field-goal efficiency. Perhaps the NBA’s best all-around center, Gasol is expected back at full strength to begin the season. If he’s able to stay healthy, he’s worth a look in the early rounds of fantasy drafts. However, he may come at a bit of a discount, given the rather dubious history of big men over 30 returning from foot injuries.
Gasol is coming off his most statistically dominant season in the NBA, with regular season averages of 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.6 blocks in 33 minutes per game. He slimmed down considerably during the 2014 offseason, missing only one game in 2014-15 while shooting 49 percent from the field, 18 percent from downtown, and 80 percent from the charity stripe. Gasol was more aggressive than ever in terms of looking to score, but he was still extremely efficient, scoring his 17.4 points on 13.2 field goal attempts per game. His field goal percentage sunk south of 40 percent during 11 playoff games versus the Blazers and Warriors. However, he also got to the free-throw line eight times per game in the postseason while converting at an 85 percent clip. An excellent all-around contributor, the 30-year-old Spaniard earned All-NBA First Team honors in 2014-15, and he can likely be counted on to produce adequate numbers in every category except three-pointers.
Gasol is entering his seventh NBA season. Last season, he averaged 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steal in 33 minutes per game through 59 games. He shot 47 percent from the field on 12.1 attempts per game and 77 percent from the free-throw line on 4.1 attempts per game. Gasol missed time early in the year due to injury (knee) but came back with a vengeance, helping lead the Grizzlies to the playoffs in the loaded Western Conference. In seven playoff games versus the Thunder, he posted 17.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 43 minutes per game. He shot 41 percent from the field on 16.6 attempts per game and 79 percent from the charity stripe on 4.9 attempts per game.
Once considered nothing more than scraps in the deal that sent his brother Pau to Los Angeles, Marc is now the Gasol brother to target in fantasy. He put together arguably his best season as a pro in 2012-13, cementing himself as one of the better true centers in the league while also taking home Defensive Player of the Year honors. Gasol finished last season with averages of 14.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 steal – numbers that are all in line with his career per-36 numbers. But it was his improvements at the charity stripe (85 percent) and playmaking (4.0 assists per game) which elevated his overall fantasy game to top-tier levels. Consistency is the key with Gasol – he's been healthy for most of his career while posting similar per-minute production since entering the league – but he has flashed upside for more stat-stuffing if the Grizzlies ever opt to lean on him even more heavily. While he may not have some of the eye-popping double-double numbers you'll see from flashier big men, Gasol's across-the-board production and consistency is extremely valuable in fantasy and makes him one of the safer picks at the pivot position.
After signing a lucrative five-year, $58-million deal prior to the 2011-12 season, Gasol proved to the Grizzlies he was worth the investment by putting together one of his best campaigns as a pro. The big (7-1, 270) bruising center tied a career-high scoring mark by averaging 14.6 points per game. He also continued to work hard on the glass, pulling down 8.9 boards per contest. His shooting percentage dipped below 50 percent for the first time in his career, but Gasol still managed to shoot an effective 74.8 percent from the free-throw line. On the defensive side of the ball, Gasol was better than ever, posting averages of 1.9 blocks and 1.0 steals. The sneakiest part of his value comes from his passing skills, as Gasol dished out 3.1 assists per game last season, which led all centers. The only knock against Gasol’s stellar season is that much of the production came with Zach Randolph, who missed 38 of 66 games, on the shelf. But even with Randolph healthy and starting along side him in the playoffs, Gasol still managed to average 15.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.9 blocks. At 27, Gasol is in the prime of his career and should continue to blossom as the Grizzlies’ starting center.
After living in his brother Pau’s shadow for years, the other Gasol brother is doing quite well for himself these days. The Grizzlies big man (7-1, 265) finished his third season with averages of 11.7 rebounds, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.7 blocks. While his overall production was slightly down from his breakout 2009-10 campaign, that can be attributed to a slight drop in minutes due to a surprisingly deep Grizzlies’ front court, rather than a diminishing skill set. In fact, once the Grizzlies’ rotation was shortened for the playoffs, Gasol posted averages of 15.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.2 blocks. With Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph as the go-to scorers for the Grizzlies, Gasol is, at best, the Grizzlies’ third offensive option, so no one should expect a significant boost in scoring for the 26-year-old anytime soon. But even if Gasol doesn’t ever develop into the same type of offensive talent as his brother, he’ll still hold plenty of fantasy value with his steady all-around production. Gasol will be a restricted free agent once the NBA’s labor situation is settled, but all signs point to him returning to Memphis.
Most talk about the Lakers' trade for Pau Gasol as one of the worst in history. While there's no doubt the elder Gasol is one of the 15 best players in the league and has been a major reason why L.A. has won the past two championships, there have been far more lopsided trades in sports, as Marc has quickly turned into a highly valuable commodity in his own right.. He averaged 14.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 blocks while shooting 58.1% from the floor last season during just his second year in the states. His 67.0 percent free-throw shooting wasn't great, but he made 73.3 percent from the line his rookie season, so a bounce back there is plausible. Gasol was the only player in the NBA other than Gerald Wallace to average double-digits in points, more than nine rebounds and both a steal and block per game – pretty impressive stuff from the center position. And he's young enough that he should only get better. He missed 13 of the final 15 games last year with a partially torn neck muscle, but that shouldn't be a problem entering 2010-11, as he was already participating in the world championships for Spain in August. Just because the Grizzlies drafted Hasheem Thabeet with the No. 2 pick last year doesn't mean they should have. Thabeet is in no way a threat to steal Gasol's playing time. Gasol has the upside to finish as a top-five fantasy center.
Gasol surpassed the expectations of most NBA prognosticators in his rookie season. Scouting reports tagged Gasol as a shell of his brother Pau, but he came out and proved that he can be a productive center in the NBA. His per game averages and shooting percentages are similar to those of other mid-tier centers like Nene and Al Horford. Gasol doesn’t provide exceptional value in any single category, but he also doesn’t have any glaring deficiencies in his game. His block averages are respectable at 1.1 per game, and he may see a slight rise in offensive rebounds in his second year as defenses focus more heavily on his front court partner, Zach Randolph. One cause for concern that could affect Gasol’s floor time and production is the presence of rookie center Hasheem Thabeet. Thabeet has a raw offensive game, but he displayed game-changing defense at the college level and seems like a perfect fit to pair on the frontline with the defensively challenged Randolph. Such a development could push Gasol to the bench and make him the team’s sixth man. While many players have learned to thrive as a team’s sixth man, Gasol’s averages were affected in games where he entered as a sub last season, and a move to the bench could have a negative impact on his fantasy value.
He was drafted by the Lakers in the 2007 draft, but elected to stay in Europe for a season. Perhaps that was for the better, as he was MVP of the Spanish ACB league, averaging 16.1 points on a 62 percent clip while also grabbing 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. He was traded from L.A. to Memphis in a February trade, signed by the Grizzlies in July and should be the No. 2 center entering the season. He is still a bit raw, but is an excellent low-post option. He's also a bit slow, so he might be pulled off the court when the team goes up-tempo and may be a liability on defense.
Gasol will spend the year playing in Spain, and will therefore hold no fantasy value for 2007-2008.
