Nelson Chenault – USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers will have the second pick in the upcoming 2015 NBA Draft, and will be able to pick one of two potentially game-changing big men, or several talented perimeter players. However, they also have the cap space to sign a star, and one of the top centers in the game, Marc Gasol, will be an unrestricted free-agent. The Lakers have not had much luck attracting top free agents as of late, but securing Gasol would be a huge boost for the organization.
Gasol started off in the Lakers’ organization, but was traded away along with other pieces for his brother Pau Gasol. He has done an excellent job of evolving his game in Memphis, and has become arguably the best two-way center in the league. The problem for the Lakers is that it will be tough to convince him to leave Memphis, where he has built an excellent career and is part of a perennial playoff contender. He has great chemistry with his teammates and frontcourt partner Zach Randolph, and it would be a hard situation to leave.
But free agency allows players to explore other options, and the Lakers do have some assets to work with. They have several promising prospects, as well as a high pick in the draft. They currently have financial flexibility for the future, and will likely be able to go after several star players in next year’s free-agent class as well. They play in one of the bigger markets, and when Kobe Bryant retires, then they will be looking for someone to be the face of the franchise.
Gasol’s skill-set is versatile enough where he could fit on almost any roster across the league. He is an extremely intelligent player who has great size at the center position. He is a very good passer who can run the offense from the high or low post, but is also a highly effective scorer, so players cannot help off of him. He has a variety of moves in the post, and combines that with a strong mid-range game with a unique release that makes it hard to challenge.
Defensively, he is one of the best at understanding rotations and where he needs to be on the court. He offers strong rim protection and good hands allow him to create numerous turnovers. He can guard the top players one-on-one in the post, and is smart enough to not be a liability on the pick-and-roll.
Convincing Gasol to leave Memphis for Los Angeles would be difficult, but it would make their team significantly better. He will likely be looking for a maximum contract, and even though he is currently 30, his game should age well as he relies more on skill than athleticism. Bringing in a center of his quality would allow the team to focus on other areas through the draft or even trade the pick.
The Lakers have a long way to go before they can be considered serious contenders again, but getting Gasol would greatly speed up the process.
