NBA Miami Heat

Marc Gasol Tops Miami Heat’s Free Agent Wish List

Fresh Videos

By @fanforlife1988

Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Marc Gasol

Getty Images Sport – Issac Baldizon

With the Miami Heat currently positioned as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, this year is proving to be tougher for them than expected. While the Heat should contend for a playoff spot, Pat Riley and the front office are eagerly anticipating what the offseason has to offer. That’s when the team can look towards their cap space as an opportunity to attract a marquee free agent.

Perhaps the biggest free agent on the market this upcoming summer will be Marc Gasol, who’s currently an NBA MVP candidate and the center of the Memphis Grizzlies. With the destination appeal, along with two championship-caliber stars in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh already in place, Riley and the Heat will have a legitimate opportunity to sell Gasol on Miami next summer.

At the moment, the Grizzlies are very much in the hunt for a top spot in the ultra competitive Western Conference. With a championship on the minds of the Grizzlies, Gasol can only focus on the task at hand this year. As any veteran in the league knows, however, each subsequent offseason always brings with it something else. For a variety of reasons, the Grizzlies know that their relationship with Gasol in the future is tied directly to what happens this season.

Another early playoff exit, and the immediate next step for Gasol will be to secure a massive contract over the next half-decade. Similar to how his brother Pau Gasol found his greatest NBA success in a big city like Los Angeles, Marc Gasol will have a very tempting opportunity to do the same with the Heat as well as other potential suitors.

Despite the mileage, Wade is only 32 years old, and is proving that he has plenty of basketball left in his legs. His recent offensive explosions are encouraging for Heat fans, as Wade has also served as the team’s primary playmaker. Bosh is also returning from his own injuries, hoping to resume where he left off.

Bosh stepped up admirably early on in the season to fill the immediate void left by LeBron James departure to Cleveland. With averages of 21.5 PPG and 8.2 RPG. Bosh is proving that he is more comfortable to be the team’s top offensive option.

Most of the team is on flexible, short-term deals, including Wade. Players like Danny Granger and Luol Deng are also capable of becoming free agents this offseason, with the latter most likely planning to do so. The Heat will likely ask Wade to restructure his deal again, helping the team open up as much space as necessary to lure a max-level free agent.

Knowing that players like Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge were going to be available this summer, Riley and the Heat kept their options open. Riley, along with Micky Arison, who is one of the NBA’s most savvy owners, have positioned the Heat for success this offseason. The ability to reload this quickly after losing the caliber of player of James is no easy feat, but the Heat have a history of turning things around rather quickly.

Flanked by the scoring and championship prowess of both Wade and Bosh, The Heat are an extremely attractive sell to Gasol. While it’s still early as Gasol has a tight allegiance to the Grizzlies, the Heat will feel confident come July. Gasol is definitely going to be at or near the very top of the Heat’s free agency wish list, and they will likely be one of his preferred suitors to meet with.

With everything they have to offer, including a proven track record behind Riley, the Heat won’t have to wish hard to land their next star, whether it’s Gasol, or potentially someone else.

Zach Fetaru is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @fanforlife1988 ”like him” on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on