Bucks To Bring In Marc Gasol Later In Season?

The Bucks have discussed the possibility of a late-season contract with free agent center Marc Gasol, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN.

Milwaukee is looking for enforcements with a back injury continuing to sideline Brook Lopez, the starting center on last season’s title team.

Gasol, 36, spent last season with the Lakers, but was traded to the Grizzlies and waived over the summer. He has not played in the NBA since, and early reports suggested he could retire.

He is currently playing for currently playing for Spanish club Girona, and if he were to make a return to the NBA, it likely would be when that international season ends.

Lowe did suggest that a Gasol-Bucks partnership may not be “in the cards,” after the Bucks acquired forward/center Serge Ibaka in a four-team deal involving the Clippers at the trade deadline. But it could be something worth monitoring.

Gasol began his career with Barcelona in 2003, then joined the Grizzlies in 2008. He has won an NBA championship and two Olympic silver medals, has made three All-Star teams and earned an NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, as well as first-team All-NBA honors.

But he became expendable in LA after the Lakers signed centers DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard. 

Gasol averaged 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 52 games with the Lakers in 2020-21.